How to say “Excuse me” in Korean

How to Order Food in Korean

To order food in Korean, say "이거 주세요" (igeo juseyo), meaning "Please give me this," while pointing at the menu, or say "[dish name] 하나 주세요" ([dish name] hana juseyo) meaning "One [dish], please." These polite phrases work at any Korean restaurant.

Korean Honorifics Guide

Korean honorifics (존댓말, jondaenmal) are a system of speech levels and special vocabulary used to show respect based on the listener's age, social status, and your relationship. The most important rule is to always use polite speech (-요 or -습니다 endings) with anyone older or in a higher position than you.

How to Ask for Directions in Korean

To ask for directions in Korean, say "[place] 어디예요?" ([place] eodiyeyo?), meaning "Where is [place]?" For more polite situations, say "[place]에 어떻게 가요?" ([place]-e eotteoke gayo?), meaning "How do I get to [place]?"

Korean Apology Expressions

To apologize in Korean, say "죄송합니다" (joesonghamnida) in formal situations or "미안해요" (mianhaeyo) in casual-polite situations. For close friends, use "미안" (mian) or "미안해" (mianhae). 죄송합니다 is the safest choice with strangers, elders, and at work.