Learn about Korea through Language

Language and culture are inextricably linked.

You will learn a lot about culture through language.

The term Yo-gi-oh means “over here”. This is useful for getting around. This is also useful for getting someone’s attention in a restaurant. While it may seem inappropriate in English, is perfectly acceptable in Korean.

Some more Korean language to learn about Korea :

Useful phrases _{유용한 표현들} yuyonghan pyohyeondeul 

I’d like a __________, please. ______ 좀 주세요. ____ jom juseyo 

Could I get the bill, please? 계산서 부탁합니다? gesanseo butakhamnida 

Where is the bathroom? 화장실이 어디예요? hwajangsiri eodiyeyo 

Excuse me. 실례합니다. Sillehamnida 

Thank you. 고맙습니다. gomapseumnida 

You’re welcome. 별말씀을요. Byeolmalsseumeulyo 

Survival task: ordering food:

One more, please. 하나 더 주세요. hana deo juseyo 

Numbers for ordering food 

hana (1)

doogae (2)

sagae (3)

Get a server’s attention: Say yo-gi-oh (literally, over here…) 

Common Korean Foods

Kalbi-a common Korean barbecue dish with beef ribs. 

kimchi chigae-Kimchi stew

kimchi– fermented cabbage

banchan– side dishes

budae chigae– literally “army” stew. Korean-flavored with hot dogs

kimbap– Rice, veg and ham rolled in seaweed

kimchi bokumbap-kimchi fried rice

pulgogi– marinated Korean barbecue beef. Served in lettuce wraps with rice and banchan

ramyon – Korean instant noodles. Try Shin ramyon. Love this with barbecue pork, American cheese and hot sauce. Sounds strange but unbelievably yummy!

naengmyun – cold noodles served with an egg

bibimbap-dish with rice, hot sauce, egg and vegetables. Yum! Try dolsot bibimbap in winter. It is the same dish served in a hot stone bowl. You cook the egg while you mix it all up. So good! Bap– rice. 

mandu – Korean dumplings

This link has a guide with survival tasks and links to audio file podcasts. These podcasts are not traditional. They are bite-sized files of language in chunks. Use them to create your own playlists. Play, listen, repeat, and learn. Once you have enough of these chunks, you’ll start making your own sentences with what you’ve learned.

Get your downloadable files here. 

What is powerful about this is that it presents language in meaningful chunks–words and phrases designed to get you communicating right away. 

Phrasebooks are powerful because they focus completely on communication. They don’t get into the grammar. If they do, it’s not much. They just get into telling you what you need to be able to communicate with people. You can make your own based on any topic if you have a notebook. 

Get your Korean for Travel and Beginners Phrasebook. 

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