50 Korean conversation starters
With someone you have just met, use the polite -요 ending (haeyo style). It is warm but respectful, and it is what most Koreans use with strangers of any age. Casual speech (banmal) is only for close friends, so wait until your partner clearly suggests switching. The honorific -시- form (드셨어요, 하세요) sounds extra kind when asking about the other person.
Koreans often greet each other with "Have you eaten?" rather than "How are you?" It is a caring hello, not a real question about lunch, but answering with what you ate is a great way to start talking about food.
Saying hello
1. 안녕하세요!
annyeonghaseyo!
Hello!
Works at any time of day.
2. 만나서 반가워요.
mannaseo bangawoyo.
Nice to meet you.
3. 처음 뵙겠습니다.
cheoeum boepgetseumnida.
How do you do? (first meeting)
Very polite and a little formal; a nice touch for the first line.
4. 식사하셨어요?
siksahasyeosseoyo?
Have you eaten?
A common friendly greeting, similar to "How are you?"
5. 오늘 하루 어떠셨어요?
oneul haru eotteosyeosseoyo?
How was your day?
6. 저는 ○○라고 해요.
jeoneun ○○ rago haeyo.
I'm ○○. / You can call me ○○.
Use a nickname if you like. After a consonant, use 이라고 (irago).
7. 뭐라고 불러 드리면 될까요?
mworago bulleo deurimyeon doelkkayo?
What should I call you?
A polite way to ask for a name or nickname.
Where you are & time zones
8. 어느 나라에 계세요?
eoneu narae gyeseyo?
Which country are you in?
계세요 is the honorific form of 있어요 (to be somewhere).
9. 저는 서울에 살아요.
jeoneun seoure sarayo.
I live in Seoul.
Naming a city is enough; never share an exact address.
10. 거기는 지금 몇 시예요?
geogineun jigeum myeot siyeyo?
What time is it there now?
11. 여기는 지금 밤 열 시예요.
yeogineun jigeum bam yeol siyeyo.
It's 10 p.m. here now.
Hours use native Korean numbers: 한 시, 두 시, 열 시.
12. 한국이랑 시차가 얼마나 나요?
hangugirang sichaga eolmana nayo?
What's the time difference with Korea?
13. 그 도시는 어떤 곳이에요?
geu dosineun eotteon gosieyo?
What is your city like?
14. 한국에 와 보신 적 있어요?
hanguge wa bosin jeok isseoyo?
Have you ever been to Korea?
Food
15. 점심 뭐 드셨어요?
jeomsim mwo deusyeosseoyo?
What did you have for lunch?
드시다 is the polite verb for eating when talking about someone else.
16. 저는 오늘 김치찌개 먹었어요.
jeoneun oneul gimchijjigae meogeosseoyo.
I had kimchi stew today.
Use 먹다 (not 드시다) for yourself.
17. 거기서 제일 유명한 음식이 뭐예요?
geogiseo jeil yumyeonghan eumsigi mwoyeyo?
What's the most famous food there?
18. 매운 음식 잘 드세요?
maeun eumsik jal deuseyo?
Do you like spicy food? / Can you handle spicy food?
A classic question; many Korean dishes are spicy.
19. 한국 음식 중에 뭐 좋아하세요?
hanguk eumsik junge mwo joahaseyo?
Which Korean dishes do you like?
20. 집에서 자주 해 드시는 음식 있어요?
jibeseo jaju hae deusineun eumsik isseoyo?
Is there a dish you often cook at home?
21. 한국에서는 비 오는 날 파전을 많이 먹어요.
hangugeseoneun bi oneun nal pajeoneul mani meogeoyo.
In Korea, people often eat green-onion pancakes on rainy days.
Often with makgeolli (rice wine); the sizzling is said to sound like rain.
Weather & seasons
22. 거기 날씨는 어때요?
geogi nalssineun eottaeyo?
How's the weather there?
23. 여기는 요즘 많이 추워요.
yeogineun yojeum mani chuwoyo.
It's really cold here these days.
For hot weather: 많이 더워요 (mani deowoyo).
24. 오늘 비가 와요.
oneul biga wayo.
It's raining today.
Snow: 눈이 와요 (nuni wayo).
25. 어느 계절을 제일 좋아하세요?
eoneu gyejeoreul jeil joahaseyo?
Which season do you like best?
26. 한국은 가을이 정말 예뻐요.
hangugeun gaeuri jeongmal yeppeoyo.
Autumn in Korea is really beautiful.
Autumn leaves peak around late October to early November.
27. 한국은 여름에 장마가 있어요.
hangugeun yeoreume jangmaga isseoyo.
Korea has a rainy season in summer.
장마 usually runs from late June to late July.
Hobbies & music
28. 취미가 뭐예요?
chwimiga mwoyeyo?
What are your hobbies?
29. 주말에는 보통 뭐 하세요?
jumareneun botong mwo haseyo?
What do you usually do on weekends?
30. 요즘 어떤 노래 들으세요?
yojeum eotteon norae deureuseyo?
What songs are you listening to these days?
31. 케이팝 좋아하세요?
keipap joahaseyo?
Do you like K-pop?
32. 추천해 주실 만한 영화 있어요?
chucheonhae jusil manhan yeonghwa isseoyo?
Is there a movie you'd recommend?
Swap 영화 (movie) for 드라마 (drama) or 책 (book).
33. 저도 그거 좋아해요!
jeodo geugeo joahaeyo!
I like that too!
Travel & local tips
34. 거기 가면 꼭 가 봐야 하는 곳이 있어요?
geogi gamyeon kkok ga bwaya haneun gosi isseoyo?
Is there a place I really must visit there?
35. 관광객들이 잘 모르는 곳 있어요?
gwangwanggaekdeuri jal moreuneun got isseoyo?
Are there any spots tourists don't know about?
36. 현지 사람들만 아는 맛집 있어요?
hyeonji saramdeulman aneun matjip isseoyo?
Is there a good restaurant only locals know?
맛집 means a place famous for tasty food.
37. 여행하기 제일 좋은 계절이 언제예요?
yeohaenghagi jeil joeun gyejeori eonjeyeyo?
When is the best season to travel there?
38. 대중교통은 편해요?
daejunggyotongeun pyeonhaeyo?
Is public transport convenient?
39. 서울에 오시면 한강 공원에 가 보세요.
seoure osimyeon hangang gongwone ga boseyo.
If you come to Seoul, try visiting the Han River parks.
Locals picnic there and even order fried chicken delivered to the riverside.
Language practice
40. 한국어 공부한 지 6개월 됐어요.
hangugeo gongbuhan ji yukgaewol dwaesseoyo.
I've been studying Korean for six months.
41. 제 한국어가 틀리면 고쳐 주세요.
je hangugeoga teullimyeon gochyeo juseyo.
Please correct my Korean if I make a mistake.
42. 조금 더 쉽게 말해 주시겠어요?
jogeum deo swipge malhae jusigesseoyo?
Could you say that a bit more simply?
43. 이건 한국어로 뭐라고 해요?
igeon hangugeoro mworago haeyo?
How do you say this in Korean?
44. 이 말이 무슨 뜻이에요?
i mari museun tteusieyo?
What does this word mean?
45. 제 말이 자연스러워요?
je mari jayeonseureowoyo?
Does what I said sound natural?
Wrapping up politely
46. 오늘 이야기 정말 즐거웠어요.
oneul iyagi jeongmal jeulgeowosseoyo.
I really enjoyed talking today.
47. 대화해 주셔서 감사해요.
daehwahae jusyeoseo gamsahaeyo.
Thank you for chatting with me.
48. 좋은 하루 보내세요!
joeun haru bonaeseyo!
Have a nice day!
49. 편안한 밤 되세요.
pyeonanhan bam doeseyo.
Have a restful night.
Good when it is late on the other side.
50. 공부 열심히 하세요! 화이팅!
gongbu yeolsimhi haseyo! hwaiting!
Good luck with your studies! You can do it!
화이팅 is a popular word of encouragement.
Tips
- Stick to the -요 ending; it is polite without sounding stiff.
- Use the other person's nickname plus 님 (nim), e.g. 민수님, instead of 너 (you), which is too casual.
- Laughing online is written ㅋㅋ or ㅎㅎ; a few of these make a chat feel friendly.
- Keep personal details private: share your city, not your address, phone number or social accounts.
Try them in a real chat: Open Shake & Talk ▶
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