{"id":79235,"date":"2019-02-18T14:09:17","date_gmt":"2019-02-18T19:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/korean-conversation\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T13:29:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T17:29:39","slug":"korean-conversation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/korean-conversation\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Conversation: 10 Basic Ways to Start a Dialogue with Native Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

You don’t have to be fluent in Korean to connect with native speakers<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although understanding things like the Korean alphabet<\/a> and more complex grammar concepts<\/a> will make having a conversation easier, you can absolutely get by if you just memorize a few simple Korean phrases for conversations.<\/p>\n

Memorize these conversation starters in this post and perhaps some possible responses will make your future Korean dialogues flow with greater ease.<\/p>\n

If you’re more of a visual learner, you can also learn the same phrases in our video lesson<\/a> below:<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
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1. \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4 \ud560 \uc218 \uc788\uc2b5\ub2c8\uae4c? (Hangugeo hal su isseumnikka?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Do you speak Korean?<\/h2>\n

This one is a great opener that helps you get a feel for who you’re talking with. Plus, a native Korean speaker could take this as a cue that you’d like to exercise your Korean language skills with them.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, if you’re in a friendly, informal atmosphere, you could open with\u00a0\ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4?<\/strong> (hangug-eo?)<\/em> \u2014 “Korean?”<\/p>\n

A note:<\/strong> It would be wise to use this opener specifically when you’re in South Korea, where it would make sense to assume that someone might speak Korean. You probably shouldn’t approach a stranger in a non-Korean-speaking country with a question that presumes they speak Korean.<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4 \ud560 \uc218 \uc788\uc2b5\ub2c8\uae4c?
\n<\/strong>(Hangugeo hal su isseumnikka?)
\n<\/em>Do you speak Korean?<\/p>\n

B: \ub124, \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4\ub97c \ud560 \uc218 \uc788\uc5b4\uc694.
\n<\/strong>(Ne, hangug-eoleul hal su iss-eoyo.)
\n<\/em>Yes, I can speak Korean.<\/p>\n

A: \uba4b\uc788\uc5b4\uc694! \uc800\ub294 \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4\ub97c \uacf5\ubd80\ud558\uace0 \uc788\uc5b4\uc694.
\n<\/strong>(Meos-iss-eoyo! Jeoneun hangug-eoleul gongbuhago iss-eoyo.)
\n<\/em>Cool! I am studying Korean.<\/p>\n

2. \uc601\uc5b4 \ud560 \uc218 \uc788\uc2b5\ub2c8\uae4c? (Yeongeo hal su isseumnikka?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Do you speak English?<\/h2>\n

Another option for opening with the previous phrase is asking if a Korean speaker can speak English. This can be helpful if your Korean skills are limited, but you still want to connect with native speakers while you’re learning.<\/p>\n

And an alternative to the phrase \uc601\uc5b4 \ud560 \uc218 \uc788\uc2b5\ub2c8\uae4c?<\/strong> (Yeongeo hal su isseumnikka?)<\/em> \u2014 “Do you speak English?” would be \uc601\uc5b4?<\/strong> (Teong-eo?)<\/em> \u2014 “English?”<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc601\uc5b4 \ud560 \uc218 \uc788\uc2b5\ub2c8\uae4c?
\n<\/strong>(Yeongeo hal su isseumnikka?)
\n<\/em>Do you speak English?<\/p>\n

B: \ub124, \uc880 \ud569\ub2c8\ub2e4.
\n<\/strong>(Ne, jom habnida.)
\n<\/em>Yeah, I can speak a little.<\/p>\n

A: \uc8c4\uc1a1\ud569\ub2c8\ub2e4, \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4\ub97c \ud560 \uc904 \ubab0\ub77c\uc694.
\n<\/strong>(Joesong habnida, hangug-eoleul hal jul mollayo.)
\n<\/em>Sorry, I don’t know how to speak Korean.<\/p>\n

3. \uc5b4\ub5bb\uac8c \uc9c0\ub0b4\uc138\uc694? (Eotteoke jinaeseyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 How are you?<\/h2>\n

This is a basic opener that works well in most situations, with the exception of very formal or professional settings. If you’re casually talking to new people in a social setting, this phrase\u00a0works well.<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc5b4\ub5bb\uac8c \uc9c0\ub0b4\uc138\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Eotteoke jinaeseyo?)
\n<\/em>How are you?<\/p>\n

B: \uad1c\ucc2e\uc544\uc694.
\n<\/strong>(Gwaenchanh-ayo.)
\n<\/em>I’m good.<\/p>\n

4. \uba87 \uc0b4\uc774\uc138\uc694? (Myeot sariseyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 How old are you?<\/h2>\n

It probably wouldn’t be wise to use this phrase right off the bat. It would sound a little weird walking up to someone and asking them what their age is in English, wouldn’t it? After a little bit of a back and forth, you could throw this phrase in so you can exchange ages.<\/p>\n

It’s also worth noting that asking someone’s age in Korea is a bit different culturally than it is in, say, America. In many countries, asking for someone’s age might come off as rude or odd. In South Korea, it’s actually a pretty standard question<\/a> people ask to break the ice with someone.<\/p>\n

In Korean, you sometimes use different language to talk to people of certain ages, so this question can help you determine how to proceed.<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uba87 \uc0b4\uc774\uc138\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Myeot sariseyo?)
\n<\/em>How old are you?<\/p>\n

B: \uc800\ub294 \uc5f4\uc544\ud649 \uc0b4\uc785\ub2c8\ub2e4. \uba87 \uc0b4\uc774\uc138\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Jeoneun yeol-ahob sal-ibnida. Myeot sariseyo?)
\n<\/em>I’m 19 years old. How old are you?<\/p>\n

A: \uc800\ub294 \uc2a4\ubb3c\uc138 \uc0b4\uc785\ub2c8\ub2e4.
\n<\/strong>(Jeoneun seumulse sal-ibnida.)
\n<\/em>I’m 23 years old.<\/p>\n

5. \ubb34\uc2a8 \ub73b\uc774\uc5d0\uc694? (Museun tteusieyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 What does this mean?<\/h2>\n

Say you’re out and about in South Korea with your study abroad group. Perhaps you’re going out to eat or to an outlet mall and you see something you don’t recognize. You can use this phrase to refer to both physical things and Korean words that you don’t know.<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaker A sees a photo of a type of food on a restaurant menu and points to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

A: \ubb34\uc2a8 \ub73b\uc774\uc5d0\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Museun tteusieyo?)
\n<\/em>What does this mean?<\/p>\n

B: \uadf8\uac83\uc740 \ubd88\uace0\uae30\uc785\ub2c8\ub2e4.
\n<\/strong>(Geugeos-eun bulgogiibnida.)<\/em>
\nThat’s bulgogi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. \uc774\ub984\uc774 \ubb50\uc608\uc694? (Ireumi mwoyeyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 What’s your name?<\/h2>\n

This is great to chuck in right after saying \uc5b4\ub5bb\uac8c \uc9c0\ub0b4\uc138\uc694?<\/strong> (Eotteoke jinaeseyo?)<\/em> \u2014 “How are you?”<\/p>\n

At the most basic level, of course, Korean learners should figure out their own name<\/a> and how to exchange names when meeting others.<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc774\ub984\uc774 \ubb50\uc608\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Ireumi mwoyeyo?)
\n<\/em>What’s your name?<\/p>\n

B: \uc81c \uc774\ub984\uc740 \uc9c0\uc218\uc785\ub2c8\ub2e4. \uc774\ub984\uc774 \ubb50\uc608\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Je ileum-eun jisu-ibnida. Ireumi mwoyeyo?)
\n<\/em>My name is Jisoo. What’s your name?<\/p>\n

A: \uc81c \uc774\ub984\uc740 \ub9c8\ub9ac\uc544\uc785\ub2c8\ub2e4.
\n<\/strong>(Je ileum-eun maria-ibnida.)
\n<\/em>My name is Maria.<\/p>\n

7. \uc5b4\ub514 \ucd9c\uc2e0\uc774\uc138\uc694? (Eodi chulsiniseyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Where are you from?<\/h2>\n

This is a fantastic question you could ask a new friend or even someone you’ve known for a while.<\/p>\n

South Korea, especially Seoul, has quite the melting pot of ethnicities and immigrants<\/a>. You may be surprised to learn where someone is from!<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc5b4\ub514 \ucd9c\uc2e0\uc774\uc138\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Eodi chulsiniseyo?)
\n<\/em>Where are you from?<\/p>\n

B: \ub098\ub294 \ubd80\uc0b0\uc5d0\uc11c \uc654\uc5b4.
\n<\/strong>(Naneun busan-eseo wass-eo.)
\n<\/em>I’m from Busan.<\/p>\n

8. \uc5b4\ub514\uc5d0\uc11c \uc77c\ud574\uc694? (Eodieseo ilhaeyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Where do you work?<\/h2>\n

This is a very common question in South Korea. It’s one of the first questions you can expect someone to ask you. And it isn’t considered rude, but actually quite polite!<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc5b4\ub514\uc5d0\uc11c \uc77c\ud574\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Eodieseo ilhaeyo?)
\n<\/em>Where do you work?<\/p>\n

B: \uc800\ub294 \uac04\ud638\uc0ac\uc785\ub2c8\ub2e4.
\n<\/strong>(Jeoneun ganhosaibnida.)
\n<\/em>I’m a nurse.<\/p>\n

9. \uc5b4\ub5a4 \uc74c\uc545\uc744 \uc88b\uc544\ud574\uc694? (Eotteon eumag eul johahaeyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 What music do you like?<\/h2>\n

It’s no secret that South Korea is known for its iconic pop music<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Still, there’s a ton of music from non-pop genres in Korea. If you’re planning to go to there or simply chat with a native speaker, it would be worth it to familiarize yourself with some of the more popular musical acts that are currently hot in South Korea.<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc5b4\ub5a4 \uc74c\uc545\uc744 \uc88b\uc544\ud574\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Eotteon eumag eul johahaeyo?)
\n<\/em>What music do you like?<\/p>\n

B: \ub098\ub294 \uc7ac\uc988\uac00 \uc88b\uc544.
\n<\/strong>(Naneun jaejeuga joa.)
\n<\/em>I like jazz.<\/p>\n

10. \uc2dc\uac04 \uc788\uc744 \ub54c \ubb50 \ud558\uc138\uc694? (Sigan isseul ttae mwo haseyo?)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 What do you do when you have free time?<\/h2>\n

This conversation starter can open up some serious floodgates and may be a bit more appropriate to ask if your Korean language skills are upper-beginner or intermediate level in fluency. This is simply because there are so many unique answers you could receive!<\/p>\n

Example conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: \uc2dc\uac04 \uc788\uc744 \ub54c \ubb50 \ud558\uc138\uc694?
\n<\/strong>(Sigan isseul ttae mwo haseyo?)
\n<\/em>What do you do when you have free time?<\/p>\n

B: \ub098\ub294 \ucd95\uad6c\uc640 \uc800\uae00\ub9c1\uc744 \ud574!
\n<\/strong>(Naneun chugguwa jeogeulling-eul hae!)
\n<\/em>I play soccer and juggle!<\/p>\n

How Can Korean Conversation Starters Help Me Connect with Others?<\/h2>\n