Phone phrases

The standard greeting is 여보세요 (yeoboseyo), which works like 'Hello?' on the phone. Both the caller and the person answering use it as their first word. Businesses usually answer with 네, ○○입니다 (ne, ○○imnida), 'Yes, this is [company name],' instead of the plain greeting.

Ask 실례지만 누구세요? (sillyejiman nuguseyo?), 'Excuse me, who is this?' Another common version is 실례지만 어디세요? (sillyejiman eodiseyo?), literally 'Where are you calling from?', which asks for the caller's company or organization. Starting with 실례지만 makes either question sound courteous.

After 여보세요 (yeoboseyo), say 저는 ○○인데요 (jeoneun ○○indeyo), 'This is [name],' or ○○입니다 (○○imnida). If you have a booking, combine it: 예약한 ○○인데요 (yeyakan ○○indeyo), 'This is [name], I have a reservation.' Giving your name and purpose together helps the other person follow quickly.

Say ○○ 씨 좀 바꿔 주시겠어요? (○○ ssi jom bakkwo jusigesseoyo?), 'Could you put ○○ on the line?' On the phone, 바꾸다 (bakkuda, 'to change') means passing the call to someone else. If you know their title, you can ask ○○ 과장님 계세요? (○○ gwajangnim gyeseyo?), 'Is Manager ○○ there?'

Say 끊지 말고 잠시만 기다려 주세요 (kkeunji malgo jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo), 'Please don't hang up, wait a moment.' A short 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo), 'One moment,' also works. If someone says this to you, simply stay on the line until they come back to the phone.

Say 잘 안 들려요 (jal an deullyeoyo), 'I can't hear you well.' Then you can ask 조금 크게 말씀해 주시겠어요? (jogeum keuge malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?), 'Could you speak a little louder?' If the line stays bad, say 다시 걸게요 (dasi geolgeyo), 'I'll call back,' and redial.

Say 나중에 다시 전화할게요 (najunge dasi jeonhwahalgeyo), 'I'll call again later.' To be specific, you might say 30분 뒤에 다시 전화드릴게요 (samsip bun dwie dasi jeonhwadeurilgeyo), 'I'll call you back in 30 minutes.' 전화드리다 (jeonhwadeurida) is the humble, polite form of 'to call.'

A very common closing is 네, 들어가세요 (ne, deureogaseyo). Literally 'please go in,' it works like 'Take care, bye.' You may also hear 감사합니다, 끊겠습니다 (gamsahamnida, kkeunketseumnida), 'Thank you, I'll hang up now,' or among friends simply 끊을게 (kkeuneulge), 'I'm hanging up.'

If you receive the call, say 전화 잘못 거셨어요 (jeonhwa jalmot geosyeosseoyo), 'You've called the wrong number.' If you dialed by mistake, apologize with 죄송합니다, 잘못 걸었습니다 (joesonghamnida, jalmot georeotseumnida), 'Sorry, I dialed the wrong number,' and hang up. Short and polite is the norm.

Say 문자로 보내 주세요 (munjaro bonae juseyo), 'Please send it by text,' or simply 문자 주세요 (munja juseyo). Addresses, numbers and times are easier to get right in writing. If listening in Korean is hard for you, it is perfectly fine to ask for texts from the start.

Ask 메모 좀 전해 주시겠어요? (memo jom jeonhae jusigesseoyo?), 'Could you pass on a message?' Then say ○○한테서 전화 왔다고 전해 주세요 (○○hanteseo jeonhwa watdago jeonhae juseyo), 'Please tell them ○○ called.' If you want a call back, add 전화 부탁드린다고 전해 주세요, 'Please ask them to call me.'

Ask 전화번호가 어떻게 되세요? (jeonhwabeonhoga eotteoke doeseyo?), literally 'How does your phone number go?' It sounds much more polite than 전화번호가 뭐예요? (jeonhwabeonhoga mwoyeyo?). The same pattern, -이/가 어떻게 되세요?, also works for asking someone's name or address. It is a handy pattern to memorize early.

Phone numbers are read digit by digit using Sino-Korean numbers: 일 (il), 이 (i), 삼 (sam) and so on. Zero is 공 (gong) or 영 (yeong). There is no fixed rule for the hyphen, but people often say 에 (e) or just pause, so 010-1234 may sound like 'gong-il-gong e il-i-sam-sa.' If you are unsure, ask for the number by text.

Ask 지금 통화 괜찮으세요? (jigeum tonghwa gwaenchaneuseyo?), 'Is now a good time to talk?' It is common after the greeting in work calls or when you haven't spoken in a while. If the person is busy, reply 그럼 나중에 다시 걸게요 (geureom najunge dasi geolgeyo), 'Then I'll call back later.'

Say 지금 통화하기 어려워요 (jigeum tonghwahagi eoryeowoyo), 'It's hard for me to talk right now.' Follow with 이따가 전화드릴게요 (ittaga jeonhwadeurilgeyo), 'I'll call you a bit later.' In meetings or on public transport, many Koreans simply send a short text instead of answering.

Warn the other person with 배터리가 얼마 없어요 (baeteoriga eolma eopseoyo), 'My battery is almost out.' If the call drops, you can explain later: 배터리가 다 돼서 끊겼어요 (baeteoriga da dwaeseo kkeunkyeosseoyo), 'My battery died so the call cut off.' A charger is 충전기 (chungjeongi).

Ask 영상통화 할래요? (yeongsang tonghwa hallaeyo?), 'Do you want to video call?' Friends often shorten it to 영통 할래? (yeongtong hallae?). A regular voice call is simply 통화 (tonghwa) or 전화 (jeonhwa). The ending -ㄹ래요 is a friendly way to suggest doing something together.

Begin with 예약하려고 전화했는데요 (yeyakaryeogo jeonhwahaenneundeyo), 'I'm calling to make a reservation.' Then give the date, time and number of people. If listening is hard, ask them to confirm the details by text so you have the date and time in writing.

Ask 영어 하시는 분 계세요? (yeongeo hasineun bun gyeseyo?), 'Is there someone who speaks English?' 계세요 (gyeseyo) is the honorific form of 'to be there.' If nobody does, ask for a text message instead, or use a translation app alongside the call.

Say 아까 전화 주셨죠? (akka jeonhwa jusyeotjyo?), 'You called me earlier, right?' A missed call is 부재중 전화 (bujaejung jeonhwa). It is polite to add 못 받아서 죄송해요 (mot badaseo joesonghaeyo), 'Sorry I couldn't answer.' Calling back promptly is considered good manners.