Korean (North) Phrasebook: Greetings & Essential Phrases
The most useful Korean (North) words and phrases for travelers — greetings, polite basics, numbers, directions and more — each with a simple pronunciation guide. This is a preview of the full phrasebook content.
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Greetings & IntroductionsCommon Words & QuestionsNumbersDays & TimeDirectionsLocationsFoodLodgingMedicalBody PartsEmergenciesWeatherDescriptionsFamilyOccupationsCustomsFuel & Vehicle
Greetings & Introductions 10 phrases
Welcome.환영(歡迎)합니다.hwanyŏng hamnida
Hello.여보세요.yŏboseyo
Good morning.안녕(安寧)하십니까.annyŏng hashimnikka
Good night.안녕(安寧)히 주무십시요.annyŏnghi cumushipshiyo
Good bye.안녕(安寧)히 가십시요.annyŏnghi kashipshiyo
How are you?잘 지내십니까?cal cinaeshimnikka?
I’m fine, thanks, and you?별(別)일 없습니다. 어떻게 지내십니까?pyŏril ŏpsŭmnida, ŏttŏkhe cinaeshimnikka?
I’m pleased to meet you.만나서 반갑습니다.mannasŏ pangapsŭmnida
Thank you for your help.도와주셔서 감사(感謝)합니다.towajushyŏsŏ kamsa hamnida
My name is ___.제 이름은___입니다.ce irŭmŭn ___ imnida
Common Words & Questions 30 phrases
Please.제발cebal
Thank you.고맙다.komapta
Can someone assist us?누가 도와줄 수 있습니까?nuga towajul su issŭmnikka?
OK알았습니다.arassŭmnida
Excuse me. / I’m sorry.실례(失禮)합니다.shille hamnida
Yes네ne
No아닙니다.animnida
Maybe글쎄.kŭlsse
Right맞습니다.massŭmnida
Wrong틀립니다.thŭllimnida
Here여기yŏgi
There거기kŏgi
I want원(願)합니다.wŏn hamnida
I do not want원(願)하지 않습니다.wŏn haji ansŭmnida
Danger위험(危險)wihŏm
OK, no problem.문제(問題) 없습니다.munje ŏpsŭmnida
Who?누구요?nuguyo?
What?무엇이요?muŏshiyo?
When?언제입니까?ŏnje imnikka?
Where?어디입니까?ŏdi imnikka?
Why?왜요?waeyo?
How?어떻게요?ŏttŏkhe yo?
What happened?무슨 일입니까?musŭn il imnikka?
Do you have ___?___을 가지고 있습니까?___ ŭl kajigo issŭmnikka?
Do you need help?도움이 필요(必要)합니까?toumi phiryo hamnikka?
I am저는cŏnŭn
You are당신(當身)은tangshinŭn
He / She is그 남자(男子) /그 여자(女子)는kŭ namja / kŭ yŏja nŭn
We are우리는urinŭn
They are그들은kŭdŭrŭn
Numbers 41 phrases
0 Zero영(零)yŏng
1 One하나hana
2 Two둘tul
3 Three셋set
4 Four넷net
5 Five다섯tasŏt
6 Six여섯yŏsŏt
7 Seven일곱ilgop
8 Eight여덟yŏdŏl
9 Nine아홉ahop
10 Ten열yŏl
11 Eleven열 하나yŏlhana
12 Twelve열 둘yŏldul
13 Thirteen열 셋yŏl set
14 Fourteen열 넷yŏl net
15 Fifteen열 다섯yŏl tasŏt
16 Sixteen열 여섯yŏl yŏsŏt
17 Seventeen열 일곱yŏl ilgop
18 Eighteen열 여덟yŏl yŏdŏl
19 Nineteen열 아홉yŏl ahop
20 Twenty스물sŭmul
30 Thirty서른sŏrŭn
40 Forty마흔mahŭn
50 Fifty쉰shin
60 Sixty예순yesun
70 Seventy일흔ilhŭn
80 Eighty여든yŏdŭn
90 Ninety아흔ahŭn
100 Hundred백(百)paek
1,000 Thousand천(千)chŏn
10,000 Ten Thousand만(萬)man
100,000 Hundred Thousand십만(十萬)shimman
1,000,000 Million백만(百萬)paengman
Plus더하기tŏhagi
Minus빼기ppaegi
More (than)더tŏ
Less (than)덜tŏl
Approximately약yak
First첫번째chŏppŏnccae
Second두번째tubŏnccae
Third세번째sebŏnccae
Days & Time 25 phrases
Sunday일요일(日曜日)iryoil
Monday월요일(月曜日)wŏryoil
Tuesday화요일(火曜日)hwayoil
Wednesday수요일(水曜日)suyoil
Thursday목요일(木曜日)mogyoil
Friday금요일(金曜日)kŭmyoil
Saturday토요일(土曜日)thoyoil
Yesterday어제ŏje
Today오늘onŭl
Tomorrow내일naeil
Day하루haru
Night밤pam
Week주(週)cu
Month달tal
Year해hae
Second초(秒)cho
Minute분(分)pun
Hour시간(時間)shigan
Morning아침achim
Evening저녁cŏnyŏk
Noon정오(正午)cŏng’o
Afternoon오후(午後)ohu
Midnight자정(子正)cajŏng
Now지금(只今)cigŭm
Later나중에najung e
Directions 26 phrases
Above / Over위/넘어wi / nŏmŏ
After / Past후(後)/지난hu / cinan
Back / Behind뒤twi
Before / In front of / Forward전(前)/앞/앞으로cŏn / ap / aphŭro
Between사이sai
Coordinates좌표(座標)cwaphyo
Degrees각도(角度)kakto
Down아래arae
East동(東)쪽tongccok
Far멀리mŏlli
Longitude경도(經度)kyŏngdo
Left왼쪽oenccok
Latitude위도(緯度)wido
My position is ___.내 위치(位置)는 ___nae wichinŭn ___
Near근처(近處)kŭnchŏ
North북(北)쪽pukccok
Northeast동북쪽tongbukccok
Northwest서북(西北)쪽sŏbukccok
Right오른쪽orŭnccok
South남(南)쪽namccok
Southeast동남(東南)쪽tongnamccok
Southwest서남(西南)쪽sŏnamccok
Straight ahead직진(直進)cikcin
Under아래arae
Up위wi
West서(西)쪽sŏccok
Locations 25 phrases
Beach바닷가padakka
Border국경(國境)kukkyŏng
Bridge다리tari
Camp야영장(野營場)yayŏngjang
Dirt road흙길hŭkkil
Forest숲속supsok
Harbor항구(港口)hanggu
Hill고개kogae
House집cip
Lake호수(湖水)hosu
Meadow목초지(牧草地)mokchoji
Mountain산(山)san
Ocean대양(大洋)taeyang
Path오솔길osolgil
Paved road포장도로(鋪裝道路)phojangdoro
Place장소(場所)cangso
Position위치(位置)wichi
River강(江)kang
Road길kil
Sea바다pada
Square광장(廣場)kwangjang
Tree나무namu
Valley계곡(溪谷)kegok
Village마을maŭl
Where?어디?ŏdi?
Food 45 phrases
Food음식(飮食)ŭmshik
Can통(桶)조림thongjorim
Cup잔(盞)can
Fork포크phokhŭ
Knife칼khal
Plate접시cŏpshi
Spoon숟가락sutkarak
Beans콩khong
Beer맥주(麥酒)maekcu
Bread밀가루 덩어리milgaru tŏng’ŏri
Butter우유(牛乳) 덩어리uyudŏng’ŏri
Cheese치즈chijŭ
Coffee커피khŏphi
Fish생선(生鮮)saengsŏn
Flour밀가루milgaru
Fruit과일kwail
Meat고기kogi
Milk소젖sojŏt
Oil기름kirŭm
Potatoes감자kamja
Rice밥pap
Salt소금sogŭm
Soup국kuk
Sugar설탕(雪糖)sŏlthang
Tea차(茶)cha
Vegetables남새namsae
Water물mul
Wine포도주(葡萄酒)phodoju
Drink음료수(飮料水)ŭmnyosu
Eat먹다mŏkta
Don’t push! We have plenty of food.밀지 마세요! 음식(飮食)은 충분(充分)합니다.miljimaseyo! ŭmshigŭn chungbun hamnida
Give me your bowl.그릇을 주세요.kŭrŭsŭl cuseyo
Is the water safe to drink?이 물을 마셔도 됩니까?i murŭl mashyŏdo toemnikka?
Boil the water.물을 끓이세요.murŭl kkŭriseyo
Wash your hands.손 씻으세요.son sshisŭseyo
Wash yourself here.여기서 씻으세요.yŏgisŏ sshisŭseyo
We need ___ liters of potable water.휴대용(携帶用) 물이 ___리터 필요(必要)합니다.hyudaeyong muri ___ rithŏ phiryo hamnida
Where is the latrine?변소(便所)가 어딥니까?pyŏnsoga ŏdimnikka?
The latrine is to the ___.변소(便所)는 ___ 있습니다.pyŏnsonŭn ___ issŭmnida
The latrine is to the left.변소(便所)가 왼쪽에 있습니다.pyŏnsoga oenccoge issŭmnida
The latrine is to the right.변소(便所)가 오른쪽에 있습니다.pyŏnsoga orŭnccoge issŭmnida
The latrine is straight ahead.변소(便所)가 바로 앞에 있습니다.pyŏnsoga paro aphe issŭmnida
Is the food fresh?음식(飮食)이 신선(新鮮)합니까?ŭmshigi shinsŏn hamnikka?
Is the food spoiled?음식(飮食)이 썩었습니까?ŭmshigi ssŏgŏssŭmnikka?
Burn this ___.이 ___을 태우세요.i ___ ŭl thaeuseyo
Lodging 9 phrases
We must spend the night here.여기서 묵어야 합니다yŏgisŏ mugŏya hamnida
Is there a dining facility here?이곳에 식당(食堂)이 있습니까?igose shiktang’i issŭmnikka?
How many kilometers to the nearest town?제일(第一) 가까운 마을까지 몇 키로 입니까?ceil kakkaun maŭlkkaji myŏt khiro imnikka?
Are there any hotels near here?근처(近處)에 려관(旅館)이 있습니까?khŭnchŏ e ryŏgwani issŭmnikka?
Are there any restaurants near here?근처(近處)에 식당(食堂)이 있습니까?khŭnchŏ e shiktang’i issŭmnikka?
We want to go to ___.___에 가고 싶습니다.___ e kago shipsŭmnida
Are there rental cars available?차(車)를 빌릴 수 있습니까?charŭl pillil su issŭmnikka?
Is there a telephone available?전화(電話)를 사용(使用)할 수 있습니까?cŏnhwarŭl sayong hal su issŭmnikka?
We need ___ gallons of potable water.물 ___갤론이 필요(必要)합니다.mul ___ kaelloni phiryo hamnida
Medical 33 phrases
Antibiotics항생제(抗生劑)hangsaengje
Bandage반창고(絆創膏)panchanggo
Blood피phi
Burn화상(火傷)hwasang
Clean세척(洗滌)sechŏk
Dead사망(死亡)samang
Doctor의사(醫師)ŭisa
Fever열(熱)yŏl
Hospital병원(病院)pyŏng’wŏn
Infection감염(感染)kamyŏm
Injured부상(負傷)pusang
Malnutrition영양실조(營養失調)yŏngyang shiljo
Medic위생병(衛生兵)wisaengbyŏng
Medicine약(藥)yak
Nurse간호사(看護師)kanhosa
Poison독(毒)tok
Sick아픈aphŭn
Vitamins영양제(營養劑)yŏngyangje
Wound부상(負傷)pusang
I am a doctor.의사(醫師)입니다.ŭisa imnida
I am not a doctor.의사(醫師)가 아닙니다.ŭisaga animnida
I am going to help.도와 주러 갑니다.towajurŏ kamnida
Can you walk?걸을 수 있어요?kŏrŭl su issŏyo?
Can you sit?앉을 수 있습니까?anjŭl su issŭmnikka?
Can you stand?설수 있습니까?sŏl su issŭmnikka?
Are you in pain?고통(苦痛)스럽습니까?kothong sŭrŏpsŭmnikka?
You will get a shot. (injection)주사(注射)를 맞을 겁니다.cusarŭl majŭlgŏmnida
I will take you to the hospital.병원(病院)에 모시고 갈겁니다.pyŏng’wŏne moshigo kalgŏmnida
What is wrong?문제(問題)가 있습니까?munjega issŭmnikka?
Are you injured?다쳤습니까?tachyŏssŭmnikka?
Can you feed yourself?혼자 먹을 수 있습니까?honja mŏgŭl su issŭmnikka?
Open your mouth.입을 벌리세요.ibŭl pŏlliseyo
Are you pregnant?임신(妊娠)했습니까?imshin haessŭmnikka?
Body Parts 36 phrases
Abdomen복부(腹部)pokpu
Ankle발목palmok
Arm팔phal
Bone뼈ppyŏ
Brain뇌(腦)noe
Chest가슴kasŭm
Ear귀kwi
Elbow팔꿈치phalkkumchi
Eyes눈nun
Face얼굴olgul
Finger손가락songarak
Foot발pal
Hair머리카락mŏrikharak
Hand손son
Head머리mŏri
Heart심장(心臟)shimjang
Kidney콩팥khongphat
Knee무릎murŭp
Leg다리tari
Lips입술ipsul
Liver간(肝)kan
Lungs폐(肺)phe
Mouth입ip
Neck목mok
Nose코kho
Pelvis / Groin골반(骨盤)kolban
Ribs갈비뼈kalbippyŏ
Shoulder어깨ŏkkae
Skull두개골(頭蓋骨)tugaegol
Spine척추(脊椎)chŏkchu
Stomach (area)복부(腹部)pokpu
Stomach (organ)위(胃)wi
Teeth치아(齒牙)chia
Toe발톱palthop
Tongue혀hyŏ
Wrist손목sonmok
Emergencies 5 phrases
Emergency!비상! (非常)pisang!
We need a doctor!의사(醫師)가 필요(必要)하다!ŭisaga phiryohada!
Distress signal조난 신호 (遭難信號)chonan shinho
Help!구(救)해줘!kuhaejwŏ!
Evacuate the area!대피(待避)하라!taephihara!
Weather 20 phrases
Cold추운chuun
Dry마른marŭn
Earthquake지진(地震)cijin
Fog안개angae
High winds강풍(强風)kangphung
Hot더운tŏun
Humidity습기(濕氣)sŭpki
Ice얼음ŏrŭm
Lightning번개pŏngae
Rain비pi
Sandstorm모래 폭풍(暴風)morae phokphung
Severe심(甚)한shimhan
Snow눈nun
Storm폭풍(暴風)phokphung
Temperature기온(氣溫)kion
Thunder storm천둥chŏndung
Weather날씨nalsshi
Wet축축한chukchukhan
Typhoon태풍(颱風)thaephung
Tornado회오리 바람hoe ori param
Descriptions 69 phrases
Black검은색(色)kŏmŭnsaek
Blue파란색(色)pharansaek
Brown갈색(褐色)kalsaek
Gray회색(灰色)hoesaek
Green초록색(草綠色)choroksaek
Orange주황색(朱黃色)cuhwangsaek
Purple보라색(色)porasaek
Red빨간색ppalgansaek
White하얀색(色)hayansaek
Yellow노란색(色)noransaek
Big큰khŭn
Deep깊은kiphŭn
Long긴kin
Narrow좁은cobŭn
Short (in height)작은cagŭn
Short (in length)짧은ccalbŭn
Small, little작은, 적은cagŭn, cŏgŭn
Tall큰khŭn
Thick두꺼운tukkŏun
Thin얇은yalbŭn
Wide넓은nŏlbŭn
Round동그란tonggŭran
Straight곧은kodŭn
Square네모난nemonan
Triangular세모난semonan
Bitter쓴ssŭn
Fresh싱싱한shingshinghan
Salty짠ccan
Sour신shin
Spicy매운maeun
Sweet단tan
Bad나쁜nappŭn
Clean깨끗한kkaekkŭthan
Dark어두운ŏduun
Difficult어려운ŏryŏun
Dirty더러운tŏrŏun
Dry마른marŭn
Easy쉬운shiun
Empty빈pin
Expensive비싼pissan
Fast빠른pparŭn
Foreign외국(外國)의oeguge
Full가득한kadŭkhan
Good좋은coŭn
Hard (firm)단단한tandanhan
Heavy무거운mugŏun
Inexpensive싼ssan
(electric) light전등(電燈)cŏndŭng
Light (weight)가벼운kabyŏun
Local지역(地域)ciyŏk
New새로운saeroun
Noisy시끄러운shikkŭrŏun
Old (about things)낡은nalgŭn
Old (about people)늙은nŭlgŭn
Powerful강(强)한kanghan
Quiet (person)얌전한yamjŏnhan
Right / Correct맞다matta
Slow늦은nŭjŭn
Soft부드러운pudŭrŏun
Very매우maeu
Weak약(弱)한yakhan
Wet젖은cŏjŭn
Wrong / Incorrect틀린thŭllin
Young젊은cŏlmŭn
Few / Little적은jŏgŭn
Many / Much많은manŭn
Part부분(部分)pubun
Some / A few몇몇myŏnmŏt
Whole전체(全體)cŏnche
Family 21 phrases
Aunt이모(姨母)/고모(姑母)imo / komo
Brother형제(兄弟)hyŏngje
Child아이ai
Children어린이들ŏrinidŭl
Cousin조카cokha
Daughter딸ttal
Family가족(家族)kajok
Father아버지abŏji
Grandfather할아버지harabŏji
Grandmother할머니halmŏni
Husband남편(男便)namphyŏn
Man남자(男子)namja
Men남자(男子)namja
Mother어머니ŏmŏni
Relatives친척(親戚)chinchŏk
Sister자매(姉妹)camae
Son아들adŭl
Uncle삼촌(三寸)samchon
Wife아내anae
Woman여자(女子)yŏja
Women여자(女子)yŏja
Occupations 25 phrases
Air Force공군(空軍)konggun
Army육군(陸軍)yukkun
Marines해병대(海兵隊)haebyŏngdae
Navy해군(海軍)haegun
Air Defense방공(防空)panggong
Commander지휘자(指揮者)cihwija
Dentist치과의사(齒科醫師)chigwa ŭisa
Doctor의사(醫師)ŭisa
Driver운전사(運轉士)unjŏnsa
Farmer농부(農夫)nongbu
Fisherman어부(漁夫)ŏbu
Government employee정무원(政務員)cŏngmuwŏn
Guard경비원(警備員)kyŏngbiwŏn
Housewife주부(主婦)cubu
Laborer노동자(勞動者)nodongja
Mechanic기술자(技術者)kisulja
Messenger배달부(配達夫)paedalbu
Pilot조종사(操縱士)cojongsa
Policeman경찰관(警察官)kyŏngchalgwan
Sailor선원(船員)sŏnwŏn
Businessman사업가(事業家)saŏpka
Shopkeeper가게 주인(主人)kage cuin
Soldier군인(軍人)gunin
Student학생(學生)haksaeng
Teacher선생(先生)님sŏnsaengnim
Customs 67 phrases
Where is my customs declaration?세관신고서(稅關申告書)가 어디 있습니까?segwanshingosŏga odi issŭmnikka?
I do not have anything to declare.신고(申告)할 것이 없습니다.shingohal kŏshi ŏpsŭmnida
These goods are personal.이 물품(物品)들은 제 개인용품(個人用品)입니다.i mulphumdŭrŭn ce kaeinyongphum imnida
Not for sale.판매(販賣)하는 것이 아닙니다.phanmaehanŭn kŏshi animnida
Can you help me fill out the forms?양식(樣式) 작성(作成)하는 것 좀 도와 주세요?yangshik caksŏnghanŭngŏt com towajuseyo?
Is this correct?이것이 맞습니까?igŏshi massŭmnikka?
Here is my passport.여권(旅券) 여기 있습니다.yŏgwŏn yŏgi issŭmnida
Here is my visa.비자 여기 있습니다.pija yŏgi issŭmnida
I have no Won.한국(韓國) 돈이 없습니다.hanguk toni ŏpsŭmnida
Ad valorem종가세(從價稅)conggase
Ammunition탄약(彈藥)thanyak
Baggage수하물(手荷物)suhamul
Bill of lading선하증권(船荷證券)sŏnha cŭnggwŏn
Cargo화물(貨物)hwamul
Customs세관(稅關)segwan
Customs declaration세관 신고서(稅關申告書)segwan shingosŏ
Customs tax관세(關稅)kwanse
Customs worker세관원(稅關員)segwanwŏn
Damaged손해(損害)sonhae
Delivery배달(配達)paedal
Duty의무(義務)ŭimu
Expenditures지출(支出)cichul
Export수출(輸出)suchul
False허위(虛僞)hŏwi
Foreign currency외화(外貨)oehwa
Form (document)양식(樣式)yangshik
Holding보유(保留)poyu
Import수입(輸入)suip
Insurance보험(保險)pohŏm
jurisdiction관할권(管轄權)kwanhalgwŏn
Loading숙소(宿所)sukso
Name of goods상품명(商品名)sangphummyŏng
Narcotics마약(痲藥)mayak
National treasure국보(國寶)kukpo
Nomenclature목록(目錄)mongnok
On-board탑승(搭乘)thapsŭng
Origin출발지(出發地)chulbalji
Owner주인(主人)cuin
Packing list짐 목록(目錄)cim mongnok
Passport여권(旅券)yŏgwŏn
Permission허가(許可)hŏga
Personal use개인 소지품(個人所持品)kaein sojiphum
Personnel개인(個人)kaein
Prohibited금지(禁止)kŭmji
Property소유물(所有物)soyumul
Rate운송료(運送料)unsongnyo
Rate of exchange환율(換率)hwanyul
Receipt수령증(受領證)suryŏngjŭng
Relics유품(遺品)yuphum
Restricted제한구역(制限區域)cehanguyŏk
Souvenir기념품(紀念品)kinyŏmphum
Specification명세서(明細書)myŏngsesŏ
Storage창고(倉庫)changgo
Tariff관세(關稅)kwanse
Tax-free면세(免稅)myŏnse
To answer회답(回答)하다hoedaphada
To be responsible for책임(責任)을 지다chaekimŭl jida
To export수출(輸出)하다suchul hada
To fill out기입(記入)하다kiiphada
To present for customs inspection세관검사(稅關檢査)를 받다segwan kŏmsarŭl patta
Transportation교통 수단(交通 手段)kyothong sudan
Unloading짐을 내리다.cimŭl naerida
Valuables귀중품(貴重品)gwijungphum
Value가치(價値)kachi
Visa비자pija
Weapons무기(武器)mugi
X-ray machine엑스레이 기계(機械)eksŭrei kige
Fuel & Vehicle 14 phrases
Gasoline휘발유(揮發油)hwibaryu
Oil기름kirŭm
Diesel경유(輕油)kyŏng’yu
Gas (propane)가스kasŭ
Liters리터rithŏ
Do you have___?___가지고 있습니까?___ kajigo issŭmnikka?
Hydraulic fluid유압장치(油壓裝置) 기름yuapcangchi kirŭm
Hydraulic system유압장치(油壓裝置)yuapcangchi
We need maintenance support.수리(修理)하는데 도움이 필요(必要)합니다.suri hanŭnde toumi phiryo hamnida
We need ___.___가 필요(必要)합니다.___ ga phiryo hamnida
400-cycle400-사이클sabaek-saikhŭl
3-phase3-단계(段階)sam-dange
Alternating current교류 전류(交流電流)kyoryu cŏllyu
115-volt115-볼트paekshibo polthŭ
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