Learning Korean can be an exciting and rewarding journey, especially for English speakers fascinated by East Asian cultures. As with any language, starting with the basics is crucial. For those at the A1 level, it’s essential to build a strong foundation in vocabulary. This article will guide you through some of the most important Korean words and phrases that you should know at the A1 level. Whether you’re planning a trip to South Korea, want to understand K-dramas better, or are just passionate about learning new languages, these words will be your stepping stones to proficiency.

Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

One of the first things you’ll need to know in any language is how to greet people and express politeness. In Korean culture, these expressions are especially important due to the emphasis on respect and hierarchy.

**안녕하세요** (annyeonghaseyo) – Hello
This is the standard way to greet someone politely. It can be used at any time of the day.

**안녕** (annyeong) – Hi/Bye
A more informal version of “hello” and “goodbye,” used among friends or people of the same age.

**감사합니다** (gamsahamnida) – Thank you
A formal way to express gratitude.

**고마워요** (gomawoyo) – Thank you
A slightly less formal way to say “thank you,” still polite and appropriate for most situations.

**죄송합니다** (joesonghamnida) – I’m sorry
A formal apology, used in situations where you need to express regret or ask for forgiveness.

**미안해요** (mianhaeyo) – I’m sorry
A more casual apology, suitable for friends or people you are close to.

Essential Nouns

Learning some basic nouns will help you navigate everyday situations, from finding your way around to understanding simple conversations.

**사람** (saram) – Person
A fundamental noun that you’ll hear often.

**이름** (ireum) – Name
Useful for introductions and asking someone’s name.

**집** (jip) – House
Important for understanding conversations about living arrangements or locations.

**학교** (hakgyo) – School
A common noun, especially if you’re in an academic setting.

**음식** (eumsik) – Food
Crucial for dining out and discussing meals.

**물** (mul) – Water
An essential word for staying hydrated and ordering drinks.

**차** (cha) – Tea/Car
Interestingly, this word has two meanings, so context is important.

**친구** (chingu) – Friend
A word you’ll use frequently as you make new connections.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the action words that will help you describe what you or others are doing. Here are some key verbs to start with:

**하다** (hada) – To do
A versatile verb used in many contexts.

**가다** (gada) – To go
Essential for discussing movement and travel.

**오다** (oda) – To come
Often used in conversations about arrivals and visits.

**먹다** (meokda) – To eat
Crucial for discussing meals and food.

**마시다** (masida) – To drink
Important for conversations involving beverages.

**보다** (boda) – To see/watch
Useful for discussing activities like watching TV or seeing something interesting.

**듣다** (deutda) – To listen
Essential for understanding conversations about listening to music or paying attention.

**알다** (alda) – To know
Helpful for discussing knowledge and awareness.

Numbers and Counting

Numbers are fundamental in any language, and Korean is no different. Here are the basic numbers you should know:

**하나** (hana) – One
**둘** (dul) – Two
**셋** (set) – Three
**넷** (net) – Four
**다섯** (daseot) – Five
**여섯** (yeoseot) – Six
**일곱** (ilgop) – Seven
**여덟** (yeodeol) – Eight
**아홉** (ahop) – Nine
**열** (yeol) – Ten

Understanding these numbers will help you in various situations, from shopping to telling time.

Days of the Week and Time

Knowing how to talk about days and time is essential for making plans and understanding schedules.

**월요일** (woryoil) – Monday
**화요일** (hwayoil) – Tuesday
**수요일** (suyoil) – Wednesday
**목요일** (mogyoil) – Thursday
**금요일** (geumyoil) – Friday
**토요일** (toyoil) – Saturday
**일요일** (iryoil) – Sunday

For telling time, here are some useful words:

**시간** (sigan) – Time
**분** (bun) – Minute
**시** (si) – Hour
**오늘** (oneul) – Today
**내일** (naeil) – Tomorrow
**어제** (eoje) – Yesterday

Basic Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe nouns. They will help you add more detail to your sentences and express yourself more fully.

**좋다** (jota) – Good
**나쁘다** (nappeuda) – Bad
**크다** (keuda) – Big
**작다** (jakda) – Small
**예쁘다** (yeppeuda) – Pretty
**맛있다** (masitda) – Delicious
**비싸다** (bissada) – Expensive
**싸다** (ssada) – Cheap

Everyday Phrases

Here are some everyday phrases that will come in handy in various situations:

**이거 얼마예요?** (igeo eolmayeyo?) – How much is this?
Useful for shopping and knowing the price of items.

**화장실 어디예요?** (hwajangsil eodiyeyo?) – Where is the bathroom?
A crucial question for finding facilities.

**몇 시예요?** (myeot siyeyo?) – What time is it?
Important for keeping track of time.

**도와주세요** (dowajuseyo) – Please help me
Useful in situations where you need assistance.

**괜찮아요** (gwaenchanayo) – It’s okay
A versatile phrase to indicate that everything is fine.

**천천히 말해 주세요** (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) – Please speak slowly
Helpful when you need someone to slow down their speech for better understanding.

Pronouns

Pronouns are essential for referring to yourself and others in conversation:

**저** (jeo) – I (formal)
**나** (na) – I (informal)
**당신** (dangsin) – You (formal)
**너** (neo) – You (informal)
**우리** (uri) – We
**그/그녀** (geu/geunyeo) – He/She

Particles

Korean uses particles to indicate the role of a word in a sentence. Here are some basic ones:

**은/는** (eun/neun) – Topic particle
Used to mark the topic of a sentence.

**이/가** (i/ga) – Subject particle
Used to mark the subject of a sentence.

**을/를** (eul/reul) – Object particle
Used to mark the object of a sentence.

**에** (e) – Location/time particle
Used to indicate time or location.

**에서** (eseo) – From/at
Used to indicate the place where an action occurs.

Basic Sentence Structure

Understanding basic sentence structure is crucial for forming coherent sentences. Korean typically follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order:

**저는 사과를 먹어요** (jeoneun sagwareul meogeoyo) – I eat an apple.
**그는 책을 읽어요** (geuneun chaekeul ilgeoyo) – He reads a book.

Practice Makes Perfect

To get comfortable with these words, practice using them in sentences. Here are a few examples:

**저는 학생이에요** (jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo) – I am a student.
**이거 맛있어요** (igeo masisseoyo) – This is delicious.
**저는 친구를 만나요** (jeoneun chingureul mannayo) – I meet a friend.

Conclusion

Mastering these basic Korean words and phrases will give you a solid foundation at the A1 level. Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and consistent practice is key. Use these words in your daily conversations, try to form sentences, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. With time, you’ll find yourself becoming more comfortable and proficient in Korean.

Happy learning!