Survival Korean (생존 한국어): Food, Shopping & Places

You don't need perfect Korean to have a great time in Korea. You need about 20 words, the willingness to point at things, and the confidence to try.

This article is a practical field guide for three situations you'll hit on any trip: sitting down to eat, browsing a market or shop, and finding your way around. The phrases here are short, high-frequency, and immediately useful.

Part 1 — Food: Cafés, Street Food & Restaurants

Ordering at a Café

Korea has more cafés per capita than almost any country in the world. Knowing your coffee order in Korean is genuinely useful from day one.

The menu will mostly look familiar — 아메리카노 (a-me-ri-ka-no), 카페라떼 (ka-pe-ra-tte), 그린티 라떼 (geu-rin-ti ra-tte). But two expressions separate you from every other tourist:

• 아아 (a-a) — Short for 아이스 아메리카노 (ice americano). Koreans say it constantly. Order it this way and you'll get a smile.

• 뜨아 (tteu-a) — Short for 따뜻한 아메리카노 (hot americano). Same idea.

To order anything: just say the item + 주세요 (ju-se-yo) — please give me this.

• 아아 주세요. (A-a ju-se-yo.) — One iced americano, please.

• 이거 주세요. (I-geo ju-se-yo.) — This one, please. [pointing at the menu]

Street Food You Should Know

분식 (bun-sik) — Korea's beloved category of quick, cheap, satisfying snacks. Found at street stalls, convenience stores, and small restaurants everywhere.

Tip — 컵라면 at a convenience store: Grab a 컵라면 (kup-ra-myeon — cup noodle), pay, and the staff will pour hot water for you. Eat at the counter or outside. This is not tourist food — it's what Koreans actually eat. The Han River version (봉지라면 / bong-ji ra-myeon cooked in a pot at the riverbank) is a bucket-list experience.

Restaurant Essentials

Key food words for reading menus:

Tip — 매워요? (Is it spicy?): If spice is a concern, point at a dish and ask 매워요? (mae-wo-yo?). Staff will answer honestly. Alternatively, look for 순한 맛 (sun-han mat) on a menu — it means "mild flavor."

Part 2 — Shopping: Markets and Stores

Getting Started

Walk into any small shop or market stall and the owner will likely greet you. Respond with 안녕하세요 and you've already made a good impression.

To get someone's attention:

• 저기요! (Jeo-gi-yo!) — Excuse me / Hey there

• 사장님! (Sa-jang-nim!) — Literally "boss" — used warmly for any shop owner. It's friendly, not formal.

The Three Phrases That Cover Almost Everything

1. 이거 얼마예요? (I-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?) — How much is this?
Point at something and say this. That's it. The entire transaction can start here.

• 이거 (i-geo) — this (nearby)

• 저거 (jeo-geo) — that (further away)

2. 이거 주세요 (I-geo ju-se-yo) — I'll take this.
The buying decision, complete in four syllables.

3. 괜찮아요 (Gwaen-chan-a-yo) — It's okay / No thank you.
When you don't want something being offered, this is the polite exit. A small smile and 괜찮아요 is understood everywhere.

If It Feels Expensive

• 비싸요 (bi-ssa-yo) — It's expensive. (Said with a slightly regretful expression, this sometimes prompts a discount offer.)

• 깎아주세요 (kka-kka-ju-se-yo) — Please give me a discount.

Tip — Where bargaining works (and doesn't): 깎아주세요 is perfectly normal at traditional markets like Dongdaemun (동대문) or Namdaemun (남대문). At department stores, brand shops, or chain stores, prices are fixed — bargaining would be awkward. When in doubt, look for a price tag. If there isn't one, asking is fair game.

Part 3 — Getting Around: Places, Directions & Transport

Landmarks and Places Worth Knowing

Place-building words:

Directions

Getting There

The three most useful sentences:

1. 실례합니다, [장소] 어디에 있어요?
   Sil-lye-ham-ni-da, [place] eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?
   Excuse me, where is [place]?

2. 이 주소로 가주세요.
   I ju-so-ro ga-ju-se-yo.
   Please take me to this address. (Show the address on your phone)

3. 여기서 내려요.
   Yeo-gi-seo nae-ryeo-yo.
   I'll get off here.

Tip — Save addresses in Korean: Korean taxi drivers and locals respond much better to a Korean-script address than an English transliteration. Before you leave, copy the Korean address of your hotel or destination into your phone's notes. Showing that screen alongside "이 주소로 가주세요" will get you there every time.

Your Survival Cheat Sheet

Try It Right Now

Imagine you're in Hongdae on a Saturday afternoon. Walk through this sequence out loud:

1. Enter a café. The server looks up. → 안녕하세요.

2. Point at the menu board. → 아아 주세요.

3. Walk out and spot a market stall with something interesting. → 이거 얼마예요?

4. The price feels a bit high. → 비싸요... (pause, hopeful expression)

5. You decide to buy it anyway. → 이거 주세요. 감사합니다.

6. You need to find the subway. Ask a passer-by: → 실례합니다, 홍대입구역 어디에 있어요?

Six exchanges. Real Korean. Real situations. That's what survival Korean looks like in practice.

Next up: Korean Expressive Sound Words →