Starting a conversation in Korean feels great once you know the key phrases. In this lesson, you’ll learn simple, polite greetings and how to introduce yourself naturally—plus exactly when to use each phrase. We’ll keep it friendly, practical, and very A1.

Essential greetings you’ll hear every day

Korean has a few “all-purpose” phrases that work in many situations.

• 안녕하세요 — the universal “hello” (polite)
• 안녕히 가세요 — “goodbye” to someone who is leaving
• 안녕히 계세요 — “goodbye” to someone who is staying
• 감사합니다 — “thank you” (polite)
• 죄송합니다 / 미안해요 — “I’m sorry” (죄송합니다 is more formal; 미안해요 is polite, friendly)

Use these, and you’ll sound respectful and clear in any first meeting.

Quick check: choosing the right goodbye

If you’re leaving, you say 안녕히 계세요 to the person staying. If the other person is leaving, you say 안녕히 가세요.

Introducing yourself (A1 patterns)

You’ll use two core frames:

• 저는 + noun + 이에요/예요 — “I am…” (polite)
• 제 이름은 + name + 입니다/이에요/예요 — “My name is…” (formal or polite)

Examples:

저는 학생.

저는 마리아.

제 이름은 민수.

Put it together: a simple self-intro

Say hello, your name, and a friendly closing.

Names, titles, and politeness

In Korea, using titles shows respect. Instead of first names alone, add 씨 after given names among peers (e.g., 민지 씨). For teachers, use 선생님; for older people or in service, 님 is a respectful suffix.

At A1, keep it simple:

• 저는 민지예요. — I am Minji. (friendly polite)
• 민지 씨, 안녕하세요. — Hello, Minji (with polite suffix).

Short dialogue: order the lines

Arrange the conversation from hello to goodbye. Imagine A is leaving and B is staying.

Bonus: nationality and city

You can add one more detail politely.

• 저는 미국 사람이에요. — I’m American.
• 저는 서울 사람이에요. — I’m from Seoul.

Notice 사람 (person) makes it simple and natural.

저는 이름 민지예요. → 제 이름은 민지예요. Use 제 이름은… to introduce your name; 제 is the polite ‘my’. 제가 떠날 때: 안녕히 가세요. → 제가 떠날 때: 안녕히 계세요. If you leave, say 안녕히 계세요 to the person staying.

Culture notes (A1-friendly)

• A small bow with 안녕하세요 is perfect. Handshakes are less common, but fine in international settings.
• Titles matter. Using 씨 after a given name shows polite respect among peers.
• Time-of-day “good morning/afternoon” greetings aren’t common; 안녕하세요 works all day.

Keep your sentences short and polite, and you’ll sound great.

Quick practice wrap-up

Try your intro aloud:

안녕하세요. 저는 [your name]예요/이에요. 만나서 반갑습니다.

Then add one detail:

저는 [country/city] 사람이에요.

You’ve got the core greetings and a clear way to introduce yourself. Keep repeating these patterns and you’ll build confidence fast. 다음에 또 만나요! (See you next time!)