Should I say 나 or 저 for "I" in Korean?

Use 저 with strangers, customers, teachers and anyone older or senior to you — it is the humble form and pairs with -요/-습니다 endings. Use 나 only with close friends and people clearly younger. The forms differ further: 저는/제가/제 versus 나는/내가/내. When in doubt, 저 is never wrong; 나 to the wrong person sounds cheeky.

Why are the verbs listed as 가다, 먹다 and not 가요, 먹어요?

-다 is the dictionary form, so that is how you will find the word in any dictionary or textbook glossary. To speak, you replace -다 with a polite ending: 가다 → 가요, 먹다 → 먹어요, 마시다 → 마셔요, 듣다 → 들어요. The example sentences show that polite -요 form, which is the safe default for daily life in Korea, except on the few cards marked casual (반말).

Do I need to read Hangul to use these 100 words?

You can start with the romanization, but drop it fast. Hangul takes a few hours to learn, and romanization hides the real pronunciation: 읽다 is written with ㄹ and ㄱ but sounds like [익따], 좋다 sounds like [조타], and 맛있다 sounds like [마시따]. Reading the Korean directly also stops you from collapsing 어 into 오 and 으 into 우.

Is 안녕하세요 okay at any time of day?

Yes. Korean has no everyday split between "good morning" and "good evening" — 안녕하세요 covers all of it, in shops, offices and on the phone. 좋은 아침이에요 exists but sounds translated and is rare in speech. With close friends you shorten it to 안녕 (반말), and in very formal settings you may hear 안녕하십니까.

100 Basic Korean Words for Beginners

🇰🇷 Korean · 100 cards · A1 · by Jiho Park

These are the 100 words I hand to anyone starting Korean: greetings, family, food, the verbs that get you through an ordinary day, and the question words you need for everything else. Verbs and adjectives appear in dictionary form (-다), the way you meet them in a glossary, while the examples use the polite -요 ending unless the card is marked casual (반말) — and I mark it, because that is what textbooks skip. Read the notes. 나 and 저 both mean "I", and picking the wrong one is the fastest way to sound rude. Stem changes like 듣다 → 들어요, 춥다 → 추워요 and 바쁘다 → 바빠요 are flagged too. Learn each word with its sentence, never alone.

1 / 100

How to use this deck

Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.

The Reji iPhone app is being rebuilt and returns to the App Store soon.

All 100 cards

#	Korean	Pronunciation	English	Example
1	안녕하세요 Polite (해요체), safe with anyone. Works morning, noon and night — Korean has no everyday "good morning".	annyeonghaseyo	hello, hi	안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다. Hello, nice to meet you.
2	안녕 Casual (반말). Only with close friends or people clearly younger; it covers both "hi" and "bye".	annyeong	hi, bye	안녕! 오랜만이야. Hi! Long time no see.
3	네 Polite. Also used as "I see / uh-huh" to show you are listening. 예 is a shade more formal.	ne	yes	네, 저도 갈게요. Yes, I'll go too.
4	아니요 Polite. 아뇨 is the everyday short form; 아니 is casual (반말).	aniyo	no	아니요, 저는 술을 안 마셔요. No, I don't drink alcohol.
5	감사합니다 Formal (합니다체). 고맙습니다 is just as polite and sounds a little warmer; 감사해요 is softer.	gamsahamnida	thank you	도와주셔서 감사합니다. Thank you for helping me.
6	고마워 Casual (반말). Say 고마워요 to someone you are not close to.	gomawo	thanks	생일 선물 고마워! Thanks for the birthday present!
7	죄송합니다 Formal apology. 죄송해요 is the softer polite form; 미안해 is casual (반말).	joesonghamnida	I'm sorry	늦어서 죄송합니다. I'm sorry for being late.
8	괜찮아요 Polite. Also the normal way to decline an offer: 아니요, 괜찮아요.	gwaenchanayo	it's okay, I'm fine	저는 괜찮아요, 걱정하지 마세요. I'm fine, don't worry.
9	안녕히 계세요 Polite. The one who leaves says 안녕히 계세요; the one who stays says 안녕히 가세요.	annyeonghi gyeseyo	goodbye (said to the person staying)	먼저 갈게요. 안녕히 계세요. I'll go ahead. Goodbye.
10	잠시만요 Polite. 잠깐만요 is just as common. Also how you squeeze past people on the subway.	jamsimanyo	just a moment, excuse me	잠시만요, 금방 올게요. One moment, I'll be right back.
11	저 Humble "I" — with strangers, elders and at work. Subject form 제가, "my" is 제.	jeo	I, me	저는 한국 사람이 아니에요. I'm not Korean.
12	나 Casual (반말). Fine with close friends, rude to anyone older or senior. Subject form 내가, "my" is 내.	na	I, me	나는 아이스커피가 좋아. I like iced coffee.
13	너 Casual only (반말). Otherwise use the person's name + 씨 or their title — often no word for "you" at all.	neo	you	너 지금 어디야? Where are you right now?
14	우리 Often replaces "my": 우리 엄마 = my mom, 우리 집 = my place. Humble form: 저희.	uri	we, our	우리 같이 점심 먹어요. Let's have lunch together.
15	사람 Counted with 명 (세 명 = three people); 분 is the honorific counter.	saram	person, people	이 사람 누구예요? Who is this person?
16	친구 In Korea 친구 normally implies someone your own age; an older acquaintance is not called 친구.	chingu	friend	주말에 친구를 만났어요. I met a friend on the weekend.
17	엄마 Casual and affectionate. 어머니 is the respectful word, and the one to use about someone else's mother.	eomma	mom	엄마, 저 왔어요! Mom, I'm home!
18	아빠 Casual and affectionate. 아버지 is the respectful word.	appa	dad	아빠가 저녁을 만들었어요. Dad made dinner.
19	가족 저희 is the humble form of 우리 and is what you use about your own family when being polite.	gajok	family	저희 가족은 모두 네 명이에요. There are four people in my family.
20	아이 애 is the everyday contraction (애들 = kids). Your own child is often 우리 애.	ai	child, kid	아이가 공원에서 놀고 있어요. A child is playing in the park.
21	선생님 -님 is honorific, so never drop it when addressing one. Also a respectful way to address other professionals.	seonsaengnim	teacher	선생님, 질문이 있어요. Teacher, I have a question.
22	학생 대학생 = university student, 고등학생 = high-school student.	haksaeng	student	저는 아직 학생이에요. I'm still a student.
23	집 One word for both "house" and "home": 집에 가요 = I'm going home.	jip	house, home	이제 집에 가고 싶어요. I want to go home now.
24	학교 대학교 = university; the destination takes 에: 학교에 가요.	hakgyo	school	학교까지 걸어서 십 분이에요. It's ten minutes to school on foot.
25	회사 회사에 가요 (often shortened to 회사 가요) is the normal way to say "I'm going to work".	hoesa	company, office	회사가 강남에 있어요. My company is in Gangnam.
26	화장실 The standard, polite word — use it in any public place.	hwajangsil	toilet, restroom	화장실이 어디예요? Where is the restroom?
27	가게 A convenience store specifically is 편의점.	gage	shop, store	집 앞 가게에서 우유를 샀어요. I bought milk at the shop in front of my place.
28	방 제 is the humble "my" (from 저); 내 방 is the casual version.	bang	room	제 방이 좀 작아요. My room is a bit small.
29	문 문을 열다 = to open, 문을 닫다 = to close.	mun	door	문 좀 닫아 주세요. Please close the door.
30	길 길을 잃었어요 = I got lost.	gil	road, street, way	이 길로 쭉 가세요. Go straight along this road.
31	차 Polite (honorific -시- in 오셨어요). 차 also means "tea" — context decides.	cha	car	오늘 차로 오셨어요? Did you come by car today?
32	돈 돈이 있다/없다 for having money or not. 현금 = cash, 카드 = card.	don	money	지금 돈이 별로 없어요. I don't have much money right now.
33	물 Counted with 잔 (glasses) or 병 (bottles). Water is free at restaurants in Korea.	mul	water	물 한 잔 주세요. A glass of water, please.
34	밥 Literally cooked rice, but usually just "a meal". 밥 먹었어요? also works as a friendly greeting.	bap	rice, meal	밥 먹었어요? Have you eaten?
35	커피 커피 한 잔 = a cup of coffee; 아이스 아메리카노 is the default café order.	keopi	coffee	아침마다 커피를 마셔요. I drink coffee every morning.
36	음식 한국 음식 = Korean food; on menus you often see the shorter 한식.	eumsik	food	한국 음식을 제일 좋아해요. I like Korean food best.
37	고기 소고기 beef, 돼지고기 pork, 닭고기 chicken.	gogi	meat	저는 고기를 안 먹어요. I don't eat meat.
38	과일 사과 apple, 딸기 strawberry, 포도 grapes.	gwail	fruit	시장에서는 과일이 싸요. Fruit is cheap at the market.
39	빵 From Portuguese pão, borrowed via Japanese. A bakery is 빵집.	ppang	bread	아침에 빵하고 계란을 먹어요. I eat bread and eggs in the morning.
40	우유 다 떨어졌어요 = "we've run out" — a very common phrase for groceries.	uyu	milk	우유가 다 떨어졌어요. We're out of milk.
41	책 Counted with 권: 책 두 권 = two books.	chaek	book	이 책 재미있어요? Is this book good?
42	전화 전화하다 = to call. A mobile phone is 핸드폰 or 휴대폰.	jeonhwa	phone, phone call	나중에 전화할게요. I'll call you later.
43	시간 Also counts hours: 세 시간 = three hours.	sigan	time, hour	오늘은 시간이 없어요. I don't have time today.
44	날씨 Polite. -네요 adds a friendly "isn't it?" feeling.	nalssi	weather	오늘 날씨 정말 좋네요. The weather is really nice today.
45	옷 Korean nouns don't mark plural, so 옷 covers one garment or clothes in general. Counted with 벌.	ot	clothes, clothing	이 옷 어때요? How do you like these clothes?
46	신발 Polite request. Counted in pairs: 한 켤레. Shoes always come off inside a Korean home.	sinbal	shoes	신발은 여기서 벗으세요. Please take your shoes off here.
47	가방 배낭 = backpack, 핸드백 = handbag.	gabang	bag	가방 안에 지갑이 있어요. My wallet is in the bag.
48	이름 To an older person or a client, ask the honorific 성함이 어떻게 되세요?	ireum	name	이름이 뭐예요? What's your name?
49	나라 우리 나라 means "my/our country" — Korea, when a Korean says it.	nara	country	어느 나라에서 왔어요? Which country are you from?
50	말 한국말 is the everyday version of 한국어. 말하다 = to speak; 말씀 is the honorific noun.	mal	words, speech, language	한국말 조금 할 수 있어요. I can speak a little Korean.
51	가다 Polite present: 가요. The destination takes 에: 학교에 가요.	gada	to go	주말에 부산에 가요. I'm going to Busan this weekend.
52	오다 오다 + -아요 contracts to 와요.	oda	to come	친구가 우리 집에 와요. A friend is coming to my place.
53	하다 Polite present: 해요. Attaches to nouns to make verbs: 공부하다, 일하다, 전화하다.	hada	to do	지금 뭐 해요? What are you doing now?
54	먹다 Polite present: 먹어요. When an elder is eating, switch to 드시다 / 드세요.	meokda	to eat	점심에 김치찌개를 먹었어요. I ate kimchi stew for lunch.
55	마시다 Polite present: 마셔요.	masida	to drink	저녁에 맥주 한 잔 마셔요. I have a glass of beer in the evening.
56	보다 Also "to meet up with" in casual speech: 내일 봐! (반말)	boda	to see, to watch	어제 영화를 봤어요. I watched a movie yesterday.
57	듣다 ㄷ-irregular: 듣다 → 들어요, 들었어요.	deutda	to listen, to hear	버스에서 음악을 들어요. I listen to music on the bus.
58	말하다 Polite request. 이야기하다 is closer to "to talk/chat"; 말씀하다 is the honorific.	malhada	to speak, to say	좀 천천히 말해 주세요. Please speak a bit more slowly.
59	읽다 Pronounced [익따]; before a vowel the ㄹ is heard: 읽어요 [일거요].	ikda	to read	자기 전에 책을 읽어요. I read a book before going to sleep.
60	쓰다 ㅡ drops: 쓰다 → 써요. The same form also means "to wear (a hat/glasses)" and "to be bitter".	sseuda	to write, to use	여기에 이름을 쓰세요. Write your name here.
61	자다 Honorific for elders: 주무시다 — 잘 주무셨어요?	jada	to sleep	어젯밤에 잘 잤어요? Did you sleep well last night?
62	일어나다 Also "to happen": 사고가 일어났어요 = an accident happened.	ireonada	to get up, to stand up	매일 일곱 시에 일어나요. I get up at seven every day.
63	앉다 Pronounced [안따]. 앉으세요 is the polite invitation to sit. Opposite: 서다 (to stand).	anda	to sit	여기 앉으세요. Please sit here.
64	사다 제가 살게요 = "it's on me" — the polite way to offer to pay.	sada	to buy	편의점에서 물을 샀어요. I bought water at the convenience store.
65	주다 -아/어 주세요 makes polite requests: 도와주세요 = please help me.	juda	to give	친구에게 선물을 줬어요. I gave my friend a present.
66	받다 Pronounced [받따]. 선물을 받다 = to receive a present.	batda	to receive, to get	어제 문자를 받았어요. I got a text message yesterday.
67	만나다 친구를 만나요 is the usual pattern; 친구와/친구랑 만나요 also works.	mannada	to meet	내일 두 시에 만나요! Let's meet at two tomorrow!
68	알다 ㄹ-stem: the ㄹ drops before ㅅ/ㄴ — 아세요?, 압니다. 알겠어요 = got it (polite).	alda	to know	그 사람 알아요? Do you know that person?
69	모르다 르-irregular: 몰라요. 모르겠어요 sounds softer and more polite than 몰라요.	moreuda	to not know	죄송해요, 잘 모르겠어요. Sorry, I don't really know.
70	좋아하다 Takes an object (을/를), unlike 좋다, which describes the thing itself.	joahada	to like	저는 매운 음식을 좋아해요. I like spicy food.
71	살다 ㄹ-stem: the ㄹ drops before ㅅ/ㄴ — 사세요?, 삽니다 — but stays in 살아요.	salda	to live	서울에서 오 년 살았어요. I lived in Seoul for five years.
72	일하다 일 (work) + 하다. 출근하다 = to go in to work.	ilhada	to work	토요일에도 일해요? Do you work on Saturdays too?
73	공부하다 공부 (study) + 하다; the subject studied takes 을/를.	gongbuhada	to study	요즘 한국어를 공부해요. I'm studying Korean these days.
74	기다리다 잠깐만 기다려 주세요 = please wait a second (polite).	gidarida	to wait	여기서 기다릴게요. I'll wait here.
75	있다 Covers existence (화장실이 있어요) and possession (돈이 있어요). Honorific for people: 계시다.	itda	to be (there), to have	질문 있어요? Any questions?
76	없다 The negative partner of 있다 — Korean never says 안 있다.	eopda	to not be (there), to not have	오늘은 수업이 없어요. There's no class today.
77	좋다 Pronounced [조타]. A descriptive verb, so no separate "is" is needed: 좋아요 = it's good.	jota	good, nice	이 카페 분위기가 좋아요. This cafe has a nice atmosphere.
78	나쁘다 ㅡ drops before -아/어요: 나빠요, 나빴어요.	nappeuda	bad	날씨가 나빠서 안 나갔어요. The weather was bad, so I didn't go out.
79	크다 ㅡ drops: 크다 → 커요, 컸어요.	keuda	big, large	이 신발은 좀 커요. These shoes are a bit big.
80	작다 Don't confuse with 적다 (few in number).	jakda	small	방이 작지만 깨끗해요. The room is small but clean.
81	많다 Pronounced [만타]. The adverb 많이 means "a lot": 많이 드세요.	manta	many, much, a lot	주말에는 사람이 많아요. There are a lot of people on weekends.
82	비싸다 Opposite: 싸다. 좀 비싸네요 is a polite way to hint that something is pricey.	bissada	expensive	여기 커피는 너무 비싸요. The coffee here is too expensive.
83	싸다 저렴하다 is the more formal word used in ads. The same form also means "to wrap/pack".	ssada	cheap	이 가게가 제일 싸요. This shop is the cheapest.
84	맛있다 Pronounced [마시따]. Opposite: 맛없다 (bland, bad-tasting).	masitda	delicious, tasty	이 라면 진짜 맛있어요! This ramyeon is really tasty!
85	예쁘다 ㅡ drops: 예뻐요. For men, 잘생기다 (handsome) is used instead.	yeppeuda	pretty	그 원피스 정말 예뻐요. That dress is really pretty.
86	덥다 ㅂ-irregular: 더워요. Hot food or drink is 뜨겁다, not 덥다.	deopda	hot (weather)	여름에는 서울이 너무 더워요. Seoul is far too hot in summer.
87	춥다 ㅂ-irregular: 추워요. Cold objects or drinks are 차갑다.	chupda	cold (weather)	밖이 많이 추워요. It's very cold outside.
88	아프다 ㅡ drops: 아파요. Used for both pain and illness; of an elder, 아프시다.	apeuda	to hurt, to be sick	어제부터 머리가 아파요. My head has hurt since yesterday.
89	바쁘다 ㅡ drops: 바빠요, 바빴어요.	bappeuda	busy	이번 주는 좀 바빠요. I'm a bit busy this week.
90	재미있다 Written as one word. Opposite: 재미없다 (boring).	jaemiitda	fun, interesting	그 드라마 재미있어요? Is that drama good?
91	뭐 Spoken form of 무엇. 뭐? on its own sounds sharp — say 네? or 뭐라고요? instead.	mwo	what	이거 뭐예요? What is this?
92	누구 As a subject it becomes 누가: 누가 왔어요?	nugu	who	저 사람 누구예요? Who is that person?
93	어디 In speech the particle is often dropped: 어디 가요? = Where are you going?	eodi	where	지금 어디에 있어요? Where are you now?
94	언제 Don't confuse with 언제나 (always).	eonje	when	언제 시간 있어요? When are you free?
95	왜 Said alone, 왜? sounds blunt; 왜요? is the polite version.	wae	why	왜 이렇게 늦었어요? Why are you so late?
96	어떻게 Pronounced [어떠케]. Don't mix it up with 어떤 (what kind of).	eotteoke	how	이거 어떻게 해요? How do I do this?
97	얼마 얼마나 asks about degree or duration: 얼마나 걸려요? = how long does it take?	eolma	how much (price)	이거 얼마예요? How much is this?
98	지금 지금 = at this moment; 이제 = now as opposed to before.	jigeum	now, right now	지금 출발할게요. I'm leaving now.
99	오늘 어제 = yesterday, 내일 = tomorrow.	oneul	today	오늘 뭐 할 거예요? What are you doing today?
100	하나 Native number; becomes 한 before a counter (한 개, 한 명). The Sino-Korean "one" is 일.	hana	one	이거 하나 주세요. One of these, please.

Jiho Park

Native Korean · Speaks English, Japanese

Seoul native. I mark every phrase with its politeness level, because that is the part textbooks skip and the part that gets you in trouble.

Published 17 Sept 2026

Questions about this deck

Should I say 나 or 저 for "I" in Korean?: Use 저 with strangers, customers, teachers and anyone older or senior to you — it is the humble form and pairs with -요/-습니다 endings. Use 나 only with close friends and people clearly younger. The forms differ further: 저는/제가/제 versus 나는/내가/내. When in doubt, 저 is never wrong; 나 to the wrong person sounds cheeky.
Why are the verbs listed as 가다, 먹다 and not 가요, 먹어요?: -다 is the dictionary form, so that is how you will find the word in any dictionary or textbook glossary. To speak, you replace -다 with a polite ending: 가다 → 가요, 먹다 → 먹어요, 마시다 → 마셔요, 듣다 → 들어요. The example sentences show that polite -요 form, which is the safe default for daily life in Korea, except on the few cards marked casual (반말).
Do I need to read Hangul to use these 100 words?: You can start with the romanization, but drop it fast. Hangul takes a few hours to learn, and romanization hides the real pronunciation: 읽다 is written with ㄹ and ㄱ but sounds like [익따], 좋다 sounds like [조타], and 맛있다 sounds like [마시따]. Reading the Korean directly also stops you from collapsing 어 into 오 and 으 into 우.
Is 안녕하세요 okay at any time of day?: Yes. Korean has no everyday split between "good morning" and "good evening" — 안녕하세요 covers all of it, in shops, offices and on the phone. 좋은 아침이에요 exists but sounds translated and is rare in speech. With close friends you shorten it to 안녕 (반말), and in very formal settings you may hear 안녕하십니까.

Tags:beginner

100 Basic Korean Words for Beginners

All 100 cards

Questions about this deck

More Korean decks: basic korean words

50 Most Common Korean Verbs: Dictionary Form + Polite Present

Colors in Korean: 25 Essential Color Words

50 Common Korean Phrases for Beginners (With Politeness Levels)

Cute Korean Words and Slang: 30 Aegyo Phrases

Korean Swear Words: 25 Real Curse Words With Strength Ratings

Numbers in Korean 1–100: Native and Sino-Korean