Chapter 1

Greetings & Self-Introduction

Learn how to greet people politely, introduce yourself, and handle the very first conversation you'll have on a Korean job site.

Study Notes

Korean sentences end with the verb — subject and object usually come before it.
Adding "-요" to the end of a sentence keeps it polite, which is the safe default with strangers, supervisors, and elders.
"저는 ___이에요/예요" ("I am ___") is the safest pattern for introducing your name to anyone.
A slight bow while greeting is expected, especially toward a supervisor.

Vocabulary

안녕하세요

annyeonghaseyo

Greetings

Hello

안녕하세요, 만나서 반갑습니다.

Annyeonghaseyo, mannaseo bangapseumnida.

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

감사합니다

gamsahamnida

Greetings

Thank you

도와주셔서 감사합니다.

Dowajusyeoseo gamsahamnida.

“Thank you for helping me.”

이름

ireum

Greetings

Name

이름이 뭐예요?

Ireumi mwoyeyo?

“What is your name?”

나라

nara

Greetings

Country

저는 네팔 사람이에요.

Jeoneun Nepal saramieyo.

“I am from Nepal.”

처음 뵙겠습니다

cheoeum boepgetseumnida

Greetings

It's nice to meet you (formal, first meeting)

처음 뵙겠습니다. 잘 부탁드립니다.

Cheoeum boepgetseumnida. Jal butakdeurimnida.

“Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.”

Grammar

-이에요 / -예요

Beginner

Saying what something is (polite 'to be')

Attach -이에요 to a noun ending in a consonant, or -예요 to a noun ending in a vowel, to say what something or someone is in polite, everyday speech.

저는 학생이에요.

Jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.

“I am a student.”

-은/는

Beginner

Introducing a topic ('as for ___')

-은 follows a noun ending in a consonant and -는 follows a noun ending in a vowel, marking that noun as the topic being talked about — very common in self-introductions.

저는 네팔에서 왔어요.

Jeoneun Nepaleseo wasseoyo.

“As for me, I came from Nepal.”

Conversation Practice

Meeting Your New Supervisor

First day at a new factory job

Supervisor

안녕하세요. 이름이 뭐예요?

Annyeonghaseyo. Ireumi mwoyeyo?

“Hello. What's your name?”

You

안녕하세요. 저는 라제시예요.

Annyeonghaseyo. Jeoneun Rajesyieyo.

“Hello. I'm Rajesh.”

Supervisor

어느 나라에서 왔어요?

Eoneu narae-seo wasseoyo?

“Which country are you from?”

You

저는 네팔에서 왔어요.

Jeoneun Nepaleseo wasseoyo.

“I'm from Nepal.”

Supervisor

만나서 반갑습니다.

Mannaseo bangapseumnida.

“Nice to meet you.”

Listening Practice

Two Coworkers Meet on the First Day

Imagine you're standing near the entrance of a factory on your first morning. Listen for how each person greets the other and what they ask.

Transcript

A: 안녕하세요! 처음 뵙겠습니다.Hello! Nice to meet you.

B: 안녕하세요. 이름이 뭐예요?Hello. What's your name?

A: 저는 비말이에요. 나라는 네팔이에요.I'm Bimal. I'm from Nepal.

B: 반갑습니다, 비말 씨.Nice to meet you, Mr. Bimal.

Comprehension Check

1. What does speaker A say their name is?

2. What question does speaker B ask first?

Reading Practice

Self-Introduction Note

안녕하세요. 제 이름은 수만이에요.Hello. My name is Suman.

저는 네팔에서 왔어요. 저는 공장에서 일해요.I am from Nepal. I work at a factory.

만나서 반갑습니다.Nice to meet you.

Comprehension Check

1. Where is the writer from?

2. Where does the writer work?

Chapter Quiz

1. How do you say "Hello" politely in Korean?

2. Which sentence correctly introduces your name as 'Rajesh'?

3. What does "나라" mean?

4. Which particle follows a noun ending in a vowel to mark it as the topic?