New Podcast Episode: Korean for Beginners #1 – My First Day in Seoul

Hello everyone! 

I’m excited to share the first episode of my Korean Podcast for Beginners! This episode is perfect for anyone starting their Korean journey — it’s slow, clear, and easy to follow.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: 

💡 Follow along with the FREE script PDF → Download here
Reading along while listening makes learning much easier and more fun!

 Everyday Polite Phrases in Korean

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

“Hi everyone! Today we’re learning 10 everyday polite phrases in Korean that you can use right away. Let’s get started!”

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1. Excuse me (to get attention)

• 저기요 (Jeo-gi-yo)

• 실례합니다 (Sil-lye-ham-ni-da)

저기요 is the most common way to politely get someone’s attention in cafés, restaurants, or on the street.

실례합니다 is more formal and less common in daily life, often used in announcements or very polite situations.

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2. Just a moment / Wait a second

• 잠시만요 (Jam-si-man-yo)

 Use when passing by someone or asking them to wait.

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3. Please

• 주세요 (Ju-se-yo)

 Add it after what you want:

“아메리카노 주세요” = One Americano, please.

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4. I don’t understand

• 이해 못 했어요 (I-hae mot haess-eo-yo)

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5. I don’t know

• 잘 모르겠어요 (Jal mo-reu-ges-seo-yo)

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6. Please say it again

• 다시 말해 주세요 (Da-si mal-hae ju-se-yo)

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7. Speak slowly

• 천천히 말해 주세요 (Cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo)

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8. Where is the bathroom/toilet?

• 화장실 어디예요? (Hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?)

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9. Sorry (formal)

• 미안합니다 (Mi-an-ham-ni-da)

👉 A polite apology used in formal situations, but softer and slightly less formal than 죄송합니다. Suitable when speaking to teachers, colleagues, or acquaintances respectfully.

✨ Tip:

• 죄송합니다 (Jwe-song-ham-ni-da) = more formal, humble (used with strangers, customers, or elders).

• 미안합니다 (Mi-an-ham-ni-da) = formal and polite, but feels a little more casual.

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10. It’s okay / No worries

• 괜찮아요 (Gwaen-chan-a-yo)

 Friendlier and more common than 괜찮습니다.

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These 10 polite phrases are super useful for everyday conversations in Korea—whether you’re ordering coffee, asking for directions, or just being polite.

Start practicing them little by little, and you’ll sound more natural and respectful in no time!

Master the 10 Basic Korean Vowels (Hangul Basics)

Learning Hangul, the Korean alphabet, starts with its 10 basic vowels. Once you master these, you’ll already be able to read and pronounce many real Korean words. In this guide, we’ll cover each vowel step by step, along with simple memory tricks to make them stick.

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

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Quick Tip #1: Hangul Was Designed, Not Random

One of the coolest things about Hangul is that it wasn’t just invented randomly. It was designed in the 15th century with inspiration from nature and human beings.

All vowels come from three basic shapes:

• Dot (•) = the sky

• Horizontal line (ㅡ) = the earth

• Vertical line (ㅣ) = a person

From these, the vowels split into two main groups:

• Vertical vowels: ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ

• Horizontal vowels: ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ

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Quick Tip #2: The Y-Sound Rule

Here’s an easy rule:

If a vowel has two lines instead of one, it adds a Y sound.

• ㅏ = a → ㅑ = ya

• ㅗ = o → ㅛ = yo

Simple, right? Let’s go through them all.

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Vertical Vowels: The “AH” Group

These vowels are built with a vertical line (ㅣ) as the base.

• ㅏ (a) → “ah,” like in father.
  Example: 아빠 (appa = dad)

• ㅑ (ya) → “yah,” like in yard.
  Example: 야구 (yagu = baseball)

• ㅓ (eo) → soft “uh,” like in son.
  Example: 어머니 (eomeoni = mother)

• ㅕ (yeo) → “yuh,” like in young.
  Example: 여름 (yeoreum = summer)

• ㅣ (i) → “ee,” like in see.
  Example: 이름 (ireum = name)

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Horizontal Vowels: The “OH” Group

These vowels are built with a horizontal line (ㅡ) as the base.

• ㅗ (o) → “oh,” like in open.
  Example: 오늘 (oneul = today)

• ㅛ (yo) → “yo,” like in yoga.
  Example: 요리 (yori = cooking)

• ㅜ (u) → “oo,” like in blue.
  Example: 우리 (uri = we/us)

• ㅠ (yu) → “you,” like the pronoun.
  Example: 유명 (yumyeong = famous)

• ㅡ (eu) → “eu,” a unique sound with no English equivalent. Keep your lips wide and flat.
  Example: 음식 (eumsik = food)

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Practice Drill: Minimal Pair Challenge

These pairs often get mixed up. Try saying them side by side:

• ㅏ (a) vs. ㅓ (eo) → 아 vs 어

• ㅗ (o) vs. ㅜ (u) → 오 vs 우

• ㅏ (a) vs. ㅑ (ya) → 아 vs 야

• ㅗ (o) vs. ㅛ (yo) → 오 vs 요

• ㅡ (eu) vs. ㅣ (i) → 으 vs 이

Practice these daily, and soon the sounds will come naturally.

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Review & Mnemonics

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 vowels:

ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, ㅣ

Memory tips:

• Right or top line → bright sounds (ㅏ = ah, ㅗ = oh)

• Left or bottom line → darker sounds (ㅓ = uh, ㅜ = oo)

• Double lines = add Y (ㅑ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ)

• ㅡ = lips spread flat