Korean for English speakers Street · Lesson 5

Asking someone's name politely

Formal first greetings in Korean — 처음 뵙겠습니다 (Nice to meet you for the first time) — very formal.

Conversation

  1. PX296 PX296

    어? 저기 매지캣이 와요!

    Eo? Jeogi maejikaesi wayo!

    Oh! There comes Magicat!

    Tip: <어?> = interjection to express surprise like "Oh!" <저기> = there, over there <와요> = verb "to come"

  2. Pishi Pishi

    안녕하세요. 처음 뵙겠습니다.

    Annyeonghaseyo. Cheoeum boepgetseumnida.

    Hello. Nice to meet you.

    Tip: <안녕하세요> = formal way to say "Hello" <처음 뵙겠습니다> = very formal way to say "Nice to meet you" [Note] Literally, "I am meeting you for the first time"

  3. Magicat Magicat

    네, 안녕하세요. 그런데 성함이 어떻게 되세요?

    Ne, annyeonghaseyo. Geureonde seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?

    Hello. By the way, what can I call you?

    Tip: <그런데> = by the way <성함이 어떻게 되세요?> = very formal way to say "What is your name?" [Note] Word 성함 is the honorific version of 이름 (name).

  4. Pishi Pishi

    저는 피시라고 해요.

    Jeoneun pisirago haeyo.

    My name is Pishi.

    Tip: <저는 N(이)라고 해요> = My name is N [Note] Indication particle -라고/이라고 is chosen according to the syllable before. When it finishes with a vowel (ㅣ of 피시), we use -라고. If by a final consonant, -이라고.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How formal is 처음 뵙겠습니다?

Very formal. Used in business, formal introductions. Casual alternative: 만나서 반가워요.

What does 뵙다 mean?

Humble version of 보다 (see). Used when speaking to elders/superiors. 뵙겠습니다 = 'I will see you (humbly)'.

Korean formality levels?

Korean has multiple speech levels: very formal (-습니다), polite (-요), casual (-아/어). Choose based on relationship.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.