Everyday Korean conversation

You meet a neighbor in the elevator: a smile and the everyday greeting are enough. At a job interview, the formal version can suit the occasion. Use it at a pizza party with a close friend and you might sound like a news presenter!

The everyday greeting is already polite, including with elders. The formal version adds formality, not a guarantee of greater respect in every situation. The short casual greeting is for close friends or children, not a first meeting with an elder.

Imagine the elevator doors opening, then an interview room door. Say a greeting for each scene. For the introduction, play the character Minsu and use the example sentence.

Formal setting · Useful for an interview, an official introduction or a formal address. It can sound stiff in a relaxed chat.

Close friends only · Use with close friends when you both use casual speech, or with children. With a new adult acquaintance, start with the polite greeting.

A colleague catches your cup before it tips over. Thank them first. If a few drops splash their sleeve, add an apology. They can reply that it is all right; your coffee has had quite an adventure!

The formal thank-you works with staff, teachers and new acquaintances. The softer everyday alternative below is also polite. Use the apology when you have inconvenienced someone; it is not a replacement for every thank-you.

Act out both roles: thank the cup rescuer, apologize for the splash, then reassure the other person.

Everyday polite · A warm, polite thank-you in everyday conversation. The formal expression from this lesson is also common in daily life.

A clerk explains a form at full speed. You catch the first word, then everything sounds like a fast train. Ask them to slow down, and ask for the important part again.

Nodding does not have to mean you understood. Say you are not sure before moving on. Adding the apology below can gently open a request; you do not need to apologize over and over for learning.

Ask a partner to say a sentence quickly. Request a slower repeat, then repeat the part you understood.

Everyday polite · A gentle way to interrupt when you missed something. Follow it with the part you want repeated, if you can.

You point at a mug, ask the price, and decide to buy it. At the checkout you choose a card. The receipt is useful, but it is not a secret discount coupon!

Pointing makes “this one” clear. Ask the price before saying you will take it. The cash question below is for checking the payment method; it does not ask for a lower price.

Choose an object near you as the mug. Ask its price, choose a payment method, and request a receipt.

A useful follow-up · Ask before paying if you are unsure. It asks about cash payment, not a cash discount.

A dish in the menu photo looks delicious, but the sauce is bright red. Ask about spice and ingredients before ordering. A color is a clue, not a complete recipe!

“Not spicy” is a request, and a dish may already be prepared. The pork question checks one ingredient only, not every dietary requirement. If an ingredient matters to you, name it and ask the staff to confirm.

Pretend to order from a picture: request the menu, ask one ingredient question, then choose takeaway.

A useful follow-up · This asks for less spice, not zero spice. Check whether the kitchen can adjust the dish before ordering.

Your map arrow spins and the station seems to be in three directions at once. Ask a passerby where it is. Put the phone down briefly and follow the direction from where you are standing.

Right and left depend on which way you face. A small pointing gesture helps. Asking whether it is nearby is not the same as asking how many minutes it takes.

Place a pretend station on your right, then turn around. Explain the new direction and ask how long it takes.

A useful follow-up · Say that you mean walking. A driving time could give you a very different idea of the distance.

Two buses arrive together. Both have seats, but only one goes toward your destination. Before boarding, ask about Seoul Station. A comfortable seat is less exciting when it takes you the wrong way!

Checking the destination comes first. Next ask where to get off and whether you must transfer. Ask the driver briefly while the bus is stopped, or ask station staff when available.

Your partner is the station helper. Ask about the destination, the stop, and a possible transfer in that order.

A useful follow-up · Use when checking a specific stop. It is different from asking which stop you need in general.

You agree to meet at two. One person imagines lunch; another checks whether it means the middle of the night. Saying tomorrow and afternoon saves a very sleepy misunderstanding!

State the date and morning or afternoon together. A reservation request starts a conversation; it does not mean the booking is confirmed. If you will be late, give notice and a realistic arrival estimate.

Arrange a meeting for tomorrow afternoon. Then imagine a delay and use the ten-minute example below only if that estimate is true.

A useful follow-up · Use your real estimate instead of ten minutes when needed. It helps the other person decide whether to wait.

On your first day, a machine has more buttons than you expected. Guessing looks brave, but asking for a demonstration is more useful. Watch once, try with permission, and confirm the steps.

The four basic expressions politely request instructions and confirmation. With a supervisor or in a more formal conversation, the alternative below softens the request. If you are unsure, pause and ask rather than pretend you know.

Ask someone to show you how a familiar object works. Repeat one step and ask whether it is correct.

Everyday polite · A softer request to a supervisor or someone helping you. The basic request in this lesson is already polite too.

You are viewing a room when you hear drip, drip. First describe the leak, then ask when it can be repaired. The tap may be noisy, but it cannot make the appointment for you!

Be specific about the room or fixture that has a problem. When discussing monthly costs, ask both the maintenance fee amount and what it includes. An answer about repairs is not a signed agreement.

Pretend to view a room: request a viewing, ask the maintenance fee, then ask what that fee includes.

A useful follow-up · Ask after hearing the amount. Confirm the actual details for that home instead of assuming all homes include the same items.

At a clinic, you can name the part that hurts, but the explanation gets long. Start with where it hurts and when it began. Asking for plain language is useful; you are not taking a vocabulary exam.

The “since when?” expression is a question you may hear from staff. The “since yesterday” expression is your reply only when accurate. These are communication examples, not a diagnosis or treatment guide.

Take turns as patient and staff. Ask when the pain began, give a truthful time, and request a simpler explanation.

A useful follow-up · Point to the part that hurts while speaking. Add when it began if you can.

Your neighbor is enjoying music, but you need to sleep. Make a calm request instead of competing with an even louder speaker. Tomorrow you might be sharing the same elevator again!

The basic quiet request is polite in form, but a gentle tone and a brief reason help. The alternative below makes the request less direct. Ask about a seat before sitting, and use the “go ahead” expression when giving way.

Practice a quiet request with a gentle voice. Then switch scenes: ask permission to sit in an empty seat.

Everyday polite · A gentler request, especially with someone you do not know well. Your voice and the situation matter as much as the ending.