Yay! You’re finally going to meet Oppa in the land where Oppa basically stroll around here and there! You just can’t hold the excitement of visiting Gangnam District, stroll along Han River, do some shopping at the Myeongdeong area, and maybe save a lock with your name and your Oppa’s name at Namsan Tower. But wait, before that let’s take a look at the checklist of phrases in Korean for travelling before we go meet Oppa shall we?
Luggage? Check! Passport? Check! Boarding Pass? Check! A little bit of the Korean language? What? No?! Omo! That can’t be, it’s the most essential thing to be prepared. It’s okay, that’s why we’re here, we will teach what you need. You don’t have to be fluent in order to talk to Oppa. Here are 26 phrases in Korean for travelling and you need to know to chat with Oppa.
Basic Greetings
Obviously you cannot chat with Oppa if you don’t know how to greet him. Learn these 26 phrases in Korean for travelling, and you’re good to go.
1. 안녕하세요 ( ahn-nyung-ha-se-yo )
| Hello
Say this when you meet him. It can be said at any time of the day, rain or shine, similar like “Hello”. Oh, don’t forget to do a little bow to show courtesy.
2. 반갑 습니다 ( bahn-gap-seup-ni-da )
| Nice to meet
Of course you have to say how wonderful it is to meet your Oppa. Say these words and you’ll be sure to put a smile on Oppa’s face while making sure to be respectful of him.
3. 어떻게 지내 세요? ( uh-dduh-keh ji-neh-seh-yo?)
| How are you?
After that, you can proceed by saying how his days go with these phrase. Or maybe just asking how he has been all this while before he met you, wink-wink.
4. 잘 지내요 ( jal-ji-neh-yo )
| I am good/I am fine
A simple answer for the above question just to show everything has going so well. Make sure to smile while you are saying it.
5. 제 이름 은 _____ ( jeh ee-reum-un _____)
| My name is _____
Easy peasy Korean phrase to say your name. For example, your Oppa can say “제 이름 은 Seo Kang-joon,” while making you swoon with his brown eyes and cute dimples.
6. 안녕 (ahn-nyung) | 안녕히 계세요 (ahn-nyung-hee geh-seh-yo) | 안녕히 가세요 (ahn-nyung-hee gah-seh-yo)
| Goodbye
Okay, this part will be a bit tricky. One of the most important phrases in Korean for travelling is “Goodbye”. This Korean phrases for “Goodbye” serve different functions. “Ahn-nyung” is an informal way to greet your friends or close acquaintances. “Ahn-nyung-hee geh-seh-yo” (lit. “Please stay well”) is said when you leave your Oppa’s place. And he will in return say, “ahn-nyung-hee gah-seh-yo” to you when you left the place.
Common Courtesy
Credit: https://www.futurelearn.com
We Asians are known for upholdings courtesy to the highest level especially for us that live in Japan or Korea. Be respectful, especially since we are a foreigner in the South Korean land and we will show you how to do it simply by using these Korean phrases.
7. 감사 합니다 ( gam-sa-ham-ni-da )
| Thank you
Oppa just treat you to a dinner, or the ahjumma (aunties) at the grocery store just handed your bag, and maybe someone had done you a big favour. The best way to show your gratitude is to say your thank you’s. Say gam-sa-ham-ni-da when you wanna thank someone and you can also opt for saying 고맙습니다 (go-mahp-seup-ni-da), both can be used in formal situation.
8. 천만 에요 ( chun-mahn-eh-yo )
| You’re welcome (formal)
Korean people doesn’t always answer your “thanks” with a “you’re welcome”, however, it doesn’t hurt to be polite and say the “chun-mahn-eh-yo” when people had said their thanks. You can also usually alternate to saying 아닙니다 “ah-nib-nee-da” which roughly translate to “It’s nothing” or “No problem”
9. 실례 합니다 ( shil-leh-hap-nee-da) | Excuse me
잠시만 요 ( jam-shi-mahn-yo | Wait for a moment
Both of these Korean phrases can be use as a replacement to “excuse me” is a polite way when you wanted to get an Oppa attention. Got lost? Ask a random oppa on the streets by starting your sentence with “Shil-leh-hap-nee-da Oppa….”. Oppa might say “Jam-shi-mahn-yo” or “Wait for a moment” so that he can show you the right way (to his heart).
10. 여기 요 ( yuh-gi-yo )
| Over here
The perfect usage of this word is when you were trying to get a waiter Oppa attention, so that you can order your food. So, when that happen, say “yuh-gi-yo,” while raising one hand or any other signal, and waiter Oppa will make his way to you.
11. 죄송 합니다 (jweh-sung-hap-nee-da)
미안 합니다 (mi-ahn-hap-nee-da)
| I apologise
Omo! You just made an oppa mad, now you need to say sorry to him. Say “jweh-sung-hap-nee-da” or “mi-ahn-hap-nee-da” and hopefully he will forgive your mistakes. Both words can used interchangeably and have the same amount of respects shown when said.
12. 주세요 ( ju-seh-yo )
| Please give….
This word can be useful when you want to ask for something from Oppa. If you want some chocolate, you can tell Oppa, “Chocolate 주세요” which translate to “Please give me chocolate,” and the next thing you know, Oppa will ask you what kind of chocolate.
Navigating Your Way
Credit: https://www.dreamstime.com
This is an inevitable occurrences as we’re not familiar with the routes and roads Korea, we might get lost big time. It will be troubling if you don’t know how to ask passerby Oppa for help. So here are the Korean phrases you need to know to navigate your way.
13. 왼쪽 (oen-jjok) / 오른쪽 (oh-Reun-jjok) / 직진 (Jik-jjin)
| Left / Right / Straight Ahead
Don’t get lost on your way to Oppa. Learn this word so you won’t mistook Oppa’s words for “left”, “right” and “straight” for some food name.
14. 길 을 잃었 어요 (gil-eul ilh-uht-suh-yo)
| I lost my way (I’m lost)
Don’t go and do a pickupline with these Korean phrase, when all you need a way out. Ask a passerby for help and remember to say “gil-eul ilh-uht-suh-yo” so that they know what to suggest your next step.
15. _____ 어디 인지 아세요? (_____ uh-di-eehn-ji ah-seh-yo ?)
| Do you know where is _____?
This is a vital Korean phrase to know for you to navigate your way. Why? Because then you can ask the way to one of your favourite K-Idol’s agency. Let us give you a few examples like “YG entertainment 어디 인지 아세요?” or “SM Entertainment 어디 인지 아세요?”
16. 잘 모르겠네요 ( jal mo-reu-geht-neh-yo )
|I don’t understand
It’s a high possibility that you might not catch all the words your Oppa said when he explains the road and the route. So, use this phrase when that happens, so that Oppa would use much simpler word in order for you to comprehend better.
17. 한국말 잘 못해요 (hahn-guhk-mal jal moht-heh-yo)
| I can’t speak Korean well
A life-saver out of all the Korean phrases you need to know. This is as so that you don’t have to rack up your brains for some Korean words that sounds like a tongue twister when you say it.
18. 영어 할 수 있어요? ( yung-uh hal su-eet-suh-yo?)
| Do you speak English?
Most of Koreans do speak basic conversational English and if you’re lucky, a handsome Oppa who speaks English can help you find your way back.
19. 천천히 말씀해 주세요 ( chun-chun-hee mal-sseum-heh ju-seh-yo )
| Please speak slowly
Do you ever watch a Korean drama, or maybe listen to some Korean songs and find yourself having a hard time to catch their words? No? Good for you. If yes, well you’re in a whole lot of trouble as they speak twice as fast than those other two. So, to help you, ask them to “chun-chun-hee mal-sseum-heh ju-seh-yo” and they will surely slow down their speed of talking.
20. 화장실이 어디예요? (hwa-jang-shil-ee uh-di-eh-yo?)
| Where is the bathroom?
After hanging out with Oppa, you just finally have the need to go to the restroom. Mother nature calls. Ask Oppa, “hwa-jang-shil-ee uh-di-eh-yo?” if the need ever arises. Do remember that 어디예요, by itself, means “where is it.”
Dining
Credit: https://spoonuniversity.com
South Korea is most famous for being a street food paradise and also the city where lovebirds go out for dates. In every streets and every corner of Seoul is full of myriad of delicacies from traditional to modern cuisine or snacks that will surely tickle your tastebuds. So in order to help you find your way to love (read : food), these Korean phrases will help you savour all the best flavour in a Korean way while being accompanied by Oppa. These phrases in Korean for travelling would be super handy indeed!
21. 메뉴 주세요 ( meh-nyu ju-seh-yo )
| Menu, please
Most restaurants doesn’t provide the menus on the tables originally. Raise your hand up and say “meh-nyu ju-seh-yo,” if you want waiter Oppa to give you one.
23. 계산서 주세요 ( keh-san-suh ju-seh-yo )
| Bill, please
Waiter Oppa will not ask you if you want your bill even though he saw you have already finished your meal. Instead, you should ask him “keh-san-suh ju-seh-yo” and he will be glad to bring it to you.
24. 싸 주세요 ( ssa ju-seh-yo )
| Tapau please
You’re eating with Oppa right now at a restaurant in South Korea. And little by little, Oppa is almost finished with his food, but you look at your plate and it’s still half full. But, you’re almost stuffed, so you just have to tapau it for later. When that happen, ask the waiter Oppa to “ssa ju-seh-yo”.
26. 저 알러지 있어요 (juh ahl-luh-ji eet-suh-yo)
| I have an allergy
Let your waiter Oppa know if you have an allergy towards some ingredients in your food by saying this Korean phrase.
Extra Korean Phrase
Credit: https://www.simple.com
That is all for the important ones of the Korean phrases you need to know. These phrases in Korean for travelling will prove its handiness in no time! Here’s a bonus just because we are feeling so happy to assist you to talk with your Oppa.
1. 화이팅! or 파이팅! (hwa-ee-ting! or pa-ee-ting!)
| Fighting!
Use this Korean slang when you want to support Oppa when he’s down, or when he’s in a competition as the word serve as a word of encouragement.
2. 괜찮아요 (gwaen-chanh-ah-yo)
| Are you okay? / It’s okay
This phrase can serve as a question or as a statement. If you see Oppa is a little bit sad and you can ask him “gwaen-chanh-ah-yo?” by raising your voice a bit at the last syllable. Your Oppa would then say the same word to indicate that he is indeed okay.
3. 진짜요? (jin-jja-yo?)
| Really?
It’s a common to use this Korean phrase as an exclamatory statement. “I heard BTS is coming to Malaysia,” a friend said which you will reconfirm with your friend by saying “jin-jja-yo?”
4. 안 돼요 (ahn-dwae-yo)
| It doesn’t work/It cannot (be)/No way
This phrase differs within various context. It can mean “Can’t”, “It’s not working”, “No way” and a few others.
5. 사랑합니다 (sa-rang-hab-ni-da) / 사랑해요 (sa-rang-hae-yo)
| I love you
We can’t simply forget these Korean phrase. Say your love towards your Oppa with these words and you’ll surely melt his heart. Both phrases are meant to be said in a formal and informal way respectively. However both contain the same degree of politeness.
Conclusion
So there you have it! All the phrases in Korean for travelling you need to know. Can’t get enough of Korean fever? Well, go on and make your way to the country that houses thousands and hundreds of your oppa. PolicyStreet wishes you a safe travel towards your South Korea trip, before that, did you know that we are having a promotion for our premium travel insurance policy by AXA? Now you can have a worry-free trip. Log on to our site at PolicyStreet.com for more info.
