100 Korean Expressions You Must Know – First Day

The lesson presents 20 frequently used Korean expressions in four groups: meeting people, daily social exchanges, apologies and time-of-day greetings, and answers such as yes, no, and maybe.

1. Greetings, goodbyes, and thanks - 안녕하세요 means “Hello.” It is formal and is appropriate for a professor, teacher, parent, or a first meeting. A small bow is natural when saying it. - 안녕히 가세요 means “Goodbye” to someone who is leaving. It is formal and is also used with a small bow. - 안녕 is an informal hello or goodbye for friends. - 감사합니다 means “Thank you” in a formal situation. 고마워 is an informal “Thank you” used between friends.

2. Asking about people and meeting again - 어떻게 지내요? means “How are you?” or “What’s up?” in a polite form. With a friend, 어떻게 지내? is informal. - 잘 지내요 means “I’m doing well.” - 만나서 반가워요 means “Nice to meet you.” The informal form is 만나서 반가워. - 오랜만이에요 means “It’s been a long time.” Friends may also say 야, meaning something like “Long time!” - 또 만나요 means “See you again.” With a friend, 또 만나 is informal. 우리는 또 만나요 means “Let’s meet again.”

3. Apologies, reassurance, and greetings for the day - 죄송합니다 means “I’m sorry” in a formal situation, for example after accidentally breaking something in a shop. 미안해 is the informal form for friends. - 괜찮아요 means “It’s okay.” - 좋은 아침 means “Good morning.” It can be said cheerfully to everyone. - 잘 자요 means “Good night” or literally “Sleep well” in a polite form. 잘 자 is informal and is used with friends.

4. Agreeing, liking, disagreeing, and uncertainty - 그래요 means “Yes” or “That’s so” in a polite form. 그래 is informal. - 좋아요 means “I like it” or “Good.” 좋아 is informal. 짱 좋아 means “I really like it.” - 맞아요 means “That’s right” or “That’s true.” 맞아 is informal. - 아니에요 means “No” or “That’s not so” in a polite form. The informal form is 아니, not 아니에. - 아마도요 means “Maybe” in a polite form. 아마도 is informal.

These expressions are useful in everyday Korean. Learning the difference between polite and informal endings helps speakers choose language that fits the relationship and situation.

100 Korean Expressions You Must Know – First Day

Transcript

Useful vocabulary

Comprehension

Vocabulary quiz