This is a very basic introduction to the Korean language. It should help you a little at the beginning of your time in Korea, but you should definitely seek out real instruction if you wish to continue.

If you are interested in learning Korean, there will be many opportunities available to you. You can ask the Korean staff at your school and see if they know anyone who would be interested in a language exchange of sorts (you learning Korean and your teacher practicing and learning English). It is recommended that your teachers have a strong command of English to begin with, it is often difficult to find someone who is very effective in both languages.

You can also check at the university -- they usually offer a beginner and intermediate course for foreigners, which has had some very good reviews (it is usually offered at around 300,000 won for 6 hrs/wk, for one semester). In Ulsan, you can check with the Hyundai cultural center for Korean language classes. At present they run a class on Saturdays for 30,000 won/3 months (this is a great idea for people who are new).

The Alphabet 

At present, there are 40 letters/characters in the Korean alphabet. There are 21 vowels and 19 consonants. 24 are considered basic letters while the remaining 16 are compounds formed from the basic letters.

There are 14 consonants:

Then there are also 7 dipthongs in the vowel category, which are combinations of 2 basic vowels with a placemarker at the beginning:

Vowels and consonants can not be written individually. This is the Yin-Yang notion seen in the written language. Therefore, a vowel must accompany a consonant and vice-versa.

By combining a consonant and a vowel you get the phonetic parts of the language;

ㄱ + ㅏ = 가 (gah)

ㄱ + ㅑ = 갸 (gyah)

ㄱ + ㅓ = 거 (guh)

ㄱ + ㅕ = 겨 (gyuh)

With this information you have a very basic idea of how the written language is brought together. Try to practice reading anything you look at and trying to read what you see. It is not important that you understand what you are reading but that you can do it.  The understanding will come later as you familiarize yourself with Korean vocabulary. Also, ask a Korean for the exact pronunciation so that you are not practicing the wrong things. It is especially important for you to learn how to read when you go out to restaurants as you will be able to identify those items on the menu you enjoy eating....and avoiding those you don't.

Korean can be quite easy to read but more difficult to understand, unlike English which is difficult to read as there are so many rules that apply under different circumstances.

Here are some useful things to know that will help you as you begin your study of the Korean language.

Numbers

There are 2 number systems. Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers. One system is used for the purpose of counting things, people, etc., and the other is used to describe order and count money.

The Korean number system is as follows:

This number system is used for counting. The part of the word that follows the (/) is the part that is dropped when you count actual physical things. The ending you place after the slash is determined by what you are counting;

For people add the ending is “myeong.”

For containers or bottles, “byeong.”

For animals it is “mah ree.”

For most other things, add “gae” to the end.

So two people, “Doo myung.” Three bottles, “Se byung.” Four animals, “Ne mahree.” Five things, “Daseot gae~.”

These numbers can also be used to tell the time, example: 1:00, “Han she.” 2:00, “Doo she.” 12:00, “Yeol doo she.” (10+2) Etc… For minutes in an hour you use the Sino-Korean number system.

The Sino-Korean number system is important for counting money (Korean money is called won):

So if you want to say:

12, “Ship Ee.” (10 + 2)

24, “Ee Ship Sah.” (two 10's + 4)

137, “Baek Sam Ship Chil.” (100 + three 10's + 7)

When buying things you will be quoted a price like “Man Ee Chun Oh Baek won,” which is 12,500 won.

Going back to the time example, if the time is 2:30, then in Korean it is – “Doo she, Sam ship boon.” Boon means minutes, or parts.

Honorific Language Use

As mentioned before, Korean is a language with different honorific levels and a person shows a different level of courtesy through the ways they use the language. The clearest example of this can be seen in the endings that Koreans use when they speak. The different endings are as follows, in descending order:

~imneeka/~imneeda (Very Formal) - is used when speaking to people above you or older than you.

 ~sayo (Polite/Semi-formal) - is used when speaking to friends or those the same age or position as yourself.

~nee, and no ending - These last 2 are used with those younger or of lower social station than yourself, such as children. It is also common to speak informally between close friends.

Example:

Hello is – An yeong ha da. So when saying hello with the most respect you would say, “An yeong ha shimneeka.” To someone you are friends with, “An yeong ha sayo.” And to a child you would say, “An yeong.”

Don’t get too stuck on this idea, just try to use it when you are speaking your limited Korean and you will begin to remember when to use the proper respect level. Also, just try to follow the same style as the person you are speaking with and if in doubt always go for the highest respect level and you should be fine. Adding "yo" to the end of most phrases will usually be sufficient as well. Koreans understand that you are a foreigner and are often happy just to see that you are making an effort to learn their language.

Some Common Useful Expressions

Most Korean phrases are constructed to Subject-Object-Verb. Unlike English, which are usually Subject Verb-Object.

Example, "I'm going to the market", in Korean, would be "Nahneun shijang kayo" which literally means, "I market go".

Now here are some common useful expressions you will need (just add the proper honorific after the slash):

Hello – Anyeong ha sayo. (안녕하세요)

Good-bye – Anyeong hee kasayo (if the person is leaving and you are staying or leaving) (안녕히가세요)

Good-bye – Anyeong hee kyaesayo (if you are leaving and the other person is staying) (안녕히계세요)

How much is it? – All ma yae yo? (얼마예요?)

Please do/give/etc… - ~Jew sayo. (~주세요.) This is placed at the end of any command you may wish to give. Such as, “Orange juice jew sayo.” “Please give me orange juice.”

To be cheap – Sah /da (싸다)

• 다 is the ending for the basic verb form ("be"verbs). To use the verb in an expression, drop the 다 and add the proper ending (depending on what you are saying)            

To be expensive – Pee sah /da (비싸다)

To do – Ha /da (하다) This verb is the most commonly used.

To eat – Mok /da (먹다) “Bop mok ha sayo?” This literally means, “Did you eat rice?” but is commonly used to ask "Did you eat?"

To give – Jew /da (주다)

To go – Ga /da (가다) When you ride in a taxi, just say where you want to go followed by Ga jew sayo. Example, “Mugeo she jhang ga jew sayo.” This means, “Go to Mugeo market please.”

To help – Doh wah jew /da (도와주다)

• “Please help me.” (도와주세요.) “Doe wah jew sayo.”

To look – Boh /da (보다)

Who…? – Nu goo…? (누구…?)    

• “Who are you?” – “Nu goo sayo?” (누구세요?)
• I am John – Nah neun John imneeda. (나는 존 입니다.)

What…? – Muh…? (뭐…?)

• “What is your job?” – “Moo seun il hasayo?” (무슨 일 하세요?)
• I’m a teacher at a private academy – Nah Neun hakwon gang sah imneeda. (나는 학완강사 입니다.)

Where…? – Aw Dee…? (어디…?) 

• “Where are you from?” – “Aw dee seo wah seoyo?”  (어디서 왔어요?)

• “I’m from Canada” – “Nah nin Canada ae sah wahsuhyo.” (나는 케나다에서 왔어요.)

When…? – Un Jay…? (언제…?)

• “When are you going home?” – “Uhn jay jib eh gasayo?”(언제 집에가세요?)
• “I’m going home at 11:00.” – “Nah neun yeol han she jib eh gal geoyah.” (나는 열한시 집에 갈거야.)

Why…? – Whey…? (왜…?)

•  “Why do you like Korea?” – “Naw neun whey han gook eul jo ah hanee?” (너는 왜 한국을좋아하니?)

 How…? – Awe ddeo Kay…? (어떻게…)

• “How are you?” – “Naw neun awe ddeo kay jinetnee?” (너는 어떻게지냈니?)

Teacher – Sun seng nim, or Gang sah (선셍님, 강사)  

Student – Hak seng (학셍)

American – Me gook in (미국인)

Foreigner – Way gook in (왜국인) Most people are considered foreigners. You can just say the country you are from. Most people will assume that you are American, so you may wish to identify yourself as a foreigner from your own country when people call you American… unless of course you are American.

Korean – Han gook in (한국인)

Person/People – Sah rahm (사람)

Morning – Ah chim (아침)

Afternoon – Oh hoo (오후)

Evening – Bahm (밤)