Say It in Korean
How to say the things you actually want to say in Korean: greetings, love, thanks, apologies and more — with the right politeness level for every situation, honest romanization, and the natural phrasing you hear in Korean dramas.
№ 01How to Say “I Love You” in Korean (and Which Version to Use)I love you in Korean is 사랑해 (saranghae) — but only with someone close. Here are all three politeness levels, who each is for, and the mistakes to avoid.№ 02How to Say Hello in Korean (Beyond 안녕하세요)Hello in Korean is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) — but Koreans greet differently by time, place and closeness. The 7 greetings you'll actually hear, explained.№ 03How to Say “Thank You” in Korean (and Which Version to Use)Thank you in Korean has four levels: 감사합니다, 고맙습니다, 고마워요, 고마워. Here's who gets which, the bow that goes with it, and why 천만에요 is a myth.№ 04How to Say “Sorry” in Korean (죄송합니다, 미안해, and When Each One Fires)Sorry in Korean splits into two families: 죄송합니다 for strangers, 미안해 for friends. The full ladder, the bump-into-someone reflex, and the word to skip.№ 05Yes and No in Korean (and the Question That Flips Them)Yes in Korean is 네 (polite) or 응 (casual); no is 아니요. But negative questions flip the logic — Korean agrees with the question, not the fact. Here's the trap.№ 06How to Say Goodbye in Korean: 안녕히 가세요 vs 안녕히 계세요Goodbye in Korean splits by who's leaving and who's staying — 안녕히 가세요 vs 안녕히 계세요 — plus casual, phone, and long-term versions Koreans actually use.№ 07How to Say Goodnight in Korean (and Which Version Fits Who)Goodnight in Korean is 잘 자요 (jal jayo), but who you're texting picks the version — the ladder, the honorific swap, and the text couples actually send.№ 08Good Morning in Korean (There's No "Morning" in It)Good morning in Korean isn't really about morning — 잘 잤어요? (jal jasseoyo?) asks how you slept. Here's the real greeting, plus 좋은 아침 and morning vocab.№ 09How to Say Happy Birthday in Korean (Plus the Actual Birthday Song)Happy birthday in Korean is 생일 축하해요 (saeng-il chukahaeyo) — the polite default, plus the honorific version for elders and the full song lyrics.№ 10I Miss You in Korean: 보고 싶어, Literally "I Want to See You"I miss you in Korean is 보고 싶어 (bo-go si-peo) — literally "I want to see you." Here's the grammar, the politeness ladder, and when to use 그리워 instead.№ 11How to Say “How Are You?” in Korean (Spoiler: You Basically Don't)How are you in Korean isn't 어떻게 지내세요? in daily life. Koreans ask 밥 먹었어?, 잘 지냈어?, or 요즘 어때? instead — here's when to use each one.№ 12What's Your Name in Korean: 이름이 뭐예요? and the Etiquette Around ItWhat is your name in Korean? It's 이름이 뭐예요? (i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo) — plus the honorific version, how to answer, and why Koreans barely use names after this.№ 13How to Say “Nice to Meet You” in Korean (and What Happens After)Nice to meet you in Korean is 반갑습니다 (bangapseumnida) or 처음 뵙겠습니다 for a first meeting — plus the bow, the handoff, and the line every introduction ends on.№ 14Cheers in Korean: 건배, 짠, and the Toasting Rules Dramas Don't ExplainCheers in Korean is 건배 (geon-bae) or 짠 (jjan) — but the real rules are who pours, how you hold your glass, and when to turn away to drink.№ 15How to Say Congratulations in Korean (and When to Bring an Envelope)Congratulations in Korean is 축하해요 (chukahaeyo). Here's the politeness ladder, occasion phrases, and the cash-envelope etiquette that goes with it.№ 16How to Say “Good Luck” in Korean (There's No Single Word for It)Good luck in Korean is 화이팅! (hwaiting) for everyday cheering — but exam day, trips, and interviews each have their own phrase. Here they all are.№ 17Cute in Korean: 귀엽다 vs 예쁘다 vs 잘생기다, and Who Each One Is ForCute in Korean is 귀엽다 (gwi-yeop-da) — but 예쁘다 (pretty) and 잘생기다 (handsome) aren't interchangeable. Here's the compliment matrix and how to conjugate each one.№ 18Beautiful in Korean: 예쁘다, 아름답다, 곱다, and Who Gets to Hear Each OneBeautiful in Korean isn't one word. 예쁘다 is everyday pretty, 아름답다 is elevated beauty, and 곱다 is your grandmother's word — here's how to tell them apart.№ 19How to Say "Delicious" in Korean (and How Koreans Actually Say It)Delicious in Korean is 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) — pronounced with a linked "si," not spelled out. The real pronunciation, slang upgrades, and the full table ritual.№ 20How to Say "I Don't Know" in Korean (Without Sounding Rude)I don't know in Korean is 몰라 (casual) or 모르겠어요 (polite) — but pick wrong and it sounds like a dismissal, not an honest answer. Here's the full ladder.№ 21How to Say “I Don't Understand” in Korean (and What to Say Next)I don't understand in Korean is 이해가 안 돼요 for concepts, 못 알아들었어요 for speech you missed — plus the phrases to ask someone to repeat or slow down.№ 22What in Korean: 뭐, 뭐야, 뭐라고 and Their Very Different Vibes"What" in Korean is 뭐 (mwo) — but 뭐야, 뭐라고, and 무엇 all shift the meaning depending on tone. Here's how to tell the family apart.№ 23How to Say “Shut Up” in Korean (and Why You Probably Shouldn't)Shut up in Korean isn't one phrase — it's a ladder from polite request to genuine insult. Here's 조용히 해 vs 그만해 vs 닥쳐, and which one subtitles get wrong.№ 24Please in Korean: Why There's No One Word for ItThere's no direct translation for please in Korean. Politeness lives inside the verb ending itself — here's how 주세요, 좀, and 부탁해요 actually work.№ 25How to Say “Excuse Me” in Korean (You Need Three, Not One)Excuse me in Korean isn't one word — it's 저기요 to get attention, 실례합니다 for a formal interruption, and 잠시만요 to squeeze past. Here's which one fits which moment.№ 26How to Say “You're Welcome” in Korean (It's Not 천만에요)You're welcome in Korean is rarely 천만에요 — real speakers say 아니에요, 네~, or 별말씀을요. Here's the deflection logic behind each one and when to use it.№ 27Friend in Korean: Why 친구 Only Works Between People Your AgeFriend in Korean is 친구 (chingu) — but it's not for everyone you like. It's reserved for people born the same year as you. Here's what to call the rest.№ 28Happy New Year in Korean: 새해 복 많이 받으세요Happy New Year in Korean is 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (sae-hae bok ma-ni ba-deu-se-yo) — 'receive lots of luck.' The grammar, the two new years, and sebae etiquette.№ 29Merry Christmas in Korean — and Why It's Not About Family DinnerMerry Christmas in Korean is 메리 크리스마스 — but Christmas Day itself runs on couples and cake reservations, not family dinner. Here's what Koreans actually say.№ 30Hungry in Korean: 배고파 and the Full Food-Feelings VocabularyHungry in Korean is 배고파 (bae-go-pa), or 배고파요 when polite. Here's its anatomy, the food-feelings vocabulary set, and why asking it is a Korean love language.№ 31Let's Eat in Korean: 밥 먹자 and Why Korean Runs on RiceLet's eat in Korean is 밥 먹자 (casual) or 식사하세요 (polite) — but 밥 means both 'rice' and 'meal,' and the phrase carries more care than the English ever will.№ 32How Old Are You in Korean — and Why It Comes Up So FastHow old are you in Korean is 몇 살이에요? (casual) or 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (respectful). Here's the full age-asking ladder, how to answer, and what changed in 2023.№ 33Where Is the Bathroom in Korean? 화장실 어디예요? and What Comes BackWhere is the bathroom in Korean is 화장실이 어디예요? (hwa-jang-sil-i eo-di-ye-yo?) — but the real skill is decoding the pointed, one-word answer you get back.№ 34How to Ask “How Much” in Korean — and Actually Understand the AnswerHow much in Korean is 얼마예요? (eol-ma-ye-yo). The real skill isn't asking — it's decoding the number that comes back, like 만오천 원. Full script here.№ 35Help in Korean: 도와주세요 vs 살려주세요 — Know the DifferenceHelp in Korean is 도와주세요 for everyday asks, but 살려주세요 for real danger. Learn both, plus 119, 112, and the line to use for an injured stranger.№ 36I Like You in Korean: 좋아해 and How Korean Confessions Actually WorkI like you in Korean is 좋아해 (joahae) — but it's a different verb than 좋아 (joa), and Korean dating runs on a confession script Western dating doesn't have.№ 37What Are You Doing in Korean: 뭐 해? — Korea's Real 'Hey'What are you doing in Korean is 뭐 해? (mwo hae) — but it's not a literal question. It's Korea's default "I'm bored, talk to me" text, flirt subtext included.№ 38See You Later in Korean: 또 봐요, 이따 봐, 나중에 봐See you later in Korean isn't one phrase — it's a menu. 이따 봐, 나중에 봐 and 내일 봐 each promise a different day, and mixing them up sends the wrong signal.№ 39How to Say “Take Care” in Korean — It's Actually Four Different PhrasesTake care in Korean isn't one phrase — it's four: travel-safe, long goodbye, health-focused, and the one reserved for elders.№ 40How to Say No Politely in Korean (Without Actually Saying No)How to say no in korean without the awkward silence — the soft-refusal phrases Koreans actually use, from 좀 어려울 것 같아요 to the elder food ritual.