If you are planning a trip to South Korea or want to learn the language for personal culture, this article teaches you the main phrases to introduce yourself in Korean.
Steps
Step 1. Learn to pronounce hangŭl (the Korean alphabet)
Practice pronouncing the letters correctly. For example, in Korean the "b" is pronounced "p", the "j" is pronounced "c", the "g" is pronounced "k" (but only if the word begins with a "g") and so on.
Step 2. Speak confidently
Express yourself loud and clear so that your interlocutor can hear and understand you better.
Step 3. To begin, say:
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). Use this greeting when talking to a stranger, your boss, an older person, teacher, or individual in authority. Listen to the pronunciation here]. This word can be used to introduce the presentation.
When you talk to a friend, your brother, your sister or someone younger than you, you can say: 안녕 (annyeong). Hear the pronunciation here. Use this word only to introduce the presentation
Step 4. Say 제 이름 은 (je ileum-eun) [your name]
Hear the pronunciation here. Remember that your name will sound different in Korean. For example, David can become "Deibidu" or "Deibit", so don't be surprised if a Korean pronounces yours differently.
Step 5. Complete the presentation by saying:
만나서 반가워요 (mannaseobangawoyo). Hear the pronunciation here. It means "Pleasure".
Step 6. Ask your interlocutor:
이름 이 뭐에요 (ileum-imwo-eyo)? Hear the pronunciation here. This sentence will help you get to know the other person better as it will allow you to ask them what their name is.
Advice
- When introduced to someone in Korea, always bow out of respect.
- If you introduce yourself to someone younger than you, express yourself informally (formal phrases have been explained in this article). It's easy to do: just delete the yo suffix.
