Top Korean words you must learn
Korean is spoken by about 77.2 million people and is an East Asian language. The linguistic homeland of this language is suggested to be somewhere in Manchuria. Historical and modern linguists classify Korean as an isolate language. However, it does have a few extinct relatives, which together with Korean itself and the Jeju language (spoken in the Jeju Province and considered somewhat distinct) form the Koreanic language family. It is the official and national language of both: North Korea and South Korea, with different standardized official forms used in each country. It is a recognised minority language in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture and Changbai Korean Autonomous County of Jilin Province, China. It is also spoken in parts of Sakhalin, Russia and Central Asia.
Apart from such a rich history, Korean helps you experience the vibrant culture of ‘Hallyu – The Korean Wave’. A Chinese term given to the incredible growth of the Korean culture, it includes everything from music, movies, drama, Korean cuisine to online games. Korean culture is one of the most inviting cultures, mainly due to its aesthetics and warmth. If you’ve never explored Asia before, then the Korean culture will charm you completely. With that being said, if you wish to learn this beautiful language or are simply travelling to this beautiful country, learning a few important words is going to automatically make it much easier to memorize and converse in the language.
Therefore, here are my top 10 words in Korean:
Hello
안녕하세요
Pronounced as: annyeonghaseyo
This is a word that would definitely prove to be helpful in every way. You can initiate conversations or simply greet someone using “hello”.
Please
주세요
Pronounced as: juseyo
Being polite always goes a long way. Therefore, if you need a favour or help for anything, be sure to say “please” in order be as polite as possible.
Sorry
죄송합니다
Pronounced as: joesonghamnida
Let’s hope that you don’t require this but anyways if you need to apologise for any mistake, kindly use “sorry”.
Thank you
고맙습니다
Pronounced as: gomapseumnida
As stated previously, being polite goes a long way. Therefore, show gratitude when necessary.
Yes
네
Pronounced as: ne
Use this to firmly agree with someone. This is by far the easiest way to show your affirmation towards something in specific.
No
아니요
Pronounced as: aniyo
Use this to firmly disagree with someone. This is by far the easiest way to show your denial over something in specific.
Maybe
아마도
Pronounced as: amado
When in doubt, use “maybe” to let the other person know your current indecisive mindset.
Help
도와 주세요
Pronounced as: dowa juseyo
If you ever happen to need someone’s help, kindly use this to seek the said help.
Excuse me
저기요
Pronounced as: jeogiyo
Use this to capture someone’s attention politely.
I don’t know
몰라요
Pronounced as: mollayo
If you fail to understand something, or simply don’t know what the other person is talking about, use this to let them know.
Finally,
These are the top ten words in Korean, that in my opinion, everyone should memorize. Whether you’re a student mastering the language or a traveller planning to travel to Korea, either way, these words will benefit you. These will help you survive a trip to Korea or even casually learning them will help you actively participate in a conversation held in Korean.