Common Korean Expressions

Below are 60 of the most useful Korean expressions words, each with its Hangul spelling, romanization (how to pronounce it) and a real example sentence. Tap 🔊 to hear any word spoken aloud.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
열심히	yeolsimhi	Hard / diligently
천천히	cheoncheonhi	Slowly
빨리	ppalli	Quickly / fast
아마도	amado	probably / perhaps	아마도 늦을 것 같아요. I'll probably be late.
확실히	hwaksilhi	certainly / definitely	확실히 더 나아졌어요. It's certainly improved.
특히	teuki	especially / particularly	특히 겨울을 좋아해요. I especially like winter.
갑자기	gapjagi	suddenly	갑자기 비가 왔어요. It suddenly started raining.
드디어	deudieo	finally / at last	드디어 한국에 왔어요! I finally came to Korea!
이미	imi	already	이미 먹었어요. I already ate.
거의	geoui	almost / nearly	거의 다 왔어요. We're almost there.
전혀	jeonhyeo	not at all / never	전혀 몰랐어요. I had no idea at all.
결국	gyeolguk	in the end / eventually	결국 포기했어요. In the end, I gave up.
오히려	ohiryeo	rather / on the contrary	오히려 더 어려워졌어요. It became rather more difficult.
도리어	dorieo	instead / conversely	도리어 제가 감사해야 해요. If anything, I should be thanking you.
워낙	wonak	so inherently / by nature so much	워낙 바쁜 사람이에요. That person is inherently so busy.
그래서	geuraeseo	so / therefore	비가 와서 집에 있었어요. It rained so I stayed home.
그런데	geureonde	but / by the way	좋아요, 그런데 비싸요. It's good, but it's expensive.
그리고	geurigo	and / also	사과와 바나나, 그리고 포도도 있어요. There are apples, bananas, and grapes too.
하지만	hajiman	however / but	열심히 했어요. 하지만 실패했어요. I tried hard. However, I failed.
왜냐하면	waenyahamyeon	because / the reason is	안 갔어요. 왜냐하면 바빴거든요. I didn't go. Because I was busy.
그러면	geureomyeon	then / in that case	그러면 내일 만나요. Then let's meet tomorrow.
또한	ttohan	also / furthermore	한국어는 재미있어요. 또한 유용해요. Korean is fun. Furthermore it's useful.
어쩔 수 없다	eojjeol su eopda	there is nothing one can do	어쩔 수 없어요, 가야 해요. There is nothing I can do, I have to go.
그럴 수도 있다	geureol sudo itda	that could be the case	그럴 수도 있어요. That could be the case.
어떻게 됐어요?	eotteoke dwaesseoyo	how did it go?	면접이 어떻게 됐어요? How did the interview go?
잘 됐어요	jal dwaesseoyo	that worked out well	잘 됐어요, 합격했어요! That is great, I passed!
안 됐어요	an dwaesseoyo	that is too bad	안 됐어요, 다음엔 잘 될 거예요. That is too bad, it will go well next time.
다행이에요	dahaengieyo	that is a relief	다행이에요, 괜찮네요. That is a relief, it is okay.
건강 챙기세요	geonggang chaenggiseyo	take care of your health	날씨가 추우니까 건강 챙기세요. It is cold so please take care of your health.
좋은 하루 되세요	joeun haru doeseyo	have a good day	좋은 하루 되세요! Have a good day!
수고하셨어요	sugohasyeosseoyo	you have worked hard	오늘도 수고하셨어요. You worked hard today too.
파이팅	paiting	fighting / you can do it	시험 파이팅! Fighting — good luck on the exam!
대박	daebak	amazing / jackpot	대박, 진짜요? No way, really?
어머	eomeo	oh my (surprise)	어머, 깜짝이야! Oh my, what a surprise!
아이고	aigo	oh dear / goodness	아이고, 힘들어요. Oh dear, it is hard.
글쎄요	geulsseyo	well / I am not sure	글쎄요, 잘 모르겠어요. Well, I am not really sure.
틀려요	teullyeoyo	that is wrong	아니요, 그건 틀려요. No, that is wrong.
이쪽으로 오세요	ijjogeuro oseyo	please come this way	이쪽으로 오세요, 자리가 있어요. Please come this way, there is a seat.
저기요	jeogiyo	excuse me (to get attention)	저기요, 주문할게요. Excuse me, I would like to order.
실례합니다	sillyehamnida	excuse me (formal)	실례합니다, 지나가도 될까요? Excuse me, may I pass?
다름 아니라	dareum anira	it is none other than	다름 아니라 부탁이 있어요. It is none other than a request I have.
말할 것도 없이	malhal geotdo eopsi	needless to say	말할 것도 없이 중요해요. Needless to say it is important.
어찌 보면	eoji bomyeon	in a way / looked at one way	어찌 보면 맞는 말이에요. In a way it is correct.
따지고 보면	ttajigo bomyeon	when you think about it carefully	따지고 보면 내 잘못이에요. When you think about it carefully it is my fault.
결국에는	gyeolguke neun	in the end/ultimately	결국에는 잘 됐어요. In the end it worked out.
어쩌면	eojjeomyeon	perhaps/maybe	어쩌면 맞을 수도 있어요. Perhaps it could be right.
기왕이면	giwangimyeon	if one is going to do it anyway	기왕이면 잘 합시다. If we are going to do it anyway let's do it well.
아무리 해도	amuri haedo	no matter how much	아무리 해도 안 돼요. No matter how much I try it doesn't work.
생각해 보면	saenggakae bomyeon	come to think of it	생각해 보면 맞는 말이에요. Come to think of it that is correct.
솔직히 말하면	soljiki malhámyeon	to be honest	솔직히 말하면 모르겠어요. To be honest I don't know.
아야	aya	Ouch!
별로	byeolo	Not really / not much
또	tto	Also / again
그럼	geureom	Then / well then
꼭	kkok	Definitely / without fail
제일	je-il	The most / number one
그니까	geunikka	So / I mean / that's why
아무튼	amutun	Anyway / regardless
어쨌든	eojjaetdeun	Anyway / either way
일단	ildan	First of all / for now

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Common Korean Expressions

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