Simple Korean phrases can go such a long way!

Last week I introduced 10 vital but simple expressions in Korean to you. In the second post of the series, you will learn 10 more vital but simple expressions in Korean. Hoping to help your communication with Korean speakers, I put together the following list of useful expressions in the polite spoken form and several songs for you to listen to.

11. 잠깐만요. (= 잠시만요.) (Just a moment, please.)

• This expression will be useful when you need a moment to think of Korean words to explain something or to ask someone to wait for you briefly.

ex)     A: 준비됐어요? (Are you ready?)

   B: 아니요, 잠깐만요. (No, just a moment, please.)

• This is a song “잠깐만요.” by 추가열. A guy who lost his love asks people to help him to find a way to reach his lover.

https://youtu.be/ljUZu23doCM

12. 미안해요! (= 죄송해요!)  (I am sorry!)

               ex)     A: 늦어서 미안해요! (I am sorry for being late!)

                          B: 괜찮아요. (It’s okay.)

• This is a song “미안해요” by 김건모. A guy says “미안해요” to his girl for not giving her the best that she deserves.

https://youtu.be/5YJrB5GWYyU

13. 모르겠어요. (I don’t understand, I don’t know.)

ex)     A: 거기에 어떻게 가는지 알겠어요? (Do you know how to get there?)

                          B: 아니요, 모르겠어요? (No, I don’t know.)

• This is a song “모르겠어요.” by 레이지본. It is a song about a person who is lost in his life and says I don’t know what is going on with my life.

• The following is a song “모르겠어요.” by 엠블랙 (MBLAQ). A frustrated guy is trying to figure out what his girl friend has in her mind.

14. 천천히 말씀해 주세요. (Speak more slowly, please.)

ex)     A: 알겠어요? (Did you understand?)

                          B: 아니요, 죄송해요! (No, I am sorry!)

                             천천히 말씀해 주세요. (Speak more slowly, please.)

15. 다시 말씀해 주세요. (Could you say it again, please?)

• When you didn’t catch what the other person said to you, it will be a useful expression to remember.

ex)     Teacher: 알겠어요? (Did you understand?)

                          Student: 아니요. (No.)

                                         죄송하지만, 다시 말씀해 주세요. (I am sorry, but could you say it again, please?                                                                         

16. 질문이 있어요. (I have a question.)
17. ________ 한국말로 뭐예요? (How do you say ________ in Korean?)

ex)     A: 질문이 있어요? (I have a question.)

Movie 한국말로 뭐예요? (How do you say movie in Korean?)

   B: 영화예요. (It’s 영화.)

18. ________ 이 무슨 뜻이에요?

     ________ 가 무슨 뜻이에예요?

• 입금이 무슨 뜻이에요? (What does 입금 mean?)
• 빨리빨리가 무슨뜻이에요? (What does 빨리빨리 mean?)

       * ~이/가 : subject markers in the Korean language.

ex)     입금이 무슨 뜻이에요? (What does 입금 mean?)

                           When a noun ends in a consonant: noun + 이

                         빨리빨리가 무슨뜻이에요? (What does 빨리빨리 mean?)

                           When a noun ends in a vowel: noun + 가

19. 적어주세요. (Write it down, please?)

ex)     A: 전화번호가 뭐예요? (What is your phone number?)

                         B: 제 전화 번호는 010-5678-0918 이에요. (It’s 010-5678-0918.)

   A: 미안하지만, 다시 말씀해 주세요? (I am sorry, but could you say it again, please?)

    B: 제 전화 번호는 010-5678-0987 이에요. (It’s 010-5678-0918.)

    A: 미안하지만, 적어주세요. (I am sorry, but write it down, please?)

20. 안녕히 계세요. (Goodbye to someone staying)

     안녕히 가세요. (Goodbye to someone leaving)

ex)     손님: 안녕히 계세요. (Guest: Goodbye.)

                          주인: 안녕히 가세요. (Host: Goodbye.)

Which one do you find the most useful? I would love to hear your comments.

새해 복 많이 받으세요! (Happy New Year!)

감사합니다! (Thank you!)