How to Type Korean on a Computer or Phone: A Beginner’s Guide

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Want to search for a restaurant in Korean, message a café, or send your teacher an assignment? Learning to type Korean makes these everyday tasks easier. You can start with the computer or phone you already own. This guide covers keyboard setup on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android. You will also learn how Korean letters join together, fix common typing problems, and practise messages you can use in Korea. 1. Understand How a Korean Keyboard Works 한글 (hangeul)—“the Korean alphabet” groups letters into syllable blocks. For example, 한 contains three letters: ㅎ, ㅏ, and ㄴ. You enter the letters in order, and the keyboard builds the block. Start with 두벌식 (dubeolsik)—“the two-set Korean keyboard layout.” Its basic consonants sit on the left and its vowels on the right. This gives you a useful starting point for practising on both computers and phones. A standard two-set keyboard uses letter positions, rather than English spellings of Korean sounds. Typing “han” will not automatica...

How to Order Food in Korean: Simple Phrases for Beginners

The simplest way to order food in Korean is to say the dish, add the quantity, and finish with 주세요. If you cannot read the dish name yet, point to the menu and say 이거 하나 주세요: “One of these, please.”

You do not need perfect grammar to place a clear, polite order. This guide walks you through getting a server’s attention, choosing quantities, checking ingredients, and answering the questions you may hear.

Romanization helps you get started, but learn the Hangul too. English letters do not capture every Korean sound. Recognising a few Korean words will also make menus and ordering screens less confusing.

1. Use One Simple Pattern: Food + Quantity + 주세요

주세요 (juseyo) is a polite request meaning “Please give me…” In an order, the natural English equivalent is often simply “…please.” Put the food before it.

비빔밥 하나 주세요.
Bibimbap hana juseyo.
“One bibimbap, please.”

이거 (igeo) means “this.” When pointing to a dish, say 이거 하나 주세요 (igeo hana juseyo)—“One of these, please.” Point clearly, especially if several pictures are close together.

If the quantity is obvious, 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo)—“This one, please”—also works. Staff may still ask about size, toppings, or whether you want a set.

먹고 싶어요 (meokgo sipeoyo) means “I want to eat…” It is useful when discussing plans: 비빔밥 먹고 싶어요 (bibimbap meokgo sipeoyo) means “I’d like to eat bibimbap.” When actually ordering from staff, 비빔밥 하나 주세요 is more direct.

You do not need to add “I” to every order. Korean naturally leaves out the speaker when the situation makes it clear. A short request with 주세요 is already polite.

2. Start Your Order and Choose the Right Quantity

저기요 (jeogiyo) means “Excuse me” when getting a staff member’s attention. 주문할게요 (jumunhalgeyo) means “I’m ready to order” or “We’re ready to order.” It works when speaking for yourself or your table.

저기요, 주문할게요.
Jeogiyo, jumunhalgeyo.
“Excuse me, we’re ready to order.”

If there is a service button on the table, use that instead of calling across the room. A server may ask 주문하시겠어요? (jumunhasigesseoyo?)—“Are you ready to order?”

Still deciding? Say 잠시만요. 아직 고르고 있어요 (jamsimanyo. ajik goreugo isseoyo)—“One moment, please. We’re still deciding.” This gives you time without needing a long explanation.

Learn quantities together with their counters. You will hear different forms depending on whether you order a roll, bottle, or serving.

  • 김밥 한 줄 주세요.
    Gimbap han jul juseyo.
    “One roll of gimbap, please.”
  • 맥주 한 병 주세요.
    Maekju han byeong juseyo.
    “One bottle of beer, please.”
  • 불고기 이 인분 주세요.
    Bulgogi i inbun juseyo.
    “Two servings of bulgogi, please.”

인분 (inbun) describes a serving measured per person. It uses numbers such as 일 and 이, while 한 줄 and 한 병 use a different number system. Memorise these useful chunks before trying to master every counting rule.

To connect dishes, use 하고 (hago), meaning “and.” 비빔밥 하나하고 냉면 하나 주세요 (bibimbap hanahago naengmyeon hana juseyo) means “One bibimbap and one cold noodle dish, please.”

3. Ask About Spice and Ingredients Before Ordering

매워요? (maewoyo?) means “Is it spicy?” For emphasis, ask 이거 많이 매워요? (igeo mani maewoyo?)—“Is this very spicy?” Asking first is more useful than discovering the spice level after your meal arrives.

덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있어요?
Deol maepge hae jusil su isseoyo?
“Could you make it less spicy?”

덜 맵게 (deol maepge) means “less spicy,” not “completely non-spicy.” Some dishes use prepared sauces or broths that cannot be adjusted. Wait for the answer before choosing the dish.

들어가요? (deureogayo?) asks whether something is included. Try 이거에 돼지고기 들어가요? (igeoe dwaejigogi deureogayo?)—“Does this contain pork?” You can replace 돼지고기 with the ingredient you need to check.

빼 주세요 (ppae juseyo) means “Please leave it out.” For example, 파 빼 주세요 (pa ppae juseyo) means “Please leave out the green onion.” This request only works if the ingredient can actually be omitted.

For an allergy, say it explicitly: 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요 (ttangkong allereugiga isseoyo) means “I have a peanut allergy.” Removing a visible ingredient does not address sauces, stock, or cross-contact.

For serious allergies, show a clear Korean allergy card and confirm whether the restaurant can prepare a suitable meal. Likewise, a vegetable dish is not automatically vegetarian; ask about broth and seasonings as well as toppings.

4. Answer Follow-Up Questions and Confirm Your Order

드시고 가세요? (deusigo gaseyo?) means “Is that for here?” in many cafes and takeaway places. Staff use a respectful verb when asking about your actions.

Staff: 드시고 가세요?
Deusigo gaseyo?
“Is that for here?”

You: 먹고 갈게요.
Meokgo galgeyo.
“I’ll eat here.”

먹고 갈게요 (meokgo galgeyo) is a natural reply about yourself. You do not need to use the staff member’s respectful verb 드시다 for your own eating.

For takeaway, say 포장해 주세요 (pojanghae juseyo)—“To go, please.” You can use this while placing the order, rather than waiting until the food is served.

At a cafe, you may need to choose a hot or iced drink. Once the drink is clear, say 따뜻한 걸로 주세요 (ttatteuthan geollo juseyo)—“The hot one, please”—or 아이스로 주세요 (aiseuro juseyo)—“Iced, please.”

When staff repeat your order, 네, 맞아요 (ne, majayo) means “Yes, that’s right.” Listen for the quantity as well as the food name.

죄송한데, 김밥은 하나만 주세요.
Joesonghande, gimbabeun hanaman juseyo.
“Sorry, just one roll of gimbap, please.”

Here, 만 (man) adds “only” or “just.” If you did not understand the confirmation, say 다시 말씀해 주세요 (dasi malsseumhae juseyo)—“Please say that again.” It is better to check than agree without understanding.

5. Handle Ordering Screens and Avoid Common Mistakes

Restaurants may take orders through staff, a table tablet, or a kiosk. Selecting a dish on a screen does not always submit the order. Check whether a final confirmation or payment step remains.

These words help connect the screen with the phrases you have learned:

  • 매장 (maejang)—“dine-in” in this context. Example: 매장에서 먹을게요 (maejangeseo meogeulgeyo)—“I’ll eat here.”
  • 포장 (pojang)—“takeaway” or “takeout.” Example: 포장해 주세요 (pojanghae juseyo)—“To go, please.”
  • 주문 (jumun)—“order.” Example: 주문할게요 (jumunhalgeyo)—“I’m ready to order.”
  • 결제 (gyeolje)—“payment.” Example: 결제는 어디서 해요? (gyeoljeneun eodiseo haeyo?)—“Where do I pay?”

Do not confuse an item with a serving. 일 인분 means one person’s serving, while 한 개 counts one item. A shared dish labelled for two people is different from two individual meals.

Keep polite endings such as 주세요 and 할게요 with staff. 이거 줘 is casual speech and is not a suitable default with a stranger. You do not need an unusually long sentence to sound respectful.

For pronunciation, practise complete phrases. The doubled consonants in 빼 and 써, for example, do not work like ordinary English consonants. Use romanization to get started, then listen and follow the Hangul.

Quick Practice

  1. You point to a menu picture. How do you say “One of these, please”?
  2. Staff ask 드시고 가세요? You want takeaway. What do you say?
  3. Does 덜 맵게 mean “less spicy” or “not spicy at all”?

Answers

  1. 이거 하나 주세요 (igeo hana juseyo). Pointing identifies the item, and 하나 gives the quantity.
  2. 포장해 주세요 (pojanghae juseyo). This asks for your order to go.
  3. “Less spicy.” It requests reduced heat, not the complete removal of spice.

Practise with two dishes you want to try. Say 비빔밥 하나 주세요, then 김밥 한 줄 주세요. Add an ingredient question and a dine-in or takeaway reply, and you have a short ordering routine you can use in a real restaurant.

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What Does “추석 잘 보내세요” Mean? Korean Chuseok Greetings

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If you are in Korea around Chuseok, you may hear the same phrase everywhere: at work, in a café, after class, or just before saying goodbye to a Korean friend. That phrase is 추석 잘 보내세요 . It is one of the most useful Korean holiday greetings you can learn, especially if you are a beginner. It may look simple, but translating it word for word does not quite explain how Koreans actually use it. In this lesson, you will learn what it really means, when to say it, how to make it casual or polite, and what to say after the holiday is over. 1. What Does “추석 잘 보내세요” Mean? 추석 잘 보내세요 (Chuseok jal bonaeseyo) Natural meaning: “Have a good Chuseok,” “Enjoy your Chuseok,” or “Have a nice Chuseok holiday.” This is probably the safest Chuseok greeting for a Korean learner to remember. The verb 보내다 (bonaeda) can mean “to send,” but when Koreans use it with time, a weekend, a vacation, or a holiday, it can mean “to spend” that time. So you do not need to translate 추석 잘 보내세요 word by word. T...
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