Praktisch · Kapitel 12
By the HolidayGenie editorial team ·
Hangul — the Korean alphabet — is one of the most ingenious writing systems in the world: scientifically designed, logically structured, and learnable in an afternoon. A few words of Korean open hearts and doors.
Hangul — the ingenious alphabet
Hangul (한글) was invented in 1443 by King Sejong the Great — with the goal of enabling every Korean to read. It is not a character system like Chinese, but a true alphabet with 14 consonants and 10 vowels, which are combined into syllable blocks.
The Basic Consonants
| Character | Sound | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | g/k | Like an angle |
| ㄴ | n | Like an L mirrored |
| ㄷ | d/t | Like a rectangle open at the top |
| ㄹ | r/l | Like a curved S |
| ㅁ | m | Like a square (Mouth = "mouth") |
| ㅂ | b/p | Like a bucket |
| ㅅ | s | Like a roof |
| ㅇ | ng (silent at the beginning of a syllable) | Like a circle |
| ㅈ | j/ch | Like a roof with a line |
| ㅎ | h | Like a man with a hat |
The Basic Vowels
| Character | Sound |
|---|---|
| ㅏ | a (as in "father") |
| ㅓ | eo (like "ö" in "öffnen") |
| ㅗ | o (as in "oven") |
| ㅜ | u (as in "clock") |
| ㅡ | eu (between "ö" and "ü") |
| ㅣ | i (as in "eagle") |
| ㅐ | ae (like "ä") |
| ㅔ | e (as in "bed") |
How to Read Hangul
Letters are combined into syllable blocks: 한 = ㅎ (h) + ㅏ (a) + ㄴ (n) = "han". 글 = ㄱ (g) + ㅡ (eu) + ㄹ (l) = "geul". Together: 한글 = Hangul. With a bit of practice, you can read signs, metro stations, and menus after 2–3 hours — even if you don't yet understand the meaning.
Tipp
Learn Hangul before the trip — it only takes 2–3 hours and is a game-changer. You can suddenly read metro stations, decipher menus, and understand street signs. Apps: "Duolingo Korean" or "Write It! Korean" are good starting points.
Important Korean Phrases
Koreans are immensely pleased when tourists can speak a few words of Korean. These phrases will get you through everyday life:
Basics
| German | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요 | An-nyeong-ha-se-yo |
| Thank you | 감사합니다 | Gam-sa-ham-ni-da |
| You're welcome | 천만에요 | Cheon-ma-ne-yo |
| Sorry | 죄송합니다 | Choe-song-ham-ni-da |
| Yes | 네 | Ne |
| No | 아니요 | A-ni-yo |
| Goodbye (to someone leaving) | 안녕히 가세요 | An-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo |
| Goodbye (to someone staying) | 안녕히 계세요 | An-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo |
At the Restaurant
| German | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Delicious! | 맛있어요! | Ma-shi-sseo-yo! |
| The bill, please | 계산해 주세요 | Gye-san-hae ju-se-yo |
| First a beer! | 일단 맥주요! | Il-dan maek-ju-yo! |
| Another soju, please | 소주 한 병 더 주세요 | So-ju han byeong deo ju-se-yo |
| I'd like this, please | 이거 주세요 | I-geo ju-se-yo |
| Not spicy, please | 안 맵게 해주세요 | An maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo |
| More side dishes, please | 반찬 더 주세요 | Ban-chan deo ju-se-yo |
On the Go
| German | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is ...? | … 어디에요? | … eo-di-e-yo? |
| How much does it cost? | 얼마예요? | Eol-ma-ye-yo? |
| I don't understand | 이해를 못해요 | I-hae-reul mot-hae-yo |
| Do you speak English? | 영어 하세요? | Yeong-eo ha-se-yo? |
| Please help me | 도와주세요 | Do-wa-ju-se-yo |
| Toilet | 화장실 | Hwa-jang-shil |
Numbers (Sino-Korean, for prices)
| Number | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 일 | Il |
| 2 | 이 | I |
| 3 | 삼 | Sam |
| 5 | 오 | O |
| 10 | 십 | Ship |
| 100 | 백 | Baek |
| 1,000 | 천 | Cheon |
| 10,000 | 만 | Man |
Tipp
The three most important words: "Annyeonghaseyo" (Hello), "Kamsahamnida" (Thank you), and "Mashisseoyo!" (Delicious!) — with these three phrases, you win every Korean heart. Bonus: "Juseyo" (Please give me) at the end of every sentence makes everything more polite.
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