Introductions in Korean
It’s time for a crash course in introductions in Korean! After this free audio lesson you’ll be able to recognize some common personal questions. Even better, in most cases you’ll be able to reply using simple Korean phrases and numbers. It’s useful to be able to talk about yourself and ask about others when you’re getting to know new people. And there may be times when you need to speak to an official person, or fill out a form.
Perhaps you’re booking into a hotel, or going for an interview. You’ll probably be asked some basic personal questions in Korean like “what is your nationality?” “what is your address?” or “what is your date of birth?” These are all useful things to be able to talk about for everyday conversations as well, so how about we get started…
Resources for further reading:
Pronunciation help for introductions in Korean
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
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성함이 어떻게 되십니까?
Sunghami utduke dweshimnikga?
What's your name?
제 이름은 [...] 입니다.
Je ireumeun […] imnida.
My name is […].
Nationalities
어디서 오셨나요?
Udisuh oshutnayo?
Where are you from?
어디서 오셨습니까?
Udisuh oshutseumnikga?
Where do you come from?
고향이 어디십니까?
Gohyang ee udishimnikga?
Where were you born?
Koreans have two ways to name countries: a Hangulisation of the original English name (for example Singgaporeu for Singapore), and the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese version of that country name – eg Ilbon (lit: sun’s origin) for Japan.
[...] 에서 왔어요.
[…] esuh watsuyo
I'm from […]
호주
Hojoo
Australia
영국
Youngook
Britain
캐나다
Kaenada
Canada
아일랜드
Aillaendeu
Ireland
뉴질랜드
Nyoojillaendeu
New Zealand
미국
Migook
USA
Making words for nationalities from country names is easy! You simply need to add ~saram or ~in (the pure Korean and Sino-Korean words for “person”). There are certain occasions where the pronunciation may change with this addition, such as Migook (America) becomes Migook-in (lit: America-person).
저는 [...] 이에요.
Juneun […] iyeyo.
I'm [nationality]
호주사람
Hojoo saram
Australian
영국사람
Youngook saram
British
캐나다인
Kaenada-in
Canadian
아일랜드인
Aillaendeu-in
Irish
뉴질랜드인
Nyoojillaendeu-in
New Zealander
미국인
Migook-in
American
Age
A simple way to avoid offence, especially when speaking to someone older than you, and asking about his/her age, is to add the polite ending ~yo to the end of your question.
When asked about your age, birthday, or your daughter/son’s age, here’s how you can answer:
몇살이니?
Myut sal ini?
How old are you? (to a child)
나이가 어떻게 되세요?
Naiga utduke dweseyo?
How old are you? (to an adult around your age or younger)
연세가 어떻게 되세요?
Yunsega utduke dweseyo?
How old are you? (to an adult older than you)
생일이 언제세요?
Saeng-il ee unje seyo?
What is your date of birth?
저는 [...] 살이에요.
Juneun […] sal ieyo.
I'm […] years old.
[...] 살이에요.
[…] sal ieyo.
He/She is […] years old. (while pointing)
제 생일은 [...]년 [...]월 [...]일이에요.
Je saeng-il eun […] nyun […] wol […] eel ieyo.
My birthday is on the [day] of [month] [year].
Contact Information
주소가 어떻게 되세요?
Joosoga utduke dweseyo?
What is your address?
전화번호 받을 수 있을까요?
Junwha bunho badeul soo itseulkgayo?
Can I have your telephone number?
핸드폰 번호가 뭐에요?
Haendeupon bunhoga maw yeyo?
What is your cell phone number?
여권번호가 어떻게 돼요?
Yukgwon bunhoga utduke dweyo?
What is your passport number?
이메일 주소가 어떻게 돼요?
Eemaeil joosoga utduke dweyo?
What is your email address?
When you’re responding, you can follow one of the simple formats below. Just insert the appropriate information in the brackets.
제 이메일 주소는 [...] 이에요.
Je eemaeil jooso neun […] ieyo.
My email is [your email].
제 주소는 [...] 이에요.
Je jooso neun […] ieyo.
My address is [your address].
제 전화번호는 [...] 이에요.
Je junhwabunho neun […] ieyo.
My telephone number is [your number].
제 핸드폰번호는 [...] 이에요.
Je haendeupon bunho neun […] ieyo.
My cell phone number is [your number].
제 여권번호는 [...] 이에요.
Je yukwon bunho neun […] ieyo.
My passport number is [your number].
Filling out Forms in Korean
If you find yourself being asked to fill out forms with your personal details, you won’t get the complete questions that you’ve studied above. Instead, you’ll get short words or phrases.
성함/ 이름
sungham/ ireum
Name
국적
gookjuk
Nationality
성별
sungbyul
Gender
연세/ 나이
yunse/ naee
Age
생년월일
saengnyunwoleel
Date of birth
주소
jooso
Address
전화번호
Junwha bunho
Telephone number
핸드폰번호
Handeupon bunho
Mobile number
여권번호
Yukwon bunho
Passport number
That’s it for this lesson, well done!
If you want to learn how to say Hello in Korean or other Korean salutations then check these lessons out!
Anyoung hee gaseyo!
Sujung Lee: Rocket Korean
Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement
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