Common Expressions Translated Into Korean

Posted: 2007-03-19; updated: 2009-01-07

Common Expressions Translated Into Korean

In my interpretation, a common or fixed expression in a language is a phrase, clause or short sentence that is frequently used and has minimal or no change of word. Of course "do not make it spicy" is not a common expression but you are going to need that sentence in Korea if you cannot take spicy food.

Here I just focus on phrases that cannot be easily simulated by nonverbal communication (facial expression, hand signal etc) and by universally known phrases like "OK". And I avoid some dumb questions too like "Do you speak English".

In Korean an expression can be conveyed in several different sentences. I will just use the common and formal ones here. It is not that good for beginners to learn colloquial expressions.

The pronunciation here is not written according to standard Korean textbook because I think people will not pronounce Korean correctly with the existing method. So I come out with my own way of writing the pronunciation. This is not taught in school. My friends who learn Korean think that mine is practical because people commonly know how English is pronounced. For example 'aw' here is pronounced like the English word 'saw' without the 's'. Please note that "j" here does sound "j", not "y".

Anyway if you do not want to pronounce it, you can show them the Korean sentence from this list.

If you are a Korean and you want to know common expressions in English, you can work backward.

If you cannot see the Korean words in the middle column, you need to set your browser's encoding to Korean under 'View' menu. If you cannot find 'Korean' in your browser's encoding list, you need to install Korean font into your browser. You may convert the list to PDF but you should find Korean font pack for your PDF reader.

English (alphabetical order)		한글	Pronunciation (English way)
Congratulations.		축하합니다.	choog-haa-haam-nee-daa
Do not make it spicy.		맵지 않게 해주세요.	maeb-jee aan-gay hae-joo-say-yo
Excuse me.		실례합니다.	sheel-reeyay-haam-nee-daa
Goodbye. (You are leaving)		안녕히 계세요.	aan-nyawng-hee keeyay-say-yo
Goodbye. (He/she is leaving)		안녕히 가세요. or	aan-nyawng-hee kaa-say-yo.
Good luck!		해운을빌겠어요.	haeng-oo-nerl-beel-gay-saw-yo
Good night.		안녕히 주무세요.	aan-nyawng-hee joo-moo-say-yo
Happy birthday.		생일 축하합니다.	saeng-eel choog-haa-haam-nee-daa
Hi. Hello. Good morning/afternoon/evening		안녕하세요.	aan-nyawng-haa-say-yo
How are you?		어떻게 지내세요?	aw-ttaw-gay chee-nae-say-yo?
	Fine.	잘 지내요.	chaal chee-nae-yo
How much is it /are they?		얼마예요?	awl-maa-yay-yo?
I am (name).		저는 ______ 입니다.	chaw-nern ______ eem-nee-daa
I am full.		많이먹었습니다.	maa-nee maw-gawt-serm-nee-daa
I am hungry.		배고파요.	pae-go-paa-yo
I am not feeling well.		아파요.	aa-paa-yo
I am sorry.		미안합니다.	mee-aan-haam-nee-daa
	That is all right.	괜찮아요.	koaen-chaa-naa-yo
I am thirsty.		목말라요.	mog-maal-laa-yo
I like you.		당신을 좋아합니다.	taang-shee-nerl cho-aa haam-nee-daa
I truly like you.		진짜 좋아합니다.	chin-jja cho-aa haam-nee-daa
I need you.		네가 필요해.	nay-gaa pawl-yo-hae
I love you.		사랑합니다.	saa-raang-haam-nee-daa
It is delicious.		맛있어요.	maa-shee-saw-yo
Keep in touch.		접촉을 지속하다.	chawb-cho-gerl jee-soak-haa-daa
Me too.		나도.	naa-dou
Miss you.		보고싶다. (Literally it means 'want to see you')	po-go-sheep-daa
	Will miss you. (He/she is leaving)	잘 다녀오세요.	chaal daa-nyaw-o-say-yo
Never mind.		걱정마세요.	kawg-jawng-maa-say-yo
Of course.		당근이지.	taang-gurn-ee-jee
Perfect.		완벽해.	waan-byawg-hae
Pleased to meet you.		만나서 반갑습니다.	maan-naa-saw paan-gaab-serm-nee-daa
See you later.		나중에 봐요.	naa-joong-ay booa-yo
Take care.		잘 지내세요	chaal jee-nay-say-yo.
Thank you.		감사합니다.	kaam-saa-haam-nee-daa
Thanks. (to younger person)		고맙습니다.	go-maab-serm-nee-daa
	You are welcome.	천만에요.	chawn-maa-nay-yo
Where is the restroom? (or just "Restroom?")		화장실이 어디예요? (or just "화장실?". Literally 화장실 means 'makeup room')	hwaa-jaang-shee-ree aw-dee-yay-yo? (or just "hwaa-jaang-sheel?")
Welcome.		환영합니다.	hooan-yawng-ham-nee-daa
Well done. / Good job.		잘했습니다.	chaal-hat-serm-nee-daa
You are pretty.		당신은 예쁩니다.	taang-shee-nern yay-pperm-nee-daa
You can do it! (encouragement)		힘내세요!	heem-nay-say-yo

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