Does your heart race when you receive a call from an unknown Korean number? You aren’t alone! Learning how to answer the phone in Korean can be intimidating because you can’t see the other person’s face.
To help you speak with confidence, you need to understand both the language and Korean phone etiquette. Here are 10 essential phrases to help you handle any call like a pro.
Table of Contents
1. The Most Important Greeting: 여보세요 (Yeoboseyo)
If you are wondering about the Yeoboseyo meaning, it is the gold standard of Korean phone greetings.
여보세요 (Yeoboseyo): “Hello?”
Usage Tip: Use this only on the phone! It is the standard way to pick up a call and check if the other person is there.
2. Introducing Yourself: 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)
After the initial “Yeoboseyo,” it is polite to follow up with a greeting. This is a key part of Korean phone etiquette when you recognize the caller or want to stay professional.
안녕하세요, [Your Name]입니다.
Meaning: “Hello, this is [Your Name].”
Original Korean Sentence
안녕하세요, 김연희입니다.
Pronunciation Guide
안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo), 김연희 (gim-yeon-hui) 입니다 (im-ni-da).
Meaning and Context 안녕하세요 (hello, hi; polite greeting) 김연희 (Kim Yeon-hui; name) 입니다 (am; formal ending).
English Translation
Hello, this is Yeon-hui Kim.
Literal Translation
Hello, (I) Kim Yeon-hui am.
How to Introduce Yourself in Korean – 9 Easy Examples
3. Identifying the Caller
If you don’t recognize the number, use these Korean business call phrases to ask who is speaking in a polite way:
실례지만, 누구세요? (Sillyejiman, nuguseyo?): “Excuse me, but who is this?”
전화하신 분은 누구시죠? (Jeonhwahasin buneun nugusijyo?): “Who is the caller, please?” (Perfect for professional settings)
Original Korean Sentence
실례지만, 누구세요?
Pronunciation Guide
실례지만 (sil-lye-ji-man), 누구 (nu-gu) 세요 (se-yo)?
Meaning and Context
실례 (excuse) 지만 (but) 누구 (who) 세요 (is; polite question ending)?
English Translation
Excuse me, but who is this?
Literal Translation
Excuse me, but who is (it)?
2 배가 아프다 Meanings : Physical Pain & Jealousy
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4. Asking for a Moment
Need to grab a pen or find a quiet spot? This is one of the most useful Korean formal phrases for any conversation:
잠시만 기다려 주세요 (Jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo): “Please wait a moment.”
Original Korean Sentence
잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Pronunciation Guide
잠시만 (jam-si-man), 기다려 (gi-da-ryeo) 주세요 (ju-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
잠시 (a moment) 만 (only) 기다리 (to wait; stem of 기다리다) 어 주세요 (please give; making a polite request).
English Translation
Please wait a moment.
Literal Translation
Please wait only a moment.
Did You Eat in Korean? Why This Greeting Means More Than Food
5. Dealing with Connection Issues
If the line is bad or you can’t hear the other person clearly:
잘 안 들려요 (Jal an deullyeoyo): “I can’t hear you well.”
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요 (Dasi han beon malsseumhae juseyo): “Could you repeat that, please?”
Original Korean Sentence
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.
Pronunciation Guide
다시 (da-si) 한 번 (han beon) 말씀해 (mal-sseum-hae) 주세요 (ju-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
다시 (again) 한 (one) 번 (time) 말씀하 (speak; stem of 말하다, honorific form) 해 주세요 (please give; making a polite request).
English Translation
Could you repeat that, please?
Literal Translation
Please speak one more time again.
A Complete Breakdown of Emotions in Korean for Real-Life Conversations
6. Confirming the Recipient
If the caller asks for you by name, confirm it with these Korean phone greetings:
네, 제가 [Your Name]입니다 (Ne, jega [Your Name] imnida): “Yes, I am [Your Name].”
Original Korean Sentence
네, 제가 오덕규입니다.
Pronunciation Guide
네 (ne), 제가 (je-ga) 오덕규 (o-deok-gyu) 입니다 (im-ni-da).
Meaning and Context
네 (yes) 제 (I; humble form) 가 (subject marker) 오덕규 (Oh Deok-gyu; name) 입니다 (am; formal ending).
English Translation
Yes, I am Deok-gyu Oh.
마음에 들다 Meaning – 3 Usage Examples & Breakdown
7. Handling Wrong Numbers
Good Korean phone etiquette means being polite even when someone calls you by mistake:
죄송합니다. 잘못 거셨습니다 (Joesonghamnida. Jalmot geosyeotseumnida): “I’m sorry. You have the wrong number.”
Original Korean Sentence
죄송합니다. 잘못 거셨습니다.
Pronunciation Guide
죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da), 잘못 (jal-mot) 거셨습니다 (geo-syeot-sseum-ni-da).
Meaning and Context
죄송합니다 (I’m sorry; formal) 잘못 (wrongly) 걸 (to dial; stem of 걸다) 시 (honorific marker) 었 (past tense) 습니다 (formal ending).
English Translation
I’m sorry. You have the wrong number.
Literal Translation
I am sorry. (You) wrongly dialed.
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8. Requesting Slower Speech
When how to answer the phone in Korean feels overwhelming because the caller is too fast:
천천히 말씀해 주세요 (Cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo): “Please speak slowly.”
Original Korean Sentence
천천히 말씀해 주세요.
Pronunciation Guide
천천히 (cheon-cheon-hi), 말씀해 (mal-sseum-hae) 주세요 (ju-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
천천히 (slowly) 말씀하 (to speech; stem of 말씀하다, honorific form) 해 주세요 (please give; making a polite request).
English Translation
Please speak slowly.
Juseyo Meaning – What ‘주세요’ Means and How to Use It in Korean
9. Taking a Message
In Korean business call phrases, offering to take a message is a sign of great service:
메모 남겨 드릴까요? (Memo namgyeodeurilkkayo?): “Shall I take a message?”
Original Korean Sentence
메모 남겨 드릴까요?
Pronunciation Guide
메모 (me-mo), 남겨 (nam-gyeo) 드릴까요 (deu-ril-gga-yo)?
Meaning and Context
메모 (memo) 남기 (to leave; stem of 남기다) 어 (and) 드리 (to give; stem of 드리다, honorific form) ㄹ까요 (shall I; polite offer).
English Translation
Shall I take a message?
Literal Translation
Shall I leave memo and give (you)?
마음을 먹다 meaning: How to Say “I’ve Decided” Like a Native
10. Ending the Call Gracefully
Properly closing a call is just as important as the opening greeting.
들어가세요 (Deureogaseyo): “Please go in” (A standard way to say goodbye).
네, 알겠습니다 (Ne, algetseumnida): “Yes, I understand” (A polite way to signal the end).
Original Korean Sentence
들어가세요.
Pronunciation Guide
들어가세요 (deu-reo-ga-se-yo).
Meaning and Context
들어가 (to go in; stem of 들어가다) 세요 (please).
In Korean phone etiquette, this means “Go back into your home/office or your daily life safely.”
English Translation
Goodbye.
Literal Translation
Please go in.
눈치를 보다 Meaning: Master the Art of Reading the Room
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FAQs (What You Might Still Wonder About)
1. How should I answer if an unknown number calls?
The best way is to start with “여보세요?” (Yeoboseyo?), which is the foundation of How to Answer the Phone in Korean. It is standard Korean Phone Etiquette not to reveal your name until the caller identifies themselves first.
2. How do I start a call to a restaurant or a clinic?
When making a business-related call, it is polite to state your purpose immediately. Use Korean Business Call Phrases like “예약하려고 전화드렸습니다” (Yeyak-haryeogo jeonhwa-deuryeot-seumnida – I’m calling to make a reservation). Even then, always start with a polite greeting like “안녕하세요”.
3. Why do Koreans say “네, 네, 네” (Ne, ne, ne) repeatedly before hanging up?
This is a sign of active listening. In Korean Phone Etiquette, using “back-channeling” (추임새 – chuimsae) shows you are paying attention. Koreans often repeat “네” (Yes) at the end of a call to signal agreement and a polite wrap-up.
4. Do friends use “여보세요” (Yeoboseyo) with each other?
Between close friends, Korean Phone Greetings become much more casual. You might hear “어, 나야!” (Eo, naya! – Hey, it’s me!) or “어, [이름]아!” (Eo, [Name]-ah!) immediately. However, “여보세요?” is still used if the connection seems bad or if someone doesn’t speak right away.
5. What should I say if I answer someone else’s phone at work?
A representative phrase among Korean Business Call Phrases is “지금 자리에 안 계신데요” (Jigeum jarie an gyesindeyo – He/She is not at their desk right now). Following this with “메모 남겨 드릴까요?” (Memo namgyeodeurilkkayo? – Shall I take a message?) is the perfect professional response.
6. Is it okay to say “안녕히 계세요” when hanging up?
While not grammatically wrong, “들어가세요” (Deureogaseyo) or “네, 끊을게요” (Ne, kkeuneulgeyo – I’m hanging up now) are much more common in Korean Phone Etiquette. “안녕히 계세요” is typically reserved for when you are physically leaving a location.
Final words
Mastering How to Answer the Phone in Korean is more than just learning words; it’s about understanding the subtle respect embedded in the culture. Whether you are practicing your Korean Phone Greetings with friends or using professional Korean Business Call Phrases in the office, the key is confidence.
Remember that Korean Phone Etiquette often relies on small gestures, like active listening and using the correct honorifics. We hope this guide and the Yeoboseyo Meaning breakdown help you feel more comfortable the next time your phone rings. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be handling every call like a pro!
Happy learning, and “들어가세요!” (Deureogaseyo!)
