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MyKoreanTrip

Korean for Travellers

Intermediate 1 — listening

Every one of the 85 words and sentences in the course, read aloud. Tap any line to hear it.

This page goes with the Intermediate 1 — Politeness course PDF. Keep it open on your phone while you work through the book.

Lesson 1 — The Three Levels

  • I am a student. (formal)

  • I'm a student. (polite)

  • I'm a student. (casual)

Lesson 2 — The Formal Form

  • Is, am, are — formal 이에요

  • There is — formal 있어요

  • There isn't

  • Does — formal 해요

  • Thank you

  • I'm sorry

  • That's right

  • No, it isn't

  • Where have you come from?

  • I study Korean.

Lesson 3 — Raising the Other Person

  • The boss isn't in at the moment.

  • Where are you off to?

  • May I ask your name?

  • Please speak slowly.

Lesson 4 — The Words That Change Completely

  • Person — honorific 사람

  • Name — honorific 이름

  • Age — honorific 나이

  • Home — honorific 집

  • Birthday — honorific 생일

  • Words, speech — honorific 말

  • A meal — honorific 밥

  • Honorific subject marker — replaces 이/가

  • Grandmother is sleeping.

  • May I ask your age?

Lesson 5 — Lowering Yourself

  • We, our — humble

  • To give — humble → 드려요

  • To meet — humble → 뵙겠습니다

  • To ask — humble → 여쭤볼게요

  • To request a favour

  • To tell — humble

  • Let me help you.

  • May I ask you something?

  • I'll see you tomorrow.

Lesson 6 — What to Call People

  • Mr / Ms — after a full or given name

  • Higher than 씨 — after a title, not a name

  • Teacher — and a safe respectful default for anyone

  • Boss, shop owner — used far beyond actual bosses

  • Driver — taxi and bus

  • Customer — what they will call you

  • Senior / junior at school or work

  • Auntie — what you call the woman running a small restaurant

  • Older brother — said by a woman

  • Older brother — said by a man

  • Older sister — said by a woman

  • Older sister — said by a man

Lesson 7 — Meeting Someone Senior

  • How do you do. I'm Michael.

  • Good to meet you. Where are you from?

  • I'm from the UK.

  • How long have you been in Korea?

  • About six months.

  • Your Korean is good.

  • Not at all. I've still got a long way to go.

  • Have you eaten?

  • Yes, I have. Thank you.

  • How do you do — on a first meeting

  • Pleased to meet you

  • Excuse me — formal

  • I'm sorry — formal

  • Understood, will do

  • I'm afraid I don't know

  • I look forward to working with you

  • Thank you for your work — said at the end of anything

Lesson 8 — When Someone Drops the Formality

  • How old are we, actually?

  • I'm twenty-nine.

  • Me too! Shall we drop the formal speech, then?

  • Yes, let's!

  • So… what are you doing tomorrow?

  • I don't know yet. Why?

  • Let's get food together.

  • Sounds good. What time?

  • How about seven?

  • Yeah, see you then!

  • To drop the formal speech

  • You — casual only, never upward

  • Yeah

  • Nope

  • Let's — casual

  • How about it?

  • See you then

  • Bye — to someone leaving

  • Shall we speak casually?

  • Please speak comfortably. (said upward)

A word on the voice

These are synthesised with a Korean voice, not recorded by a person. For single words and short sentences that is accurate and clear, and it is far better than reading romanisation and guessing. It is flatter than a human for longer sentences, and it will not teach you the rhythm of real speech — for that, listen to Koreans, which is free and everywhere.