Marriage & Long-Term Relationships: Korean Commitment Vocabulary
Once a relationship moves from dating toward something more permanent, a new layer of vocabulary comes into play — meeting the family, moving in together, engagement, and marriage. Here’s the vocabulary for that whole stage of a relationship.
Meeting the Family
Korean
Romanization
English
부모님께 인사드리다
bumonimkke insadeurida
To formally greet/meet someone’s parents
시댁
sidaek
Husband’s family home/in-laws (used by the wife)
처가
cheoga
Wife’s family home/in-laws (used by the husband)
Cultural note: Korean has separate, specific terms for “in-laws” depending on which side of the family and who is speaking — this reflects how significant and formally recognized the in-law relationship is within Korean family structure, more distinctly than a single catch-all English term like “in-laws” suggests.
Engagement and Proposal Vocabulary
Korean
Romanization
English
청혼
cheonghon
Proposal (marriage)
저와 결혼해 주시겠어요?
jeowa gyeolhonhae jusigesseoyo?
Will you marry me? (polite, formal)
약혼
yakhon
Engagement
약혼자
yakhonja
Fiancé(e)
Marriage Vocabulary
Korean
Romanization
English
결혼
gyeolhon
Marriage
결혼식
gyeolhonsik
Wedding ceremony
남편
nampyeon
Husband
아내
anae
Wife
신혼부부
sinhonbubu
Newlywed couple
Living Together Before Marriage
Historically less common than in many Western countries, cohabitation before marriage (동거, donggeo) has become increasingly common among younger generations in Korea, though attitudes still vary significantly by family and region. It’s a useful cultural note if you’re navigating a real relationship rather than just building vocabulary — expectations here can differ noticeably from Western norms depending on the families involved.
This wraps up the Dating & Relationships cluster — head back to the dating vocabulary pillar guide for links to every post in this series, from falling in love through to this final commitment stage.
Cultural attitudes toward marriage and cohabitation vary significantly by generation, region, and family. Pronunciation audio uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech.
Breakups and Hard Conversations: Korean Phrases for Difficult Moments
Not every relationship conversation is romantic. Whether you’re navigating mixed signals, an ambiguous “썸” situation, or an actual breakup, having the vocabulary for hard moments matters just as much as knowing how to say “I love you.”
Navigating Mixed Feelings and Uncertainty
Korean
Romanization
English
생각할 시간이 필요해요
saenggakhal siganyi pilyohaeyo
I need some time to think
우리 무슨 사이예요?
uri museun saieyo?
What are we (to each other)?
확실하지 않아요
hwaksilhaji anhayo
I’m not sure / it’s not certain
The 썸 conversation: Asking “우리 무슨 사이예요?” is essentially the Korean equivalent of the English “define the relationship” talk — a direct way of asking whether an ambiguous connection is actually going somewhere.
Ending a Relationship
Korean
Romanization
English
헤어지자
heeojija
Let’s break up (casual)
우리 그만 만나요
uri geuman mannayo
Let’s stop seeing each other (polite)
더 이상 안 될 것 같아요
deo isang an doel geot gatayo
I don’t think this can continue
우리 잘 안 맞는 것 같아요
uri jal an manneun geot gatayo
I don’t think we’re a good match
Processing Emotions After a Breakup
Korean
Romanization
English
마음이 아파요
maeumi apayo
My heart hurts
그리워요
geuriwoyo
I miss (them) — used for missing a person or time
이제 괜찮아요
ije gwaenchanhayo
I’m okay now
시간이 필요해요
siganyi pilyohaeyo
I need time (to heal/process)
Talking About an Ex
Korean
Romanization
English
전 남자친구
jeon namja chingu
Ex-boyfriend
전 여자친구
jeon yeoja chingu
Ex-girlfriend
우리는 그냥 친구예요
urineun geunyang chinguyeyo
We’re just friends (now)
A Note on Directness
Korean breakup conversations, much like the confession (고백) that starts relationships, tend to be relatively direct rather than left ambiguous — ghosting or letting things fade out without a conversation is generally viewed less favorably than having a clear, if difficult, conversation. Knowing a few of these direct phrases is genuinely useful, not just academic.
For the other end of the relationship spectrum, see the Marriage & Long-Term Relationships post in this cluster, or return to the dating vocabulary pillar guide for the full overview.
Pronunciation audio uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech and may not perfectly reflect native pronunciation nuances.
Korean Dating Culture: What K-Dramas Get Right (and Wrong)
If your sense of Korean dating comes from K-dramas, you’ve absorbed a mix of real cultural norms and heavily dramatized tropes. Here’s a practical breakdown of what actually holds up in real life versus what’s exaggerated for TV.
What K-Dramas Get Right
The formal confession (고백) is real. Directly asking “나랑 사귈래?” (will you go out with me?) as a distinct moment, rather than relationships just gradually forming, is a genuine cultural pattern — not just a drama trope.
100-day and anniversary celebrations are real. Couples in Korea commonly celebrate 100-day anniversaries (백일) early in a relationship, along with monthly anniversaries — a level of formal tracking that’s less common in Western dating culture.
Couple items are genuinely common. Matching couple T-shirts, matching phone cases, and couple rings (커플링) are a real and fairly mainstream part of Korean dating culture, not just a drama exaggeration.
Skinship norms are more conservative in public. Public displays of affection tend to be more reserved than in many Western countries, particularly among older generations — dramas generally reflect this accurately.
What K-Dramas Exaggerate
Overbearing, controlling love interests played as romantic are a well-known drama trope, not an endorsed real-world dating standard — this pattern draws real criticism within Korea itself.
Extreme class-gap romances (chaebol heir meets ordinary person) make for compelling plots but aren’t representative of typical dating dynamics.
Sudden, dramatic declarations in the rain — real confessions are usually far less theatrical, though the direct, deliberate nature of the confession itself (see above) is accurate.
Practical takeaway: Use dramas for vocabulary and general cultural texture, but don’t take relationship dynamics — especially possessive or controlling behavior played as romantic — as a model for real dating norms.
Real Dating Etiquette Worth Knowing
Korean
Romanization
What It Means
백일
baegil
100 days — a commonly celebrated relationship milestone
커플룩
keopeulluk
Couple look — matching outfits worn by couples
기념일
ginyeomil
Anniversary
스킨십
seukinsip
Skinship — physical affection between a couple
Meeting Friends and Family
Introducing a partner to friends is often a meaningful step, and introducing them to family typically signals a relationship is quite serious — generally further along than it might be treated as a milestone in some Western dating cultures. If a partner is invited to a family gathering, especially something like a holiday meal, it’s usually a significant signal about how the relationship is viewed.
Age and Speech Levels in Relationships
Age plays a more explicit role in Korean social dynamics than many learners expect, including in dating. Even in a romantic relationship, if there’s a meaningful age gap, the language dynamic (formal vs. casual speech, and terms of address) can reflect that difference, though close couples often move to mutual casual speech (반말) regardless of age once the relationship is established.
For vocabulary around harder relationship moments, see the Breakups and Hard Conversations post in this cluster, or return to the dating vocabulary pillar guide for the full overview.
Cultural notes reflect general, commonly observed patterns and will vary by individual, region, and generation. Pronunciation audio uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech.
First Date Korean: Essential Phrases for Meeting Someone New
Whether it’s a 소개팅 (blind date set up by a friend) or someone you matched with on an app, that first conversation runs on a fairly predictable set of phrases. Knowing them cold means you can focus on the actual conversation instead of scrambling for words.
Breaking the Ice
Korean
Romanization
English
만나서 반가워요
mannaseo bangawoyo
Nice to meet you
여기 자주 오세요?
yeogi jaju oseyo?
Do you come here often?
취미가 뭐예요?
chwimiga mwoyeyo?
What are your hobbies?
무슨 일 하세요?
museun il haseyo?
What do you do (for work)?
Stick with 존댓말 (polite speech) for the entire first date, even if the conversation feels comfortable. Switching to casual speech (반말) too early is one of the more common etiquette missteps for learners — it’s generally the more senior or more comfortable person who initiates that shift, and usually not on date one.
Keeping the Conversation Going
Korean
Romanization
English
진짜요?
jinjjayo?
Really? (a very common, natural reaction)
저도요!
jeodoyo!
Me too!
재미있었어요
jaemiisseosseoyo
That was fun / I had a good time
다음에 또 만나요
daeume tto mannayo
Let’s meet again sometime
Ordering and Small Logistics
A first date almost always involves food or coffee, so a handful of practical phrases go a long way:
Korean
Romanization
English
뭐 드시고 싶어요?
mwo deusigo sipeoyo?
What would you like to eat?
제가 낼게요
jega naelgeyo
I’ll pay (a common, expected offer)
잘 먹었습니다
jal meogeosseumnida
Thank you for the meal (said after eating)
The Etiquette Around Paying
Offering to pay — even insisting a little — is a normal and expected part of Korean dating etiquette, especially for a first date. It’s common for the person who suggested the date, or the older/more established person, to pay or at least offer first, with a polite back-and-forth before someone accepts. This isn’t unique to romantic dates either; it’s part of broader Korean social dining etiquette.
Curious what actually happens after a good first date? The Korean Dating Culture post in this cluster covers the etiquette and expectations that follow, or return to the dating vocabulary pillar guide for the full overview.
Pronunciation audio uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech and may not perfectly reflect native pronunciation nuances.
Falling in Love: Romantic Korean Phrases and How to Say “I Love You”
Korean has more than one way to say “I love you,” and choosing the right one signals exactly how serious you are — get it wrong and you might say something far more intense than you meant, or something that sounds oddly formal for a romantic moment. Here’s how the levels actually work.
The Three Levels of “I Love You”
Korean
Romanization
When to Use It
사랑해
saranghae
Casual, intimate — used between close partners or close friends/family
사랑해요
saranghaeyo
Polite version — safe for a newer relationship or slightly formal context
사랑합니다
saranghamnida
Very formal — more common in speeches or formal declarations than everyday romance
Common mistake: Jumping straight to 사랑해 (the casual form) with someone you’ve just started dating can come across as overly familiar. 사랑해요 is the safer starting point until a relationship is clearly established and both people have moved to casual speech (반말) generally.
Beyond “I Love You”: Everyday Affection
Korean
Romanization
English
좋아해
joahae
I like you (a common first step before “I love you”)
보고 싶어
bogo sipeo
I miss you (literally “I want to see you”)
너밖에 없어
neobakke eopseo
There’s no one else but you
평생 함께하자
pyeongsaeng hamkkehaja
Let’s be together for life
The Confession Moment: 고백 (Gobaek)
In Korean dating culture, 고백 — a direct confession of romantic feelings — is often a distinct, deliberate moment rather than something that happens gradually. It’s the K-drama trope of someone formally saying “나랑 사귈래?” (Will you go out with me?) rather than relationships simply drifting into official status. Knowing this phrase and the cultural weight behind it will make a lot more sense of the confession scenes you’ve seen in dramas.
Korean
Romanization
English
나랑 사귈래?
narang sagwillae?
Will you go out with me?
저 좋아하시나요?
jeo joahasinayo?
Do you like me? (polite)
Aegyo: Cute Affection in Speech
애교 (aegyo) refers to a deliberately cute, endearing way of speaking or acting — often used playfully with a romantic partner. It can involve a slightly higher pitch, elongated vowels, or playful phrasing, and it’s a genuinely common part of Korean romantic communication rather than something exaggerated purely for dramas, though the intensity varies a lot by personality and relationship.
Ready for the next real-world scenario? See the First Date Korean post in this cluster, or head back to the dating vocabulary pillar guide for the full picture.
Pronunciation audio uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech and may not perfectly reflect native pronunciation nuances.
Korean Dating Phrases: Your Complete Relationship Vocabulary Guide
Whether you’re chatting with someone on a Korean dating app, navigating your first 소개팅 (blind date), or just trying to keep up with the relationship drama in your favorite K-drama, dating vocabulary is some of the most useful — and most emotionally loaded — Korean you’ll ever learn. This pillar guide covers the basics and links out to the deeper posts in this cluster.
Click any speaker icon throughout this cluster to hear native pronunciation using your browser’s built-in text-to-speech.
Why Dating Korean Is Its Own Category
Korean relationship vocabulary isn’t just a vocabulary list — it comes wrapped in a layer of social context that doesn’t map directly onto English dating culture. Terms like 썸 (a pre-relationship “something” stage) or 애교 (cute, affectionate behavior) describe concepts that don’t have a clean one-word English translation. Understanding the words means understanding a bit of the culture behind them, which is why this cluster pairs vocabulary with cultural context throughout.
Core Relationship Status Vocabulary
Korean
Romanization
English
썸
sseom
The ambiguous “something” stage before officially dating
사귀다
sagwida
To date / to go out with someone
남자친구
namja chingu
Boyfriend
여자친구
yeoja chingu
Girlfriend
소개팅
sogaeting
A blind date, usually set up by a friend
애교
aegyo
Cute, affectionate behavior often used with a partner
What This Cluster Covers
Falling in Love — romantic phrases, how to say “I love you” correctly, and the honorific levels that matter
First Date Korean — the essential phrases for meeting someone new and navigating that first conversation
Korean Dating Culture — what K-dramas get right, what they exaggerate, and the real etiquette
Hard Conversations — breakups, mixed feelings, and vocabulary for difficult relationship moments
Marriage & Commitment — long-term relationship vocabulary, meeting the family, and proposal phrases
A note on honorifics: Korean relationship speech shifts significantly based on how well you know someone and their age relative to yours. Casual speech (반말) is common between established couples, but starting with polite speech (존댓말) is safer and more respectful when a relationship is new. This distinction comes up throughout the cluster.
Start Practicing
The fastest way to make this vocabulary stick is to hear it and say it out loud, not just read it. Use the speaker buttons throughout this cluster to practice pronunciation, and try building your own short sentences with the phrases as you go — even a simple “제 이름은 ___예요” (my name is ___) is a real, usable building block.
Falling in Love: Romantic Korean Phrases and How to Say “I Love You”
First Date Korean: Essential Phrases for Meeting Someone New
Korean Dating Culture: What K-Dramas Get Right (and Wrong)
Breakups and Hard Conversations: Korean Phrases for Difficult Moments
Marriage & Long-Term Relationships: Korean Commitment Vocabulary
Pronunciation audio uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech and may not perfectly reflect native pronunciation nuances. For best results, cross-reference with native audio sources when possible.
Banking, Post Office, and Government Offices: Getting Things Done in Korean (Tap to Hear It Spoken)
은행
Living in Korea
Banking, Post Office, and Government Offices: Getting Things Done in Korean
Every phrase below is tappable — press it and your browser speaks it aloud, so paperwork day doesn’t have to be the scary part of living here.
Take a numbered ticket at most banks and government offices — 번호표 (beonhopyo) — and wait for your number to be called.
Opening a Bank Account
The core phrases for the counter conversation.
통장을 만들고 싶어요
tongjangeul mandeulgo sipeoyo
I’d like to open a bank account
외국인등록증 가져왔어요
oegugin-deungnokjeung gajyeowasseoyo
I brought my alien registration card
체크카드도 만들어 주세요
chekeukadeudo mandeureo juseyo
Please also make me a debit card
인터넷뱅킹도 신청할 수 있어요?
inteonet baengkingdo sincheonghal su isseoyo?
Can I also apply for internet banking?
Worth knowing: foreign residents usually need an 외국인등록증 (Alien Registration Card) and a Korean phone number before a bank will open an account — bring both.
At the Post Office (우체국)
For mailing letters and packages home or locally.
이거 영국으로 보내고 싶어요
igeo yeongugeuro bonaego sipeoyo
I’d like to send this to the UK
얼마나 걸려요?
eolmana geollyeoyo?
How long will it take?
빠른 우편으로 보내주세요
ppareun upyeoneuro bonaejuseyo
Please send it by express mail
우표 몇 장 주세요
upyo myeot jang juseyo
A few stamps, please
Bring your Alien Registration Card to almost any official errand — it’s the ID most staff will ask for first.
At the Government Office (주민센터)
For registrations, certificates, and the paperwork side of living here.
전입신고 하러 왔어요
jeonipsingo hareo wasseoyo
I’m here to register my new address
서류가 필요해요
seoryuga piryohaeyo
I need a document/certificate
어느 창구로 가야 돼요?
eoneu changguro gaya dwaeyo?
Which counter should I go to?
번호표 어디서 뽑아요?
beonhopyo eodiseo ppobayo?
Where do I take a queue ticket?
Worth knowing: 주민센터 (community service centre) handles most everyday registrations — address changes, certificates, ID matters — and is usually far less crowded than a larger government building.
These phrases are just the start
Getting through a counter transaction is one thing — understanding the follow-up questions staff ask you needs real Korean underneath it.
Korean for the Office: Emails, Meetings, and Everyday Workplace Phrases (Tap to Hear It Spoken)
회사
Living in Korea
Korean for the Office: Emails, Meetings, and Everyday Workplace Phrases
Every phrase below is tappable — press it and your browser speaks it aloud, so you walk into your next meeting already knowing how it should sound.
Korean office culture leans formal by default — these phrases are safe to use with almost anyone senior to you.
Starting and Ending the Day
The small phrases that get used constantly and almost never appear in textbooks.
수고하세요
sugohaseyo
Keep up the good work (said when leaving, to those still working)
먼저 가보겠습니다
meonjeo gabogesseumnida
I’ll head off first (polite way to leave before others)
수고하셨습니다
sugohasyeosseumnida
Thanks for your hard work (said after a task or at day’s end)
Worth knowing: 수고하세요 is technically not said to someone senior to you — 고생하셨습니다 or a simple bow is safer upward in the hierarchy.
In a Meeting
Phrases for following along, agreeing, and gently pushing back.
질문 있습니다
jilmun isseumnida
I have a question
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
dasi hanbeon malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?
Could you say that once more?
제 생각에는
je saenggageneun
In my opinion…
확인해 보겠습니다
hwaginhae bogesseumnida
I’ll check on that
일정을 조율할 수 있을까요?
iljeongeul joryulhal su isseulkkayo?
Could we adjust the schedule?
Formality level shifts constantly by seniority — these phrases sit safely in the polite/formal register throughout.
Email Openers and Closers
Korean work emails follow a predictable shape — these lines cover the start and end of almost any message.
안녕하세요, [이름]입니다
annyeonghaseyo, [ireum]imnida
Hello, this is [name] (standard email opener)
다름이 아니라
dareumi anira
The reason I’m writing is… (common transition into the point of the email)
확인 부탁드립니다
hwagin butakdeurimnida
Please check this / please confirm
감사합니다
gamsahamnida
Thank you (standard email sign-off line)
Worth knowing: most Korean work emails open with a greeting line and the sender’s name, state the reason for writing directly, and close with 감사합니다 — the structure barely varies between companies.
These phrases are just the start
Surviving a meeting is one thing — actually following the conversation around you needs a real foundation in the language.
Going to the Doctor or Pharmacy in Korea: What to Say When You’re Unwell (Tap to Hear It Spoken)
약
Living in Korea
Going to the Doctor or Pharmacy in Korea: What to Say When You’re Unwell
Every phrase below is tappable — press it and your browser speaks it aloud, so you can practise the exact sound before you actually need it at a clinic or 약국.
Korean pharmacies (약국) can often help directly with minor issues, without needing a doctor’s visit first.
Describing How You Feel
These are the phrases that actually get used when explaining a symptom.
몸이 안 좋아요
momi an joayo
I’m not feeling well
머리가 아파요
meoriga apayo
I have a headache
배가 아파요
baega apayo
My stomach hurts
열이 나요
yeori nayo
I have a fever
목이 아파요
mogi apayo
My throat hurts
어제부터 아팠어요
eojebuteo apasseoyo
I’ve been feeling unwell since yesterday
Handy pattern: [body part] + 가/이 아파요 covers most complaints — swap in 이 (tooth), 무릎 (knee), 허리 (lower back) and the sentence still works.
At the Pharmacy (약국)
For over-the-counter medicine without a full clinic visit.
두통약 있어요?
dutongyak isseoyo?
Do you have headache medicine?
감기약 주세요
gamgiyak juseyo
Cold medicine, please
하루에 몇 번 먹어요?
harue myeot beon meogeoyo?
How many times a day do I take it?
밴드 있어요?
baendeu isseoyo?
Do you have plasters/band-aids?
At the Clinic (병원)
If it’s more than the pharmacy can handle.
진료 받고 싶어요
jillyo batgo sipeoyo
I’d like to see a doctor
건강보험 있어요
geonganbheom isseoyo
I have health insurance
영어 하시는 분 계세요?
yeongeo hasineun bun gyeseyo?
Is there someone who speaks English?
Worth knowing: many clinics in bigger cities have at least one English-speaking staff member, and larger hospitals often have a dedicated international clinic desk — asking never hurts.
These phrases are just the start
A short list of survival phrases gets you through an appointment — real understanding of what’s said back to you needs an actual foundation.
Finding an Apartment in Korea: Real Estate Phrases You’ll Actually Use (Tap to Hear It Spoken)
집
Living in Korea
Finding an Apartment in Korea: Real Estate Phrases You’ll Actually Use
Every phrase below is tappable — press it and your browser speaks it aloud in Korean, so you know exactly how it should sound before you ever walk into a 부동산 (real estate office).
Most renters in Korea find a place through a local 부동산 agent rather than browsing listings alone — the vocabulary below is what that conversation actually sounds like.
Walking Into the 부동산
These open the conversation and tell the agent what you’re looking for.
방 있어요?
bang isseoyo?
Do you have a room/apartment available?
원룸을 찾고 있어요
wonrumeul chatgo isseoyo
I’m looking for a studio apartment (one-room)
예산은 얼마 정도예요
yesaneun eolma jeongdoyeyo
(agent asks) About what’s your budget?
역에서 가까운 곳이 좋아요
yeogeseo gakkaun goshi joayo
Somewhere close to the station is good
Useful to know: most agents will ask your budget before showing anything — having a number ready in won speeds things up a lot.
Jeonse vs Wolse — The Money Words
Korea’s rental system runs on two models that don’t exist in most other countries. Knowing these terms avoids a lot of confusion.
전세
jeonse
A large lump-sum deposit (often most of the property’s value) instead of monthly rent — refunded when you leave
월세
wolse
A smaller deposit plus monthly rent — the model closest to renting abroad
보증금
bojeunggeum
Security deposit
관리비 포함이에요?
gwallibi pohamieyo?
Is the maintenance fee included?
Worth knowing: 관리비 (maintenance fee) is a separate monthly charge on top of rent in most Korean apartments — it covers building upkeep, sometimes internet or water. Always ask if it’s included in a listed price.
Viewings move fast in Korea — agents often show several units back to back the same day.
Questions to Ask During a Viewing
Don’t just nod along — these get you real answers about the place.
엘리베이터 있어요?
ellibeiteo isseoyo?
Is there an elevator?
채광이 어때요?
chaegwangi eottaeyo?
How’s the natural light?
언제부터 입주 가능해요?
eonjebuteo ipju ganeunghaeyo?
From when can I move in?
계약 기간이 어떻게 돼요?
gyeyak gigani eotteoke dwaeyo?
What’s the contract length?
생각해 볼게요
saenggakhae bolgeyo
I’ll think about it (a polite way to leave without committing)
These phrases are just the start
Real conversations move fast — a proper foundation in Korean means you’re not just reading phrase cards, you’re actually understanding what’s said back.
