From Zero to Fluent Korean – Details, episodes & analysis

This lesson focuses on discussing money and ability in Korean. You’ll practice talking about what you want to buy, explaining when you don’t have Korean currency, and using dollars instead. The lesson also introduces how to ask and answer about ability using “can” and “cannot,” which is essential for everyday conversations.

여자: 뭘 좀 사겠어요.

• I’m going to buy something.

남자: 하지만 한국 돈이 없어요.

• But I don’t have any Korean money.

여자: 하지만 달러가 있어요.

• But I have dollars.

남자: 얼마 있어요?

• How much do you have?

여자: 십오불이나 십육불.

• $15 or $16.

-- Bonus expressions

달러로 얼마예요?

• In dollars, how much is it?

달러로 일불이에요.

• In dollars, it’s $1.

십불

• $10

저에게요?

• (Is it) for me?

선생님에게요.

• (It’s) for you.

다녀올게요.

• I’m leaving.

십팔불

• $18

드실 수 있습니까?

• Can you eat?

먹을 수 있습니다.

• I can eat.

먹을 수 없어요.

• I can’t eat.

살 수 없어요.

• I can’t buy anything.

살 수 있습니까?

• Can you buy (it)?

This lesson focuses on real-life situations like buying drinks and handling money in Korean. You’ll practice asking if something is available, understanding prices, clarifying misunderstandings, and completing a transaction politely. The bonus section expands your number skills into larger amounts and introduces useful expressions for talking about money and quantities.

남자: 실례지만. 맥주 있으세요?

• Excuse me. Do you have beer?

여자: 예. 여기 있습니다.

• Yes. Here it is.

남자: 감사합니다. 얼마예요?

• Thank you. How much is it?

여자: 삼천원이에요.

• 3000₩.

남자: 사천원요?

• 4000₩?

여자: 아니요. 삼천원이에요.

• No. 3000₩.

남자: 아. 알겠어요.

• Ahh. I understand.

그럼 삼천원 있습니다. 감사합니다.

• Then, here is 3000₩. Thank you.

-- Bonus expressions

만육천

• 16,000

만

• 10,000

만칠천

• 17,000

많이

• A lot

돈이 많이 있어요.

• I have a lot of money.

여기 만육천원 있습니다.

• Here is 16,000₩.

만육천원 드릴게요.

• I’m giving you 16,000₩.

얼마요?

• How much?

This lesson focuses on practical everyday interactions in Korean. You’ll learn how to politely ask for directions and respond using simple location phrases. It also introduces useful expressions for offering food or drinks, accepting or declining politely, and asking if someone knows something. These patterns are essential for natural, real-life conversations in Korean.

남자: 실례지만.

• Excuse me.

여자: 네…..

• Yes, what is it that you want to ask?

남자: 시장 공원이 어디예요?

• Where is Shi-jang park?

여자: 저기예요.

• It’s over there.

남자: 종로는요?

• How about Jong-ro?

여자: 여기예요.

• It’s here.

남자: 정말 감사합니다.

• Thank you very much.

-- Bonus expressions

아세요?

• Do you know?

네. 알아요.

• Yes. I know.

드시겠어요?

• Are you going to eat?

먹겠어요.

• I’m going to eat.

안 먹겠어요.

• I’m not going to eat.

뭘 좀 안 드시겠어요?

• Won’t you eat (a little bit of) something?

마시겠어요.

• I’m going to drink.

아니요. 괜찮아요.

• No. I’m fine. / No thank you.

글쎄요.

• Well, let me see…

This lesson combines polite Korean greetings with real-life conversation skills. You’ll practice introducing yourself, asking where someone is from, and responding to compliments about your language ability. It also introduces basic direction phrases, helping you ask and answer where places are. This is a great step toward handling simple everyday interactions in Korean.

여자: 안녕하세요?

• Hello, how are you?

남자: 안녕하세요? 날씨가 좋습니다.

• Hello. It’s good weather.

여자: 네. 그렇습니다.

• Yes. That’s right.

실례지만. 미국에서 오셨어요?

• Excuse me. Are you from America?

남자: 네. 미국에서 왔습니다.

• Yes. I came from America.

여자: 한국어를 아주 잘 하시네요.

• You speak Korean very well.

남자: 조금요. 하지만 아주 잘 못해요.

• A little. But I can’t speak very well.

-- Bonus expressions

선생님은요?

• How about you?

종로가 어디예요?

• Where is Jong-ro?

시장 공원이 어디예요?

• Where is Shi-jang park?

여기예요.

• It’s here.

여기가 아니에요.

• It isn’t here.

저기예요.

• It’s over there.

저기가 아니에요.

• It isn’t over there.

종로는요?

• How about Jong-ro?

This lesson introduces natural Korean small talk, starting with greetings and simple comments about the weather. It then transitions into asking about language ability and where someone is from. You’ll also learn useful everyday expressions like different ways to say goodbye, asking if someone has eaten, and how to express uncertainty. The lesson focuses on polite Korean, perfect for casual but respectful conversations.

여자: 안녕하세요?

• Hello.

남자: 안녕하세요?

• Hello.

여자: 날씨가 좋습니다.

• It’s good weather.

남자: 네. 그렇습니다.

• Yes. That’s right.

여자: 아! 한국어를 하실 수 있습니까?

• Ah! Can you speak Korean?

남자: 네. 조금요.

• Yes. A little.

여자: 미국에서 오셨어요?

• Are you from America?

남자: 네.

• Yes.

-- Bonus expressions

하지만

• But

아직

• Yet

안녕히 계세요.

• Goodbye (If the other person is staying.)

안녕히 가세요.

• Goodbye (If the other person is leaving.)

점심 드셨어요?

• Have you had lunch?

정말

• Very much

모르겠어요.

• I don’t know.

This lesson builds on basic conversation skills by combining language ability questions with essential everyday Korean phrases. You’ll practice how to ask and answer whether someone speaks Korean or English, talk about where you're from, and use common polite expressions like greetings, thanks, and simple responses. The lesson uses formal Korean, making it ideal for respectful real-world conversations.

여자: 실례지만. 한국어를 하실 수 있습니까?

• Excuse me. Can you speak Korean?

남자: 네. 조금 할 수 있습니다.

• Yes. I can speak a little.

여자: 미국에서 오셨어요?

• Are you from America?

남자: 네. 미국에서 왔습니다.

• Yes. I come from America.

영어를 하실 수 있습니까?

• Can you speak English?

여자: 아니요. 못해요.

• No. I can’t.

-- Bonus expressions

안녕하세요?

• Hello, how are you?

날씨가 좋습니다.

• It’s good weather.

그렇습니다.

• That’s right. (It is so.)

감사합니다.

• Thank you.

저는

• I (As for me)

아주 잘 하시네요.

• You speak very well.

아니요. 잘 못해요.

• No. I can’t speak well.

안녕히 계세요.

• Goodbye

This lesson teaches a simple and practical Korean conversation for first-time interactions. You’ll learn how to politely ask if someone speaks a language, respond with your ability, and ask where someone is from. It uses formal Korean expressions, making it perfect for respectful, real-life situations with people you’ve just met.

남자: 실례지만. 영어를 하실 수 있습니까?

• Excuse me. Can you speak English?

여자: 아니요. 못해요. 한국어를 하실 수 있습니까?

• No. I can’t. Can you speak Korean?

남자: 네. 조금 할 수 있습니다.

• Yes. I can speak a little.

여자: 미국에서 오셨어요?

• Are you from America?

남자: 네. 미국에서 왔습니다.

• Yes. I came from America.

-- Bonus expressions

조금요.

• A little.

This lesson focuses on making casual plans while also introducing practical expressions related to money. You’ll practice inviting someone for drinks, setting a time and place, and responding politely. The bonus section expands into useful phrases for talking about how much money you have, especially in Korean currency, helping you navigate everyday situations like shopping or paying.

남자: 오늘 저녁에 뭘 좀 안 마시겠어요?

• Won’t you drink something with me this evening?

여자: 미안합니다. 오늘은 좀…

• I’m sorry. Today is a little inconvenient…

남자: 그럼 내일은요?

• Then, how about tomorrow?

여자: 예. 어디에서요? 언제요?

• Yes. Where? When?

남자: 제 집에서요. 일곱 시에요.

• At my house. At seven o’clock.

-- Bonus expressions

얼마 있으세요?

• How much do you have?

한국 돈

• Korean money

한국 돈이 얼마 있으세요?

• How much Korean money do you have?

삼천원 있어요.

• I have 3000₩.

오천원

• 5000₩

여기 있습니다.

• Here it is.

없어요.

• Don’t have.

한국 돈이 없어요.

• I don’t have Korean money.

육천원 있어요.

• I have 6000₩.

This lesson focuses on making future plans, especially inviting someone to dinner and adjusting schedules politely. You’ll practice suggesting different days and times, responding to invitations, and confirming plans. The bonus section introduces useful expressions for daily conversations, including talking about prices, numbers, and Korean currency, helping you handle real-world situations more confidently.

남자: 오늘 저녁에 저와 드시겠어요?

• Are you going to eat with me this evening?

여자: 미안합니다. 오늘 저녁은 좀…

• I’m sorry. This evening is a little inconvenient…

남자: 그럼 내일은요?

• Then, how about tomorrow?

여자: 내일요? 언제요?

• Tomorrow? When?

남자: 여덟시는요?

• How about eight o’clock?

여자: 예. 좋습니다. 감사합니다.

• Yes, okay. Thank you.

-- Bonus expressions

내일 봅시다.

• See you tomorrow.

오늘은 점심을 안 먹겠어요.

• As for today, I’m not going to eat lunch.

얼마예요?

• How much is it?

원

• Korean unit of currency.

천원

• 1000₩

천원이에요.

• It’s 1000₩.

이천

• 2000

삼천원하고 이천원이에요.

• It’s 3000₩ and 2000₩.

사천원

• 4000₩

원 (₩)

• Won (Korean currency symbol)

This lesson focuses on making detailed plans in Korean, including setting a time and choosing a place to eat. You’ll practice inviting someone to lunch, adjusting schedules politely, and deciding on a location together. The bonus section expands your vocabulary with numbers, time expressions, and useful phrases for structuring conversations more naturally.

남자: 저와 점심을 드시겠어요?

• Are you going to eat lunch with me?

여자: 예. 언제요?

• Yes. When?

남자: 한 시예요?

• One o’clock?

여자: 미안합니다. 한시는 좀…

• I’m sorry. One o’clock is inconvenient…

남자: 그럼 두시는요?

• Then, how about two o’clock?

여자: 예, 좋습니다. 어디에서 드시고 싶어요?

• Yes, alright. Where do you want to eat?

남자: 레스토랑에서요?

• At the restaurant?

여자: 예, 좋습니다.

• Yes, alright.

-- Bonus expressions

따라하세요.

• Please repeat.

여섯

• Six

일곱

• Seven

그럼

• Then / In that case

오늘 저녁에

• This evening.

열

• Ten

내일

• Tomorrow

오늘 한시에 점심을 먹고 싶어요.

• Today at one o’clock I want to eat lunch.