Korean — Basic

Korean — Basic Level

Korean is spoken by approximately 80 million people across South and North Korea. Its grammar is structurally similar to Japanese (SOV word order, particles, verb-final sentences) but the scripts are entirely different and the vocabulary shares no root with Japanese beyond Chinese loanwords.

Hangul: Learn This First

Hangul is one of the most logical writing systems ever created. Each letter represents a sound feature; letters combine into syllable blocks. The system is so well-designed that adult literacy in Korea is near-universal.

Vowels: ㅏ(a) ㅓ(eo) ㅗ(o) ㅜ(u) ㅡ(eu) ㅣ(i) and compound vowels. Consonants: ㄱ(g/k) ㄴ(n) ㄷ(d/t) ㄹ(r/l) ㅁ(m) ㅂ(b/p) ㅅ(s) ㅇ(silent/ng) ㅈ(j) ㅊ(ch) ㅋ(k) ㅌ(t) ㅍ(p) ㅎ(h)

Syllable blocks are arranged: initial consonant + vowel (+ optional final consonant). 한 = ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ = h+a+n = "han."

Spend 3-5 days on Hangul before anything else. Once you can read (even slowly), every resource opens.

Honorific Levels

Korean speech levels are one of its defining features. Main levels for learners:

• Formal (합쇼체, Hapshoche): -ㅂ니다/습니다 endings. News, presentations, first meetings, formal speech.
• Polite Informal (해요체, Haeyoche): -아요/어요 endings. Standard for daily life with people you don't know well.
• Casual (해체, Haecho): Plain form. Close friends, younger people, internal monologue.

Default to polite informal (해요체) in all but clearly intimate contexts.

Essential Phrases

Greetings: 안녕하세요 Annyeonghaseyo (Hello), 안녕히 계세요 Annyeonghi gyeseyo (Goodbye — to person staying), 안녕히 가세요 Annyeonghi gaseyo (Goodbye — to person leaving), 처음 뵙겠습니다 Cheoeum boepgesseumnida (Nice to meet you — formal)

Daily: 감사합니다 Gamsahamnida (Thank you), 죄송합니다 Joesonghamnida (I'm sorry — formal), 모르겠어요 Moreugesseoyo (I don't know/understand), 도와주세요 Dowajuseyo (Please help me)