How to Introduce Yourself Casually in Korean: Name, Hometown, and One Hobby
Learn to say your name, where you're from, and one thing you enjoy in friendly, everyday Korean using three simple patterns.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
A friendly self-introduction in Korean is short and pattern-based. You say your name, add where you are from, then name one thing you like. This lesson teaches three beginner patterns: 저는 ...예요/이에요 for 'I am ...', ...에서 왔어요 for 'I come from ...', and ...을/를 좋아해요 for 'I like ...'. You will also learn the casual ending -야/이야 for friends. Keep sentences short; Korean listeners expect a brief, warm introduction rather than a long speech.
By the end, you can…
- say my name using 저는 ...예요/이에요 and the casual 나는 ...야/이야.
- say where I am from with ...에서 왔어요.
- name one hobby or interest with ...을/를 좋아해요.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
안녕하세요, 저는 알렉스예요.
Hello, I'm Alex.
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, jeo-neun Al-lek-seu-ye-yo
Polite default with strangers, coworkers, or anyone older. Use 예요 after a vowel and 이에요 after a consonant; 알렉스 ends in a vowel, so 예요.
저는 캐나다에서 왔어요.
I'm from Canada.
jeo-neun Kae-na-da-e-seo wa-sseo-yo
Country or city plus 에서 왔어요. The past tense 왔어요 is the standard way to state origin, not the present tense.
저는 등산을 좋아해요.
I like hiking.
jeo-neun deung-san-eul jo-a-hae-yo
좋아해요 means 'like' as a habit or preference. Use 을 after a consonant and 를 after a vowel: 등산 ends in ㄴ, so 등산을.
저는 한국어를 배워요.
I study Korean.
jeo-neun Han-guk-eo-reul bae-wo-yo
A simple way to mention an interest that is also an activity. 배워요 is present tense and can mean 'I am learning' in context.
만나서 반가워요.
Nice to meet you.
man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo
Say this at the end of an introduction. It is polite and works in most first meetings.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is topic + description. 저는 means 'as for me' and marks you as the topic; it is not the word for 'I' in every sentence. Attach 예요/이에요 to a noun: 저는 학생이에요 ('I am a student'), 저는 알렉스예요 ('I am Alex'). For origin, use place + 에서 왔어요: 서울에서 왔어요 ('I'm from Seoul'). For interests, use noun + 을/를 좋아해요: 음악을 좋아해요 ('I like music'), 커피를 좋아해요 ('I like coffee').
When to use it
Use the polite forms 저는, -예요/이에요, 왔어요, and 좋아해요 with people you have just met, people older than you, and in most public situations. With close friends of similar age, you can switch to casual: 나는 알렉스야 ('I'm Alex'), 나는 캐나다에서 왔어 ('I'm from Canada'), 나는 등산을 좋아해 ('I like hiking'). Do not mix levels in one short introduction; choose polite or casual and stay consistent.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요, 저는 알렉스예요.
Hello, I'm Alex.an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, jeo-neun Al-lek-seu-ye-yo반가워요. 어디에서 왔어요?
Nice to meet you. Where are you from?ban-ga-wo-yo. eo-di-e-seo wa-sseo-yo?캐나다에서 왔어요. 등산을 좋아해요.
I'm from Canada. I like hiking.Kae-na-da-e-seo wa-sseo-yo. deung-san-eul jo-a-hae-yo.아, 저도 등산을 좋아해요.
Oh, I like hiking too.a, jeo-do deung-san-eul jo-a-hae-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean introductions often begin with age or status questions soon after names, because verb endings and terms of address depend on relative age and familiarity. Answering briefly is normal; you do not need to share a long personal story. If someone asks 나이가 어떻게 되세요? ('How old are you?'), it is usually a practical question about which speech level to use, not rudeness.
One thing to watch for
Saying 저는 캐나다예요 to mean 'I am from Canada.'
Try this instead: Use place + 에서 왔어요 for origin: 저는 캐나다에서 왔어요. 저는 캐나다예요 sounds like 'I am Canada.' You can also say 저는 캐나다 사람이에요 ('I am a Canadian person'), but 에서 왔어요 is the natural introduction pattern.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'm from Australia' politely in Korean?
Show a sample answer
저는 호주에서 왔어요.
Place + 에서 왔어요 states origin. 호주 is the Korean name for Australia. 저는 can be omitted if the topic is already clear, so 호주에서 왔어요 is also correct.
2A friend asks what you like. Say 'I like music' in casual Korean.
Show a sample answer
나는 음악을 좋아해.
With a close friend, use 나는 and the casual 좋아해. 음악 ends in a consonant, so take 을. The polite version is 저는 음악을 좋아해요.
3What is wrong with 저는 학생예요?
Show a sample answer
It should be 저는 학생이에요.
학생 ends in a consonant (ㅇ), so use 이에요, not 예요. Use 예요 only after a vowel, as in 저는 알렉스예요.
Introduce yourself in three short steps: 저는 + name + 예요/이에요, place + 에서 왔어요, and interest + 을/를 좋아해요. Keep it polite until a friend suggests casual speech.
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