Let’s learn Korean

14/07/2025

에/에서 Grammar – Mastering Korean Location Particles

The 에/에서 grammar points are place and time markers in Korean. 에 means “at,” “to,” “in,” or “on,” showing where something is and where you’re going.

에서 means “at,” “in,” or “from,” and shows where an action happens or where something is from.

에 is used to indicate location (where something is or where you’re going) and time (when something happens).

➡️에서 is used to indicate the place where an action happens or to mean “from” a location.
➡️The verb 살다 (to live) can use both 에 and 에서 with the same meaning.
➡️A에서 B까지 means “from A to B” and can be used for both time and places.

Use 에 when describing where something exists or where someone is going. It also marks the time when something happens.

저는 학교에 가요.
(I go to school.) → 에 marks the destination.

고양이가 침대에 있어요.
(The cat is on the bed.) → 에 marks the location of an object.

저는 3시에 친구를 만나요.
(I meet my friend at 3 o’clock.) → 에 marks a specific time.

Think of 에 as marking a place (where something is or where you’re going) or a time (when something happens).

Use 에서 when describing where an action happens or where something is from.

저는 집에서 일해요.
(I work at home.) → 에서 marks where the action takes place.

친구가 카페에서 공부해요.
(My friend studies at a café.) → 에서 shows where the studying is happening.

저는 서울에서 왔어요.
(I came from Seoul.) → 에서 means “from” in this case.

Think of 에서 as marking a place where an action is happening or a starting point (“from”).

14/07/2025

Korean Dishes Made with Rice

Rice isn’t just a side dish in Korea—it’s the base of many beloved meals. Here are some popular Korean dishes where rice plays a starring role.

Popular rice-based dishes:

Korean Dish Description
비빔밥 (bibimbap)
Rice mixed with vegetables and red pepper paste.

볶음밥 (bokkeumbap)
Fried rice, often mixed with seaweed, eggs, or kimchi.

국밥 (gukbap)
Rice mixed into a hot soup

주먹밥 (jumeokbap)
Rice balls, often mixed with sesame oil and seaweed.

김밥 (kimbap)
Rice and various fillings wrapped in seaweed

쌈밥 (ssambap)
Rice wrapped in lettuce with meat and sauces

떡 (tteok)
Korean rice cake, made from glutinous rice

떡볶이 (tteokbokki)
Spicy stir-fried rice cakes

Example sentences:

김치 볶음밥이 너무 먹고 싶어요. (gimchi bokkeumbabi neomu meokgo sipeoyo.)
I really want to eat kimchi fried rice.

비빔밥에는 여러 가지 채소가 들어가요. (bibimbabeneun yeoreo gaji chaesoga deureogayo.)
Bibimbap has various vegetables in it.

오늘 점심으로 국밥을 먹을 거예요. (oneul jeomsimeuro gukbabeul meogeul geoyeyo.)
I’m going to eat gukbap for lunch today.

03/07/2025

Vocabulary related to phones and phone conversations

Below are some Korean words related to phones and having a telephone conversation.

Telephone 전화 (jeonhwa)

Mobile phone
휴대폰 (hyudaepon),
핸드폰 (haendeupon)

Smartphone
스마트폰 (seumateupon)

Button
버튼 (beoteun)

Text message
문자 (munja)

Message
메세지 (meseji)

Video call
영상 통화 (yeongsang tonghwa)

Vibration mode
진동 모드 (jindong modeu)

Mute
무음 모드 (mueum modeu)

Ringing mode
벨소리 모드 (belsori modeu)

Local call
시내 전화 (sinae jeonhwa)

Long-distance call
시외 전화 (sioe jeonhwa)

Basic phrases related to phones and phone conversations

Make a phone call
전화하다 (jeonhwahada)

Answer a phone call
전화를 받다 (jeonhwareul batda)

End a phone call
전화를 끊다 (jeonhwareul kkeunta)

Have the wrong number
전화를 잘못 걸다 (jeonhwareul jalmot geolda)

To call back later
나중에 다시 전화하다 (najunge dasi jeonhwahada)

Push a button
버튼을 누르다 (beoteuneul nureuda)

Send a text message
문자를 보내다 (munjareul bonaeda)

Have a video call
영상 통화하다 (yeongsang tonghwahada)

Leave a message
메세지를 남기다 (mesejireul namgida)

Set one's cell phone on vibration mode
진동 모드로 바꾸다 (jindong modeuro

Put one's phone on mute
무음 모드로 바꾸다 (mueum modeuro bakkuda)

24/06/2025

Understanding 못

To use 못 correctly, you need to know where it goes in a sentence and what it really means. Let’s break it down step by step with simple examples.

Basic Meaning

In Korean, 못 is placed before a verb to show that someone cannot do something. This could be because they don’t know how, something is stopping them, or they are not allowed to do it.

Examples:

저는 수영을 못 해요. (I can’t swim.) → I don’t know how to swim.
비가 와서 밖에 못 나가요. (I can’t go outside because it’s raining.) → The rain is stopping me.
엄마가 허락하지 않아서 게임을 못 해요. (I can’t play games because my mom won’t allow it.) → A rule is preventing me.
Formation

못 is always placed directly before the verb it negates.

먹다 (to eat) → 못 먹다 (can’t eat)
가다 (to go) → 못 가다 (can’t go)
읽다 (to read) → 못 읽다 (can’t read)
If the verb is a 하다 verb (like 공부하다, 운동하다), 못 comes before 하다.

Examples:

저는 숙제를 못 했어요. (“I couldn’t do my homework.”)
친구가 너무 많아서 집중을 못 해요. (“I can’t focus because there are too many friends around.”)
Real-Life Examples

Think about situations where you can’t do something.

You’re at a restaurant, but the food is too spicy for you:

매운 음식을 못 먹어요. (I can’t eat spicy food.)

Your friend invites you to a movie, but you have work:

일이 있어서 영화를 못 봐요. (I can’t watch the movie because I have work.)

You want to wake up early, but you always fail:

일찍 못 일어나요. (I can’t wake up early.)

By practicing these simple patterns, you’ll start using 못 naturally in everyday conversations!

못 vs. ~지 못하다

Both 못 and ~지 못하다 mean “cannot”, but they are used a little differently. Let’s look at how they work and when to use each one.

Understanding ~지 못하다

The ~지 못하다 form is a more formal way to express inability. It means the same thing as 못, but it is used more in writing or polite speech.

Examples:

저는 피아노를 못 쳐요. (“I can’t play the piano.”)
저는 피아노를 치지 못해요. (“I cannot play the piano.”)
Both sentences mean the same thing, but the first one (못) sounds more natural in everyday conversation, while the second one (-지 못하다) is slightly more formal.

24/06/2025

10/06/2025

10/06/2025

What is ~지만?

~지만 is a connective grammar ending in Korean that means “but,” “although,” or “even though.” It’s attached to the adjective or verb stems to connect two parts of a sentence that contrast with each other.

For example:

저는 고기를 좋아하지만 친구는 채식주의자예요.
(I like meat, but my friend is a vegetarian.)

The second part of the sentence often disagrees with or contrasts the first, just like in English.

Learning ~지만 is a big step toward making longer, more natural sentences. It’s used all the time in spoken Korean, writing, and even in polite or formal speech.

Forming Sentences with ~지만

Now let’s look at how to use ~지만 in your own sentences, in the present, past, and future tense.

Present Tense

Use this when you’re talking about something happening right now or something that is generally true.

Structure:
Verb/Adjective Stem + 지만

Examples:

이 바지가 마음에 들지만 너무 비싸요.
(I like these pants, but they’re too expensive.)

The preceding clause expresses a positive opinion, but the second clause gives a downside: the price.

저는 수학을 못하지만 나아지고 있어요.
(I’m not good at math, but I’m improving.)

This shows a contrast between current ability and current progress.

Past Tense

Use this when you’re talking about something that has already happened.

Structure:
Verb/Adjective Stem + 았/었지만

Examples:

열심히 공부했지만 시험을 못 봤어요.
(I studied hard, but I didn’t do well on the exam.)

The first action happened, but the result was disappointing.

그는 노력했지만 성공하지 못했어요.
(He tried, but he didn’t succeed.)

A clear contrast between the effort and the outcome using past tense verb.

Future Tense

Use this to talk about things that will or might happen later. You may see this structure paired with a future tense noun phrase or a plan.

Structure:
Verb/Adjective Stem + 겠지만 or (으)ㄹ 거지만

Examples:

내일은 바쁘겠지만 오늘은 시간이 있어요.
(I will be busy tomorrow, but I have time today.)

This compares your future schedule with your current availability.

한국에 안 갈 거지만 여전히 한국어를 배우고 싶어요.
(Even though I won’t go to Korea, I still want to learn Korean.)

You’re not planning to go, but you’re still interested in the language.

In the 90 Day Korean program, learners typically write sentences like these and receive feedback from a coach to help them internalize the grammar and ensure they’re using it correctly.

Alternative Ways to Express Contrast in Korean

~지만 is a great way to say “but” in Korean, but it’s not the only one. There are other words and endings that also show contrast. Let’s look at two common ones: 하지만 vs. 그렇지만, and ~는데 vs. ~지만.

하지만 vs. 그렇지만

Both 하지만 and 그렇지만 mean “but” or “however.” They are used to start a new sentence and show contrast with the one before.

What’s the difference?

하지만 is more casual and commonly used in spoken Korean.
그렇지만 is a bit more formal and often found in writing or polite conversations.
You can usually use either one, but the tone might feel a little different.

Example with 하지만 (casual):

저는 커피를 좋아해요. 하지만 제 여자친구는 커피를 안 좋아해요.
(I like coffee. But my girlfriend doesn’t like coffee.)

Example with 그렇지만 (slightly formal):

날씨가 추웠어요. 그렇지만 사람들은 밖에 나갔어요.
(The weather was cold. However, people still went outside.)

In both examples, the second sentence gives a contrast to the first. If you’re speaking with friends, 하지만 sounds more natural. If you’re writing or speaking politely, 그렇지만 may fit better.

~는데 vs. ~지만

Both ~는데 and ~지만 can be used to show contrast, but they’re not exactly the same. They feel different depending on how the sentence is used.

What’s the difference?

~지만 gives a clear and direct contrast between the two ideas.
~는데 gives background information before leading into something unexpected, surprising, or even just related.
Think of ~지만 as saying, “Yes, but,” and ~는데 more like saying, “So… but…” or “By the way…”

Example with ~지만 (clear contrast):

비가 오지만 우리는 나갈 거예요.
(It’s raining, but we’re going out.)

You’re clearly doing something opposite of what people might expect when it rains.

Example with ~는데 (background info):

비가 오는데 우리는 나갈 거예요.
(It’s raining, so we’re going out.)

This feels softer. You’re giving a situation first and then continuing with a connected thought.

Here are more examples:

그는 친절하지만 너무 수줍어요.
(He’s kind, but he’s very shy.)

Two traits are directly compared.

그는 친절한데 말이 별로 없어요.
(He’s kind, and he doesn’t talk much.)

07/06/2025

Korean Phrases for Eating and Their Meanings

Here are some common Korean dining phrases you’ll encounter, along with their literal meanings and cultural significance.

Knowing these phrases is especially important for ordering food in a Korean restaurant. It allows you to navigate menu items and restaurant etiquette, enhancing your overall dining experience with Korean cuisine.

1. “Thank you for the meal” in Korean (before eating)

Korean: 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida)

Literal Translation: “I will eat well

Cultural Meaning: This phrase is often said before Korean meals to show gratitude. It’s similar to saying “Thank you for this meal” or acknowledging the effort behind the food preparation.

When to Use: Before starting a meal, especially when dining with others or if someone prepared or paid for the meal.

Example Dialogue:

A: 밥 먹자! (bap meokja!)

Let’s eat!

B: 잘 먹겠습니다. (jal meokgetseumnida.)

Thank you for the meal.

2. “Thank you for the meal” in Korean (after eating)

Korean: 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida)

Literal Translation: “I ate well”

Cultural Meaning: Expresses gratitude after finishing a meal. It can also serve as a polite way to thank someone for treating you or preparing the food.

When to Use: After finishing a meal, especially in a social or formal setting.

Example Dialogue:

A: 맛있게 드셨어요? (masitge deusyeosseoyo?)

Did you enjoy the meal?

B: 네, 잘 먹었습니다. 감사합니다. (ne, jal meogeotseumnida. gamsahamnida)

Yes, it was great. Thank you.

3. “Eat a lot” in Korean

Korean: 많이 드세요 (mani deuseyo)

Literal Translation: “Eat a lot”

Cultural Meaning: Similar to “Enjoy your meal” or “Help yourself.” This phrase reflects a sense of generosity and care, encouraging others to eat freely.

When to Use: When offering food to someone, whether at a family meal or gathering.

Example Sentence:

이 김밥 맛있어요! 많이 드세요. (i gimbap masisseoyo! mani deuseyo.)

This kimbap is delicious! Have as much as you’d like.

4. “Enjoy your meal” in Korean

Korean: 맛있게 드세요 (masitge deuseyo)

Literal Translation: “Eat deliciously”

06/06/2025

How to say “rice” in Korean

There are two different words for rice. The correct term to use depends if you’re referring to cooked or uncooked rice.

“Cooked Rice” in Korean

The most common word for cooked rice is 밥 (bap). It doesn’t just mean rice; it can also refer to a full meal!

Example sentences:

밥이 너무 질어요. (bap-i neomu jireo-yo.)
The rice is too mushy.

밥을 고슬고슬하게 지었어요. (bapeul goseulgoseulhage jieosseoyo.)
I cooked the rice so that it’s light and fluffy.

What does 밥 (bap) mean in Korean?

Besides meaning “cooked rice,” 밥 (bap) is often used to refer to meals in general.

Example sentence:

오늘 저녁밥 뭐야? (oneul jeonyeokbap mwoya?)
What’s for dinner today?

나는 항상 아침밥을 먹고 출근해요. (naneun hangsang achimbabeul meokgo chulgeunhaeyo.)
I always eat breakfast before going to work.

밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo?)
Have you eaten yet?

Uncooked rice” in Korean

If the rice hasn’t been cooked yet, you should use the word 쌀 (ssal) instead of 밥.

Example sentence:

방금 쌀 5킬로를 샀어요. (banggeum ssal 5killoreul sasseoyo.)
I just bought 5 kilos of rice.

What type of rice do Koreans use?

Rice is the foundation of Korean cuisine, but did you know Koreans eat more than just plain white rice? While sticky white rice is the most common, many other varieties, including mixed grain rice and black rice, are also widely enjoyed.

Common Types of Rice in Korea

Koreans use different types of rice depending on the dish, health benefits, or personal preference. Some rice varieties are eaten daily, while others are used for special meals.

Related vocabulary:

English Korean Description

White rice 백미 (baengmi) Short-grain white rice, the most common type
Brown rice 현미 (hyeonmi) Healthier alternative to white rice
Black rice 흑미 (heungmi) Has a nutty flavor and high in antioxidants
Glutinous rice (sweet rice) 찹쌀 (chapssal) Sticky rice used in rice cakes

Barley rice 보리밥 (boribap) Often mixed with white rice for texture
Mixed grain rice 잡곡 (japgok) A combination of grains like black rice, barley, and beans

Red bean rice 팥밥 (patbap) Rice cooked with red beans, commonly eaten on special occasions

Corn rice 옥수수밥 (oksusubap) Rice cooked with corn for a naturally sweet flavor

Instant rice 햇반 (haetban) Pre-cooked rice that can be heated up quickly
Buckwheat rice 메밀밥 (memilbap) Rice mixed with buckwheat, giving it a slightly nutty taste

Mung bean rice 녹두밥 (nokdubap) Rice cooked with mung beans for added protein.

Example sentences:

잡곡밥은 건강에 좋아요. (japgokbabeun geongange johayo.)
Mixed-grain rice is good for your health.

아침에는 백미보다 현미밥을 먹어요. (achimeneun baengmiboda hyeonmibabeul meogeoyo.)
In the morning, I eat brown rice instead of white rice.

녹두밥으로 요리를 만드는 것은 어떨까요? (nokdubabeuro yorireul mandeuneun geoseun eotteolkkayo?)
Why not make the dish with mung bean rice?

06/06/2025

28/05/2025

Different ways to ask “How old are you” in Korean

There are different ways to say “How old are you” in Korean, depending on who you are speaking with. We’ve listed them below.

Formal “How Old Are You” in Korean

Here is how you can formally ask, “How old are you?” in Korean.

1. 연세가 어떻게 되십니까? (yeonsega eotteoke doeshimnikka)

If you are in a formal situation such as a presentation or interview, then you can use the above expression to ask how old somebody is.

Example:

A: 연세가 어떻게 되십니까? (yeonsega eotteoke doesimnikka)

How old are you?

B: 마흔다섯 살입니다. (maheundaseot sarimnida)

I am 45 years old.

Standard “How Old Are You” in Korean

There are several ways to ask this question in Korean. Here are some of them.

1. 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (yeonsega eotteoke doeseyo)

This is usually used when speaking to somebody older than you.

2. 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (naiga eotteoke doeseyo)

If you are speaking to somebody of a similar age, then you can ask, “How old are you?” in Korean.

3. 몇 살이에요? (myeot sarieyo)

This is another way to ask when talking to someone of the same age, although 몇 살이에요 (myeot sarieyo) sounds a bit less formal than 나이가 어떻게 되세요 (naiga eotteoke doeseyo)?

Example:

A: 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (naiga eotteoke doeseyo)

How old are you?

B: 스무 살이에요. (seumu sarieyo)

I’m 20 years old.

Informal “How Old Are You” in Korean

Below is how you can ask someone about their age in an informal way. However, if you ask somebody their age, you are probably not close enough to them to get away with using informal language.

1. 몇 살이야? (myeot sariya)

It is best to play it safe and say 몇 살이에요 (myeot sarieyo)? instead of 몇 살이야 (myeot sariya)?

To learn more about the question word used for these sentences, you can read our article on “How” in Korean.

“What’s your date of birth” in Korean

This may not exactly be “How old are you,” but it’s another way to determine someone’s age.

You may hear people ask you for your birthdate. That means you’ll tell them your birth year, birth month, and birthdate (in that order). For example:

생년월일이 어떻게 됩니까? (saengnyeonworiri eotteoke doemnikka)

What’s your date of birth?

If you were born on Jan 15, 1995, you can say:

1995년 1월 15일 (천구백구십오 년 일 월 십오 일 | cheongubaekgusibo nyeon il wol sibo il)

This is a very common question if you go somewhere where you’ll need to be registered, such as at the dentist or doctor’s office. They use the year you were born plus your birth month and day to look you up in their systems.

Ways to reply to “How old are you” in Korean

How you respond to someone asking, “How old are you?” in Korean can vary based on the formality of the situation. Here are responses for different formalities.

Formal response

For a formal response, you can say:

저는 서른일곱 살입니다. (jeoneun seoreunilgop sarimnida)

I am 37 years old.

Standard response

For a standard response that is polite yet not overly formal, you can say:

저는 서른일곱 살이에요. (jeoneun seoreunilgop sarieyo)

I am 37 years old.

This is similar to the first response but in a less formal tone.

This response is suitable for everyday conversations and goes somewhere between formality and casualness.

Informal response

In a more casual setting with friends, you can say:

나는 서른일곱 살이야. (naneun seoreunilgop sariya)

I am 37 years old.

This response is suitable when talking to someone who is the same age as you or younger.

If you’re unsure of which response to use, the standard one is your best choice to avoid being rude.

Remember, age in Korea is often calculated differently, so you might also want to clarify if you’re using international age or Korean age.

27/05/2025

Common Korean Greetings

Below, you can find all the basic Korean greetings that will be useful to you when you visit South Korea. We’ve included how they’re written in Korean along with the romanization to help you read them easily.

However, we encourage our learners to focus on learning Korean characters as much as possible and not rely on romanization for Korean pronunciation. This will help you accurately learn the proper pronunciation, which is more helpful in the long run. We’ve included the standard, formal and informal ways of saying them. Let’s start!

“Hello” in Korean

Depending on the level of formality required in the situation, there are three ways to say “hello” in Korean: 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka), 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo), and 안녕 (annyeong).

Standard “hello” in Korean

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) is the standard version of “hello” in Korean. It’s undoubtedly the most common way to say “hello,” as it is applicable to nearly any situation. Thus, it’s also likely to be the first word you’ll be taught in a Korean class.

You can use 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) whenever you walk into a store, when greeting your teacher, or when meeting with someone you know but may not be that close with. You actually can also use this when greeting an unfamiliar person, too, in most cases.

Formal “hello” in Korean

On the other hand, if you want to say “hello” in Korean using its most formal version, you can say 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka). You can hear this being used in announcements and speeches, for example. It is also quite often used in Korean news.

This is a great way to say “hello” on your very first meeting with someone and want to show extra respect to them. Especially if the new person is someone who is much older than you or has a higher level of authority, 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) should be used.

For example, if you are about to meet your friend’s parents for the first time, you would want to greet them with 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka).

Informal “hello” in Korean

Finally, there’s also hello in casual speech: 안녕 (annyeong). If you are greeting someone who is younger than you or is a close friend, you can drop the formalities and simply say 안녕 (annyeong).

However, you may want to refrain from using casual/informal speech on more formal occasions or around older people in Korea. You can think of 안녕 (annyeong) as a way to say “hi” in Korean.

“Hello” in Korean for phone calls

If you need to say “hello” over the phone when answering a call, you can use the Korean phrase 여보세요 (yeoboseyo) instead.

You can learn more about this by reading our article dedicated to “Hello” in Korean.

“Good Morning” in Korean

There are various ways to say “good morning” to someone, depending on who you are speaking with.

Standard “good morning” in Korean

One way to say “Good morning” in Korean is 좋은아침이에요 (joeunachimieyo). This is the standard way of speaking and is thus appropriate to use in most situations, except when a higher degree of formality is expected. Its literal translation is, “The morning is good.”

Additionally, you can also greet someone in the morning by asking 잘 잤어요? (jal jasseoyo?). This is the Korean equivalent of “Did you sleep well?” and is an incredibly common way for local people in South Korea to greet each other in the morning time.

Formal “good morning” in Korean

However, sometimes, you may need to be more formal when greeting someone in the morning. In this case, you can ask them if they’ve slept well by saying either 잘 주무셨어요? (jal jumusyeosseoyo) or 안녕히 주무셨어요? (annyeonghi jumusyeosseoyo). They both essentially have the same meaning.