In a restaurant

Come in. How many are there in your party?

어서오세요, 몇 분이세요?

(Eo-seo o-seh-yo. Myeot Bu-niseh-yo?)

Three of us.

세명이예요

(Seh-myeong-yi-ye-yo.)

Did you make a reservation?

예약하셨어요?

(Yeh-ya-kha-shio-sseo-yo?)

I have a reservation.

예약했습니다.

(Yeh-ya-khae-seum-ni-da.)

Do you prefer smoking or nonsmoking?

금연석으로 드릴까요? 흡연석으로 드릴까요?

(Geu-myeon-seo-geu-ro Deu-rilgga-yo? Heu-byeon-seo-gue-ro Deu-ril-gga-yo?)

Non-smoking , please

금연석으로 주세요

(Geu-myeon-seo-geu-ro Ju-seh-yo.)

Would you like to order?

주문하시겠어요?

(Ju-mun ha-si-geh-sseo-yo?)

Bulgogi and Doenjangjigae, please

불고기하고 된장찌게 주세요

(Bul-go-gi-ha-go, Doen-jang-ji-gae ju-seh-yo.)

Do you need anything else?

더 필요하신거 있으세요?

(Deo Pi-ryo-ha-sin-geo yi-sseuseh-yo?)

I’m fine, thank you.

괜찮습니다.

(Gwaen- chan- seum- ni- da.)

Source: Kozine Magazine, September 2009

Dialogue: Form of Expression

How is the taste?
맛이 어때요?
(Ma-si Eot-dae-yo?)

It’s good. (It’s tasty)
좋아요. (맛있어요)
(Jo-ah-yo. (Ma-sshi-seo-yo))

How are you feeling today?
오늘 기분이 어때요?
(O-neul gi-bu-ni eot-dae-yo?)

Not bad (so so)
그저 그래요
(Geu-jeoh Geu-rae-yo.)

How is your health?
요즘 건강이 어때요?
(Yo-jeum Geon-gang-yi eot-daeyo?)

Not really good.
별로 예요
(Byeol-ro Yeh-yo)

How is your life in Singapore (Korea)?
싱가폴(한국) 생활이 어때요?
(Singapore (Han-gook) saeng-hwari eot-dae-yo?)

It’s interesting.
재미있어요.
(Je-mi isso-yo)

How is the weather in Korea?
한국 날씨는 어때요?
(Han-gook nal-ssi neun eot-daeyo?)

It’s bad.
나빠요. (Na-bba-yo)

It’s raining.
비가와요. (Bi-ga wa-yo)

Source: Kozine Magazine, August 2009

Dialogue: Asking bus / subway

Which bus are you taking?
몇 번 버스를 타세요?
myeot beon Bus-reul ta-seh yo?

I am going to take bus 77.
77번을 타요.
chil-sip-chil-beon-eul ta-yo.

Do you know how to go to Dongdaemun night market?
동대문 시장에 어떻게 가요?
Dong-dae-mun si-jang-yeh eoh ddeo-keh ga-yo?

You can go there by taking subway line no 4.
지하철 4호선을 타세요.
ji-ha-cheol sa-ho-seon-eul ta-seh-yo.

Source: Kozine Magazine, April 2009

Diary of daily life in Korean

This is a simple diary... a mundane life... :P

I wake up at 6 am every day
매일 오전 6시에 일어나요.
mae-il o-jeon yeo-seot-si-eh yi-rona-yo.

I have breakfast at 7 am
7시에 아침을 먹어요.
yil-gop-si-eh a-chim-eul meokeoh-yo

I leave my place and go to work at 8 am
8시에 집에서 나와서 회사에 가요.
yeo-deol-si-eh jip-eh-seoh na-waseoh hoi-sa-eh ga-yo

I usually have lunch with my colleagues around 12.
12시쯤에 동료하고 점심을 먹어요.
yol-du-si-zheum-eh dong-ryo-ha-go jeom-sim-eul mok-eoh-yo

I end work at 6 pm
오후 6시에 일이 끝나요.
o-hu yeo-seot-si-eh yi-ri ggeutna-yo.

I am coming back home to have dinner with my family
집에 돌아와서 가족하고 함께 저녁을 먹어요.
ji-beh do-ra-wa-seoh ga-jok-ha-go ham-ggeh jeo-nyeok-eul mok-e

Kozine Magazine, May 2009

Dialogue: 취미 (Hobby)

Minsu, what do you like to do?
민수씨는 무엇을 좋아하세요?
Min-su Ssi-neun Mu-eo-sul Jo-a-haseh-yo?

I like to watch a movie.
저는 영화 보기를 좋아해요.
Jeo-neun Yeong-Hwa Bo-gi-reul Jo-a-hae-yo.

Jane, what is your hobby?
제인 씨는 무슨 취미가 있어요?
Jane Ssi-neun Mu-seun Chui-mi-ga Yit-seoh-yo?

I like listening to music and reading a book.
제 취미는 음악 듣기와 책 읽기예요.
Jeh Chui-mi-neun Eum-ahk Deut-giwa Chaek Yil-gi-yeh-yo.

What sports do you like to play?
무슨 운동을 좋아하세요?
Mu-seun Wun-dong-eul Jo-a-haseh-yo?

I like to play tennis.
테니스(골프) 치기를 좋아해요.
Tennis(Golf) Chi-gi-reul Jo-a-hae-yo.

Source: Kozine Magazine, March 2009

Ordering drinks in a cafe

Waiter: Welcome!
어서 오세요!
(Eo-soh O-seh-yo)

Jane: Sujung, what would you like to drink?
수정 씨, 뭘 마시고 싶어요?
(Su-jung-ssi, Muol Ma-si-go Sipeoh-yo?)

Sujung: I’ll be having green tea. What about you, Jane?
저는 녹차를 마시고 싶어요. 제인 씨는요?
(Jeo-neun Nok-cha-reul Ma-si-go Si-peoh-yo. Jane ssi-neun yo?)

Jane: I want to have a cup of Café-latte.
저는 카페라떼를 마시겠어요
(Jeo-neun Café-Latte-reul Ma-sigeh-seoh-yo.)

Sujung: Would you like a slice of cake?
케이크 드실래요?
(Cake deu-sil-le-yo?)

Jane: Umm, ok, I will have a slice of cheese cake.
어, 그럼 치즈케이크 한 조각 먹을께요.
(uh, geu-rum cheez cake han jogak meo-geul-ggae-yo).

Sujung: Excuse me! Can I have one cup of green tea and a cup of café-latte?
실례합니다! 녹차하고 카페라떼주세요.
(Shil-reh ham-ni-da! Nok-cha-ha-go Café-Latte-ju-seh-yo.)

Jane: Can you please give us two glasses of water as well?
물도 두잔 주세요.
(Mul-do doo-jan ju-seh-yo.)

Waiter: Certainly. Please wait for a while.
네, 알겠습니다. 잠시만 기다리세요.
(Neh, Al-geh-seum-ni-da. Jahm-siman gi-da-ri-seh-yo.)

Waiter: Excuse me, here you are. Enjoy.
실례합니다. 여기 있습니다. 맛있게 드세요.
(Shil-reh ham-ni-da. Yeo-ki isseumni-da. Ma-shi-kke deu-se-yo.)

Source: Kozine Magazine, July 2009
Photo: Cheesecake Factory, personal collection from San Francisco, April 2009

Dialogue: Shopping 2

Ms, how much is this bag?
아주머니, 이 가방 얼마예요?
ju-mo-ni, yi ga-bang eol-ma-yeh-yo?

It’s 25000 won
이만 오천 원이에요.
yi-man o-cheon won-yi-yeh-yo.

I have no cash right now. Can I use a credit card?
지금 현금이 없어요. 카드도 돼요?
ji-geum hyun-geum-yi eop-seoh-yo.CARD-doh doaeh-yo?

Of course, you can use your credit card.
그럼요, 카드도 돼요.
Geu-rum-yo, CARD-doh doaeh-yo.

Source: Kozine Magazine, April 2009

Dialogue: Shopping 1

What do you want to do?
뭐하고 싶어요?
Mo ha-go shi-poh-yo?

I want to go shopping.
쇼핑하고 싶어요.
Sho-ping ha-go shi-poh-yo

What about tomorrow?
내일은 어때요?
Nae-il-eun uh-ttae-yo?

Okay, that’s great.
네, 좋아요.
Nae, jo-ah-yo.

What time shall we meet?
몇시에 만날까요?
Meot-shi-eh man-nal-kka-yo?

Let’s meet at 5pm.
다섯시에 만나요.
da-suh-sshi eh man-na-yo.

Do you have money?
돈 있어요?
Don ee-suh-yo?

I don’t have money.
돈 없어요.
Don op-suh-yo.

Source: Kozine Magazine, June 2009

Dialogue: Date/Day

What day is today?
오늘이 무슨 요일이에요?
o-neu-ri mu-seon yo-yi-ri-yeh-yo?

It’s Monday.
월요일이에요.
wo-ryo-il-yi-yeh-yo.

What is tomorrow’s date?
내일이 며칠이에요?
nae-yi-ri myio-chi-ri-yeh-yo?

It’s the 16th of November tomorrow.
11월 16일이에요.
sip-yil-wol sip-yuk-yil-yi-yeh-yo.

What are you going to do?
모레 뭐 할 거예요?
mo-reh mo hal geoh-yeh-yo?

I am going to watch a movie with my friends.
친구하고 같이 한국 영화를 볼 거예요.
chin-gu-ha-go ga-chi han-guk yeong-hwa-reul bol geoh-yeh-yo

Source: Kozine Magazine, May 2009

Random Dialogue

My favourite actor is Oh Ji Ho.
제가 제일 좋아하는 배우는 오지호에요.
Je-ga je-il jo-ah-ha-neun bae-wooneun Oh-Ji-Ho ee-eh-yo.

What do you want to do?
뭐하고 싶어요?
Mo ha-go shi-poh-yo?

I am going to school soon.
잠시 후 학교에 갈거예요.
Jam-shi-hoo hak-gyo-eh gal-guhye-yo.

I am going to the market to buy vegetables.
야채를 사러 시장에가요.
Ya-chae-reul sa-ruh shi-jang-eh ka-yo.

I am exercising in the park.
공원에서 운동하고 있어요.
Gong-won eh-suh oon-dong-ha-go ee-suh-yo.

Source: Kozine Magazine, June 2009

Dialogue: Office

Which floor is your office at?
사무실이 몇 층에 있어요?
sa-mu-sil-yi myeot cheung-eh yitseoh- yo?

My office is on Level 3.
3 층에 있어요
sam-cheung-eh yit-seoh-yo.

What is your phone no?
전화 번호가 몇 번이에요?
jeon-hwa beon-ho-ga myeot beonyi-yeh-yo?

My phone no. is 9876 – 5432
9876 - 5432예요. 구 팔 칠 륙에 오 사 삼 이예요.
gu-pal-chil-lyuk-eh o-sa-sam-yiyeh-yo.

Source: Kozine Magazine, April 2009

Dialogue: 생일 축하하기 (Birthday)

Minsu, do you have time for me tomorrow?
민수씨, 내일 시간 있어요?
Min-su Ssi, Nae-yil Si-gan Yitseoh-yo?

Yes, I do, why?
네, 시간 있어요. 왜요?
Neh, Si-gan Yit-seoh-yo. Wae-yo?

Please come to my house. Tomorrow is my birthday.
우리 집에 오세요. 내일이 제 생일이에요.
Wu-ri Jip-eh O-seh-yo. Nae-yil-yi Jeh Saeng-il-yi-yeh-yo.

Oh, really? Happy Birthday.
그래요? 축하합니다.
Geu-rae-yo? Chu-ka-ham-ni-da.

Source: Kozine Magazine, March 2009

Asking Questions in Korean

What is this? / What is that?
이게 뭐예요? / 저게 뭐예요?(Yi geh muo ye yo? / Juh geh muo ye yo?)

This is an apple. / That is a banana.
이건 사과예요. / 저건 바나나예요.(Yi gon sa gua ye yo. / Juh gon Banana ye yo.)

What’s your name?
이름이 뭐예요?(Yi rum yi muo ye yo?)

My name is Kim Min Su./ I am Kim Min Su
김 민수라고 합니다. / 김 민수입니다.(Kim min su ra go hahm ni da. / Kim min su yim ni da.)

Where are you from?
어디에서 왔어요?(Oh di eh suh wa ssuh yo?)

I’m from Singapore.
싱가폴에서 왔어요.(Singapore eh suh wa ssuh yo.)

How old are you?
나이가 어떻게 되세요?(Na ee ga eo ddeo ke dwae se yo?)

I’m twenty years old.
스물입니다.(Seu mul im nida.)

Where do you live?
어디에 사세요?(Eo di eh sa se yo?)

I live at joong-gu in Seoul.
서울시 중구에 삽니다.(Seoul si joong-gu eh sam ni da.)

Source: Kozine Magazine, February 2009

인사 (Greetings)

Perhaps what we all know is only Annyeong Haseyo and Thank you, i.e. 감사합니다 (gam sa ham ni da) or "gomab sumnida"

Here is a list of additional greetings in Korean.
Your welcome! /Don’t mention it!
아니에요. (a ni yeh yo)

It’s Ok
괜찮아요.(goaen cha nah yo)

I am sorry.
미안합니다. (mi an ham ni da).

Good night! / Sweet dreams!
Adult & Elderly
안녕히 주무세요. (an nyeong hi ju mu seh yo)
The answer is the same.

Friends & Kids
잘 자.(jal ja)
The answer is 너도 잘 자 (neo do jal ja)

Nice to meet you.
만나서 반갑습니다. (man na seo ban gap seum ni da)

Nice to meet you, too.
네, 반갑습니다. (ne, ban gap seum ni da)

Have a nice weekend.
주말 잘 보내세요. (ju mal jal bo nae seh yo)

Thanks, have a nice weekend, too.
네, 주말 잘 보내세요. (ne, ju mal jal bo ne seh yo)

Source: Kozine Magazine, January 2009

Sino Korean number

The second numeric system is Sino-Korean. It is used for value or phone number, account number, money, exam score, hotel room, etc.

0 = gong

1 = il ("eel" in English)

2 = i ("e" in English)

3 = sam ("some" in English)

4 = sa

5 = o

6 = yuk

7 = chil ("chill" in English)

8 = pal

9 = gu

10 = sip
...

11 = sip il

12 = sip i...

....
20 = i sip

21 = i sip il...

...
30 = sam sip

40 = sa sip...

100 = baek

1,000 = cheon

10,000 = man

100,000 = sip man

1,000,000 = baek man

10,000,000 = cheon man

1,123 = 'cheon baek i sip sam' --> omit the "eel"

15,000 = 'man o cheon'
100,590 = 'sip man o baek gu sip'

Credit: David Sentanu

Survival Korean: Countable Number

When you take a picture, you say "hana, dul, set!"
OK let's start counting in Korean. They have complicated numeric system. The first one is for countable things, e.g. age, number of persons, number of fruits...

1 = hana
2 = dul
3 = saet
4 = naet
5 = daseot
6 = yeoseot
7 = ilgop
8 = yeodorp
9 = ahop
10 = yeol

11 = yeol hana
12 = yeol dul
...

20 = seumul
21 = seumul hana
22 = seumul dul
...
30 = seoreun
40 = maheun
50 = suin
60 = yesun
70 = ilheun
80 = yeodeun
90 = aheun
100 = baek

credit: David Sentanu