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...

Korean Restaurant Phrases and Vocabulary: Order with Ease

A Korean restaurant visit becomes easier when you know what happens next. Staff may ask how many people are eating, whether you are ready to order, or how you would like to pay.

This guide follows a meal from finding a seat to paying the bill. You will learn polite phrases for ordering, checking ingredients, and asking for small things during your meal.

Use romanization as a pronunciation aid, and learn the Hangul alongside it. English letters cannot capture every Korean sound. The expressions below use polite speech suitable for staff and people you do not know well.

1. Arrive, Explain Your Group Size, and Find a Seat

몇 분이세요? (myeot buniseyo?) means “How many people?” when a staff member greets you at the entrance. 분 is a respectful counter for people. Here, it does not mean “minutes.”

Staff: 몇 분이세요?
Myeot buniseyo?
“How many people?”

You: 두 명이에요.
Du myeongieyo.
“There are two of us.”

두 명이에요 (du myeongieyo) is a natural way to describe your own group. You do not need to copy the respectful counter the employee used. For three people, replace 두 with 세.

혼자예요 (honjayeyo) means “It’s just me.” You can say 혼자예요. 식사할 수 있어요? (honjayeyo. siksahal su isseoyo?)—“It’s just me. Can I eat here?” Some restaurants have minimum orders for particular dishes, so check before settling in.

예약했어요 (yeyakhaesseoyo) means “I have a reservation” in this context. Add the booking name: 예약했어요. 이름은 Alex예요 (yeyakhaesseoyo. ireumeun Alex-yeyo)—“I have a reservation. The name is Alex.”

If seating arrangements are unclear, ask 여기 앉아도 돼요? (yeogi anjado dwaeyo?)—“May I sit here?” Point to the table and wait for confirmation rather than assuming every empty table is available.

2. Read the Menu and Order the Right Quantity

메뉴판 (menyupan) means “menu.” Ask 메뉴판 좀 주세요 (menyupan jom juseyo)—“Could I have a menu?” Some restaurants use a tablet or ordering kiosk instead of a paper menu.

주문하시겠어요? (jumunhasigesseoyo?) means “Are you ready to order?” When you are ready, put the food and quantity before 주세요 (juseyo), meaning “Please give me…”

비빔밥 하나하고 냉면 하나 주세요.
Bibimbap hanahago naengmyeon hana juseyo.
“One bibimbap and one cold noodle dish, please.”

In this sentence, 하고 (hago) means “and.” It connects two items in your order. If that feels too long, point to each item and order one at a time.

인분 (inbun) means a “serving” measured per person. You will often see it on barbecue and shared-dish menus. 불고기 이 인분 주세요 (bulgogi i inbun juseyo) means “Two servings of bulgogi, please.”

Use 이 for two with 인분. The 하나 in a simple order and the 이 in 이 인분 come from different Korean number systems. Learn the complete ordering chunks first.

A notice saying 2인분 이상 means “two servings or more.” Two servings may arrive together on one plate or in one pot. It does not necessarily mean two separate dishes.

For a recommendation, ask 뭐가 맛있어요? (mwoga masisseoyo?)—“What’s good here?” Mention any dietary restrictions before choosing the recommendation.

3. Check Spice Levels and Ingredients Clearly

매워요? (maewoyo?) means “Is it spicy?” For emphasis, ask 이거 많이 매워요? (igeo mani maewoyo?)—“Is this very spicy?” It is a useful question even when a dish does not look particularly red.

덜 맵게 해 주세요.
Deol maepge hae juseyo.
“Please make it less spicy.”

안 맵게 해 주세요 (an maepge hae juseyo) means “Please make it not spicy.” That is a stronger request than “less spicy.” Prepared sauces and broths cannot always be adjusted, so listen to the answer before ordering.

들어가요? (deureogayo?) helps you ask whether an ingredient is included. 이거에 돼지고기 들어가요? (igeoe dwaejigogi deureogayo?) means “Does this contain pork?”

Visible ingredients are only part of the picture. 육수에 고기 들어가요? (yuksue gogi deureogayo?) means “Does the broth contain meat?” A bowl topped with vegetables may still use meat or seafood stock.

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 works only when the ingredient can actually be removed or omitted.

For an allergy, say so explicitly: 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요 (ttangkong allereugiga isseoyo)—“I have a peanut allergy.” For serious allergies, show a Korean allergy card and confirm ingredients and cross-contact. An ingredient-removal request alone does not establish that a meal is safe.

4. Ask for Water, Plates, and More Side Dishes

저기요 (jeogiyo) means “Excuse me” when getting a staff member’s attention. Use a clear, moderate voice and make eye contact. If your table has a service button, you can use that instead.

저기요, 물 좀 주세요.
Jeogiyo, mul jom juseyo.
“Excuse me, could I have some water?”

좀 (jom) can mean “a little,” but it also softens a request. In this sentence, you are not necessarily asking for a tiny amount of water.

앞접시 (apjeopsi) means a small individual plate for sharing food. Ask 앞접시 두 개 주세요 (apjeopsi du gae juseyo)—“Two small plates, please.” It is useful when several people are eating from one dish.

반찬 (banchan) means “side dishes.” To request a specific refill, say 김치 좀 더 주세요 (gimchi jom deo juseyo)—“Could we have some more kimchi?” The word 더 means “more.”

Basic side-dish refills are common, but extra ordered items are different. Do not assume another serving of meat, rice, or a special side dish is free.

셀프 (selpeu) means “self-service” on restaurant signs. For example, 물은 셀프입니다 (mureun selpeuimnida) means “Water is self-service.” Look for a water dispenser or refill station without entering staff-only areas.

포장해 주세요 (pojanghae juseyo) means “Please pack it to go.” For leftovers, ask 남은 음식 포장해 주실 수 있어요? (nameun eumsik pojanghae jusil su isseoyo?)—“Could you pack up the leftovers?” Whether this is possible depends on the food and restaurant.

5. Pay the Bill and Thank the Staff

계산할게요 (gyesanhalgeyo) means “I’d like to pay.” It announces what you want to do. 계산서 주세요 (gyesanseo juseyo) means “The bill, please,” specifically asking for the bill.

Depending on the restaurant, you may pay at your table or take the table’s bill to a counter near the entrance. Watch the local setup or ask staff instead of waiting indefinitely for someone to collect payment.

계산할게요. 카드로 결제할게요.
Gyesanhalgeyo. Kadeuro gyeoljehalgeyo.
“I’d like to pay. I’ll pay by card.”

따로 계산할 수 있어요? (ttaro gyesanhal su isseoyo?) means “Can we pay separately?” Ask before payment begins. You may need to explain whether you want to divide the total or pay for particular items.

잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida) is an expression of appreciation after eating, naturally translated as “Thank you for the meal.” Say 잘 먹었습니다. 감사합니다 (jal meogeotseumnida. gamsahamnida) when thanking your host or the restaurant staff.

Keep polite endings with staff. 주세요 and 해요 are everyday polite forms. 감사합니다 and 잘 먹었습니다 are formally polite but natural in ordinary restaurants; casual expressions such as 물 줘 belong in established casual-speaking relationships.

Quick Practice

  1. A staff member asks 몇 분이세요? You are with one friend. What do you say?
  2. How do you order two servings of bulgogi?
  3. Which specifically asks for the bill: 계산할게요 or 계산서 주세요?

Answers

  1. 두 명이에요 (du myeongieyo). There are two people in your group.
  2. 불고기 이 인분 주세요 (bulgogi i inbun juseyo). 인분 describes a serving per person.
  3. 계산서 주세요 (gyesanseo juseyo). 계산할게요 expresses your intention to pay; 계산서 주세요 requests the bill.

Practise three phrases first: 두 명이에요, 이거 하나 주세요, and 계산할게요. Then add one ingredient question and one request for your meal. Following the order of a real restaurant visit makes the language easier to remember and use.

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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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