CORRECTED 13 Dec 2010: A hat tip to thesnowleopard for catching a couple things I missed by not proofreading more carefully.

Korea has bent over backward to incorporate English in many places and situations. Although it’s far from universal, you’ll find plenty of English signs to make finding your way around town easier. Start with these ten phrases – and keep learning Korean.

One phrase means hello, good morning, good afternoon, and good evening : 안녕 하세요? (An-nyeong ha-se-yo?). Literally speaking, it means ‘are you at peace?’ A little head nod (NOT A BOW) usually accompanies the words. Note that this doesn't necessarily communicate a time of day, which makes it perfect anytime of the day.

Another important phrase is your typical ‘Thank you’: 감사 합니다 (Kam-sa hab-ni-da). Again, a little head nod (NOT A BOW) usually accompanies the words.

When you’re shopping and don’t see a price tag, ask ‘how much?’ by saying 이거 얼마예요? (ee-geo eol-mah-yeh-yo?). Depending on your pronunciation or how confident you sound, they may respond by typing the price into a calculator or telling you in Korean. After understanding깎아 주세요 (gga-gga ju-se-yo), which simply means 'discount, please!' the price, you can always ask for a discount:

When you meet someone new, say ‘nice to meet you!’: 만나서 반갑습니다! (man-neo-seo ban-gab-seub-ni-da!) If they beat you to it, add 저도 (jeo-do) to the front of it to say ‘nice to meet you too!’: 저도 만나서 반갑습니다! (jeo-do man-neo-seo ban-gab-seub-ni-da!).

Once you’ve made a friend, ask them ‘what’s new?’ by saying 잘 지내나요? (jal ji-nae-na-yo?).

If you're just excusing yourself for a second, 잠깐만요 (jam-ggan-man-yo) works in most situations (literally means 'wait'). This also works if you’re trying to get around someone.

If you managed to elbow someone accidentally, it’s time to say sorry: 죄송합니다 (jwi-song-hab-ni-da). Pair the words with a small bow.

If you’re looking to avoid meat, you might want to learn 저는 채식주의자입니다 (jeo-neun chae-sik-ju-ui-ja ib-ni-da, or ‘I’m a vegetarian’).

While at a bar, you might need to ask where the restroom is: 화장실이 어디예요? (hwa-jang-sil-ee eo-di-ye-yo?)

© Chris Backe - 2010

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