Introduce yourself in Korean
Learn to introduce yourself in Korean: say your name, where you are from, and ask the other person with the polite -예요/이에요 pattern.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn a small set of polite Korean sentences that let you introduce yourself and keep a first conversation going. You will say your name with 제 이름은 ...예요/이에요, say where you are from with 저는 ...에서 왔어요, and ask the other person the same questions with 이름이 뭐예요? and 어디에서 왔어요? The key reusable pattern is noun + 예요/이에요, which means 'is/am/are' in polite speech. Use it with people you meet for the first time, classmates, colleagues, or anyone you are not close to yet.
By the end, you can…
- say my name in polite Korean using 제 이름은 ...예요/이에요.
- say where I am from using 저는 ...에서 왔어요.
- ask someone's name and where they are from.
- use the noun + 예요/이에요 pattern to make simple polite 'is/am/are' sentences.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
안녕하세요.
Hello.
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
The standard polite greeting. Use it any time of day with strangers, classmates, or colleagues.
제 이름은 마이클이에요.
My name is Michael.
je i-reu-meun Ma-i-keu-ri-e-yo
제 is the humble 'my'. Use 이에요 after a name ending in a consonant, like 마이클.
제 이름은 수진이에요.
My name is Sujin.
je i-reu-meun Su-ji-ni-e-yo
수진 ends in a consonant (ㄴ), so 이에요 is used: 수진이에요. After a vowel-final name, use 예요 instead, e.g. 안나예요.
저는 미국에서 왔어요.
I am from the United States.
jeo-neun Mi-gu-ge-seo wa-sseo-yo
Replace 미국 with your country: 영국 (UK), 호주 (Australia), 캐나다 (Canada).
이름이 뭐예요?
What is your name?
i-reu-mi mwo-ye-yo
A direct but polite question. 뭐예요? means 'what is it?' and follows a vowel-final noun; after a consonant-final noun use 뭐여요? is not standard—use 무엇이에요? or simply 뭐예요? in this fixed expression.
어디에서 왔어요?
Where are you from?
eo-di-e-seo wa-sseo-yo
Literally 'from where did you come?' Use it to ask about someone's hometown or country.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is noun + 예요/이에요, meaning 'is/am/are' in polite speech. Use 이에요 after a consonant-final noun and 예요 after a vowel-final noun: 물이에요 (mul-i-e-yo, 'it is water'), 커피예요 (keo-pi-ye-yo, 'it is coffee'). With names, 마이클이에요 (Ma-i-keu-ri-e-yo) and 수진이에요 (Su-ji-ni-e-yo) are both common. This pattern lets you make many simple polite sentences without changing the verb.
When to use it
Use these sentences when you meet someone new, at a language exchange, in class, or at work. Start with 안녕하세요, then 제 이름은 ...이에요/예요. To ask back, say 이름이 뭐예요? For origin, use 저는 ...에서 왔어요 and ask 어디에서 왔어요? If you are not sure of the polite level, keep the -요 endings; they are safe with strangers and acquaintances. With close friends, Koreans often drop to 반말, but beginners should stay polite.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요. 제 이름은 마이클이에요.
Hello. My name is Michael.an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. je i-reu-meun Ma-i-keu-ri-e-yo.안녕하세요. 제 이름은 수진이에요.
Hello. My name is Sujin.an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. je i-reu-meun Su-ji-ni-e-yo.저는 미국에서 왔어요. 수진 씨는 어디에서 왔어요?
I am from the United States. Sujin, where are you from?jeo-neun Mi-gu-ge-seo wa-sseo-yo. Su-jin ssi-neun eo-di-e-seo wa-sseo-yo?저는 한국에서 왔어요. 서울에서 왔어요.
I am from Korea. I am from Seoul.jeo-neun Han-gu-ge-seo wa-sseo-yo. Seo-u-re-seo wa-sseo-yo.아, 그래요? 반가워요.
Oh, really? Nice to meet you.a, geu-rae-yo? ban-ga-wo-yo.네, 반가워요. 한국어를 배워요?
Yes, nice to meet you. Are you learning Korean?ne, ban-ga-wo-yo. Han-guk-eo-reul bae-wo-yo?A little context goes a long way
Polite -요 endings are the safe default with strangers, older people, and new acquaintances. Koreans often ask age or origin early to choose the right speech level, so these questions are normal rather than rude. Using 씨 after a name (수진 씨) is friendly but not used for superiors; with teachers or bosses, use their title instead.
One thing to watch for
Using 저는 마이클이에요 to mean 'I am Michael' when you mean 'My name is Michael.'
Try this instead: 저는 마이클이에요 can mean 'I am Michael' and is understandable, but for a name introduction the natural pattern is 제 이름은 마이클이에요. Use 제 이름은 ...이에요/예요 when you specifically introduce your name.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'My name is Anna' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
제 이름은 안나예요.
안나 ends in a vowel, so 예요 is used: 제 이름은 안나예요. 제 이름은 안나이에요 is also heard and accepted, especially in careful speech.
2Ask someone where they are from in polite Korean.
Show a sample answer
어디에서 왔어요?
This is the standard polite question. You can also say 어디서 왔어요? in casual speech; both are understood.
3Fill in the blank: 저는 캐나다___ 왔어요.
Show a sample answer
에서
에서 marks the starting point or origin. 저는 캐나다에서 왔어요 means 'I am from Canada.'
Use 안녕하세요, 제 이름은 ...이에요/예요, and 저는 ...에서 왔어요 to introduce yourself, then ask 이름이 뭐예요? and 어디에서 왔어요? to keep the conversation going politely.
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