Korean in Plain English » (REV)

Boyé Lafayette De Mente, a former cryptographer for the U.S. Navy, has written prolifically on Asian languages and culture.

Next time someone asks if you speak Korean, you can say Chugum hal chul amnida (Choe-guum hahl chuul ahm-nee-dah).*

With Korean in Plain English, you can speak Korean in no time! Its easy-to-use pronunciation system and straightforward presentation of the basics of the language—with plenty of useful sentences—help you break the language barrier quickly and confidently.

Start on the right foot and speak Korean with ease:

Good morning! Annyong hashim nikka! (Ahn-nyong hah-sheem nee-kkah)

Thank you! Kamsahamnida! (Kahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah)

That was really a funny movie. Chongmallo usuun yonghwa imnida. (Chahng-mahl-loh uu-sue-uun yahng-hwah eem-nee-dah).

Please call the police. Kyongchal-ul pullo chuseyo. (Kyong-chahl-uul puul-lah chuu-say-yoe).

May I have some sauce, please? Sosu jom chushipshio (Soh-sue johm chuu-sheep-shee-oh).

You are beautiful. Tangshin-un arumdapgunyo (Tahng-sheen-uun ah-rume-dahp-guun-yoe).

*I understand a little.

Boyé Lafayette De Mente, a former cryptographer for the U.S. Navy, has written prolifically on Asian languages and culture.

Preface     vii
The Korean Language     1
Pronunciation Guide     6
Some Basic Vocabulary     8
Days of the Week     10
Months of the Year     10
Seasons     11
Numbers     11
Telling Time     13
Greetings and Farewells     15
Names     16
Common Responses     17
Other Useful Phrases     21
Dining Vocabulary     25
Travel Vocabulary     26
Hotel Vocabulary     26
Transportation Vocabulary     27
Clothing Vocabulary     28
Shopping Vocabulary     28
Telephone Vocabulary     29
Post Office Vocabulary     29
Glossary of Useful Vocabulary     31
A-Awake     33
Baby-Buy     47
Cabbage-Cuttlefish     61
Dad-Dysentery     77
Ear-Eye     86
Fabric-Future     96
Gallery-Gynecologist     108
Haggle-Hygiene     114
I-Ivory     122
Jacket-Juice     128
Keep-Korean     130
Lacquer-Luxurious     133
Made-My     142
Name-Nurse     153
Occupation-Oyster     159
Pacific Ocean-Put     164
Quality-Quotation (price)     176
Rabbit-Rye     178
Safe-Synagogue     187
Table-Typhoon     212
Ulcer-Usher     224
Vacancy-Voyage     226
Wages-Wrong     230
X-mas-X-ray     240
Yacht-Yourself     241
Zero-Zoo     243
21st-Century Korea
Adaptor-ATM     247
Blog-Browser     248
Call waiting-Cyberspace     249
Debit card-Digital     251
E-book-E-mail     252
Fax-Folder     253
Geek-Google     254
Handset-Home page     255
Instant messaging-iPod     256
Laptop computer-Log-in     257
Memory-Mobile phone     257
Notebook computer     258
Online     259
Pager-Podcasting     259
RAM-Remote control     260
Security-Stereo system     260
Video camera-Video games     261
Website-Wireless      263
Yahoo     264