Korean · Real conversations
Meeting people: Korean conversation practice
Start a friendly exchange and find a connection. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A guest meeting someone at a small social gathering.
Goal: Start a friendly exchange and find a connection.
Read the conversation
Partner
안녕하세요. 다른 도시에서 왔어요.annyeonghaseyo. dareun dosieseo wasseoyo.
Show English translation
Hello, I'm visiting from another town.
You
여기는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?yeogineun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
Show English translation
What brings you here?
Partner
안나가 초대했어요. 오래된 친구예요.annaga chodaehaesseoyo. oraedoen chinguyeyo.
Show English translation
Anna invited me. She's an old friend.
You
안나하고 어떻게 아세요?Annahago eotteoke aseyo?
Show English translation
How do you know Anna?
Partner
대학교에서 만났어요. 여기는 아직 익숙하지 않아요.daehakgyoeseo mannasseoyo. yeogineun ajik iksukhaji anayo.
Show English translation
We met at university. I'm still finding my way around.
You
여기는 처음이세요?yeogineun cheoeumiseyo?
Show English translation
Is this your first time here?
Partner
네, 처음 왔어요. 안나가 아는 사이라고 했어요.ne, cheoeum wasseoyo. annaga aneun sairago haesseoyo.
Show English translation
Yes, it's my first visit. Anna said she knows you.
You
말씀 많이 들었어요.malsseum mani deureosseoyo.
Show English translation
I've heard a lot about you.
Partner
그렇군요! 저도 어디서 뵌 것 같아요.geureokunyo! jeodo eodiseo boen geot gatayo.
Show English translation
That's nice! You look familiar, too.
You
우리 전에 만난 적 있어요?uri jeone mannan jeok isseoyo?
Show English translation
Have we met before?
Try your part first
Partner says: Hello, I'm visiting from another town. Your goal: What brings you here?
Reveal a sample reply
여기는 어쩐 일로 오셨어요?yeogineun eojjeon illo osyeosseoyo?
What brings you here?
Partner says: Anna invited me. She's an old friend. Your goal: How do you know Anna?
Reveal a sample reply
안나하고 어떻게 아세요?Annahago eotteoke aseyo?
How do you know Anna?
Partner says: We met at university. I'm still finding my way around. Your goal: Is this your first time here?
Reveal a sample reply
여기는 처음이세요?yeogineun cheoeumiseyo?
Is this your first time here?
Partner says: Yes, it's my first visit. Anna said she knows you. Your goal: I've heard a lot about you.
Reveal a sample reply
말씀 많이 들었어요.malsseum mani deureosseoyo.
I've heard a lot about you.
Partner says: That's nice! You look familiar, too. Your goal: Have we met before?
Reveal a sample reply
우리 전에 만난 적 있어요?uri jeone mannan jeok isseoyo?
Have we met before?
Make it your own
- Change where you met.
- Mention a different mutual friend.
- Discover you have met before.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Korean
Most examples use polite 해요-style endings. A more formal ending may appear when addressing staff or making a careful request. Do not switch to casual speech with a stranger simply because the English translation sounds friendly.
Hangul is the main text; romanization helps you read along. Korean often leaves a clear subject unstated. Particles and endings carry information that English may express with separate words.
