I can say hello and goodbye (both to someone leaving and to someone staying), thank someone, apologize and respond to an apology, introduce myself, and get someone's attention, choosing the formal or the polite set phrase for the situation.
Polite set phrases: which phrase in which situation
Polite set phrases: which phrase in which situation
These phrases come up every day and need no grammar: learn each one whole, like a word, and choose it by the situation, not by the translation.
Many of them have two styles (see the table): formal with strangers, elders, at a first meeting, and with your boss; polite with people you know: friends, coworkers, neighbors. These are two different phrases with one meaning. The greeting is the same at any time of day: 안녕하세요; 안녕하십니까 is its formal version, which you'll hear. The casual 안녕 and 고마워 you hear in K-dramas are for close friends; this course doesn't use them yet.
Two kinds of goodbye: look at who is leaving. To the one leaving: 안녕히 가세요 (“go in peace”); to the one staying: 안녕히 계세요 (“stay in peace”). English has one “goodbye”; Korean makes you choose.
Yes is 네 (extra polite: 예), no is 아니요. The reply to an apology is 괜찮아요 (“it's OK”); 괜찮아요? as a question means “are you OK?”
실례합니다: when you come in or interrupt; 저기요: to get someone's attention; the reply to 저기요 is 네?
At a first meeting, in a chain: 처음 뵙겠습니다 → 반갑습니다 → 잘 부탁합니다. 인사 is the word for “greeting, bow”.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “안녕히 가세요” to the host when you're the one leaving → 안녕히 계세요.
• NOT “미안해요” to a teacher → 죄송합니다.
• NOT “감사합니다” in reply to “죄송합니다” → 괜찮아요.
• NOT “실례합니다” to call a waiter in a noisy room → 저기요.
One set phrase, two styles
These are different phrases with the same meaning: choose by who you're talking to.
| Situation | Formal: at work, with older strangers, in announcements | Polite: with coworkers, friends, neighbors |
|---|---|---|
| greeting | 안녕하십니까 | 안녕하세요 |
| thank you | 감사합니다 | 고마워요 |
| sorry | 죄송합니다 | 미안해요 |
| meeting someone | 처음 뵙겠습니다 · 반갑습니다 · 잘 부탁합니다 | — |
Two “goodbyes”
Look at who's leaving: to the one leaving, 가세요; to the one staying, 계세요.
| Who's leaving | You say | The reply |
|---|---|---|
| you're leaving, the host is staying | 안녕히 계세요 | 안녕히 가세요 |
| you're seeing a guest off | 안녕히 가세요 | 안녕히 계세요 |
| both are leaving | 안녕히 가세요 | 안녕히 가세요 |
Lesson notes
Polite set phrases: which phrase in which situation
These phrases come up every day and need no grammar: learn each one whole, like a word, and choose it by the situation, not by the translation.
Many of them have two styles (see the table): formal with strangers, elders, at a first meeting, and with your boss; polite with people you know: friends, coworkers, neighbors. These are two different phrases with one meaning. The greeting is the same at any time of day: 안녕하세요; 안녕하십니까 is its formal version, which you'll hear. The casual 안녕 and 고마워 you hear in K-dramas are for close friends; this course doesn't use them yet.
Two kinds of goodbye: look at who is leaving. To the one leaving: 안녕히 가세요 (“go in peace”); to the one staying: 안녕히 계세요 (“stay in peace”). English has one “goodbye”; Korean makes you choose.
Yes is 네 (extra polite: 예), no is 아니요. The reply to an apology is 괜찮아요 (“it's OK”); 괜찮아요? as a question means “are you OK?”
실례합니다: when you come in or interrupt; 저기요: to get someone's attention; the reply to 저기요 is 네?
At a first meeting, in a chain: 처음 뵙겠습니다 → 반갑습니다 → 잘 부탁합니다. 인사 is the word for “greeting, bow”.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “안녕히 가세요” to the host when you're the one leaving → 안녕히 계세요.
• NOT “미안해요” to a teacher → 죄송합니다.
• NOT “감사합니다” in reply to “죄송합니다” → 괜찮아요.
• NOT “실례합니다” to call a waiter in a noisy room → 저기요.