Korean Language Overview
Korean is one of the 3 hardest languages in the world to master. So lets all face it, in a few months or for that matter, even in a year, you are not going to make it to a level of great fluency. Just set your goal a bit lower and work toward that. Korean speakers will be most impressed with even the slightest attempt on your part to learn their language. So anything, even something small, will go a very long way.
The Korean language is called Hangul. (
Korean language)
The simplest and most common greetings mean essentially “Peace”:

Ahn-young hah-say-oh
Formal way to Greet:

Ahn-young hah-shim-nika?
In order to be understood, you’ll have to approximate Korean pronunciation. Say each syllable as if it’s a separate word, and you may get close enough.

Kahm-sah-hahm-nidah
Thank you.

Chae-song hahm-nidah
Pardon me.

Chome toe-wah jew-say-oh
Please help me.

Ahn-young-hee gae-say-oh
Good bye.
This being the New Year season, it is also in excellent form to use the official New Year’s greeting every chance you get:

Say-hay boke mahn-he pah-du-say-oh
Say-hay means “New Year;” boke means “blessings;” mahn-he means “many;” and pah-du-say-oh means “please receive.” So, the phrase translates as “Please receive many New Year’s blessings.”
Counting –
Basic Phrases & Terms-
Techniques & Directions-
Sul (also “Sool”) (Technique) |
Ahp (Front) |
Kwan Jyel Sul (Joint Manipulation Technique) |
Dwi (Back) |
Hyel Do Sul (Vital Point Techniques) |
Bandae (Reverse) |
Ki Bon Sul (Basic Techniques) |
Bakat (Outer) |
Too Sul (Throwing Techniques) |
An (Inner) |
Nak Sul (Falling Techniques) |
Anuro (Inward) |
Chil Sik Sul (Choking Techniques) |
Bakuro (Outward) |
Shim Gong Sul (Mind Training Techniques) |
OhReun (Right) |
Ho Shin Sul (Self-Defense Techniques) |
Wen (Left) |
Sin-Chong (also “Sin-Ch’ong) (Application) |
|
Sul Sin-Chong (Technique Application) |
|
Blocks –
Makee (Block) |
Pal Moke Makee (Outer Forearm Block) |
AnPal Moke Makee (Inner Forearm Block) |
Huke Yo Pal Moke Makee (Rising Outer Forearm Block) |
Ahre Makee (Low Block) |
Momtong Makee (Middle Block) |
Eolgul Makee (High Block) |
Geudeureo Makee (Reinforced Block – Fist of one hand supports the other at the elbow) |
Sonnal-bakat Makee (Knifehand Block, from inside to outside) |
Gawi Makee (Scissor Block) |
Eotgalyo Makee (X Block) |
Hechyo Makee (Wig Block) |
Bituro Makee (Twisting Block) |
Strikes –
Son (also, “Soo”) (Hand) |
Son Kal (Knife Hand) |
Son Kal Dung (Reverse Knife Hand) |
Kwon (Fist – To Smash Or Destroy With Fist) |
Ju Mok (Fist) |
Ap Ju Mok (Forefist) |
Dung Ju Mok (Back Fist) |
Yup Ju Mok (Side Fist – Hammer Fist) |
Ter Ri Kee (Strike) |
Chirigee (Punch) |
Pon Tay Chirigee (Reverse Punch) |
Eolgul Jireugi (High Punch) |
Momtong Jireugi (Middle Punch) |
Sonnal Mok Anchigi (Knifehand Strike at Neck) |
Pyeonsonkut Jireugi (Spear Fingers) |
Doobeon Jireugi (Double Punch) |
Kaljaebi (Strangle Punch) |
Stances –
So Gee (Stance) |
Moa So Gee (Closed Feet Stance) |
Naranee So Gee (Parallel Stance) |
Naranee Choon Bee So Gee (Parallel Ready Stance) |
Gunnun So Gee or Ahp So Gee (Walking Stance) |
Ap So Gee (Front Stance) |
Niunja So Gee (L-Stance) |
Foo Gul So Gee or Dwikubi So Gee (Back Stance) |
Dwit Bal So Gee (Rear Foot Stance) |
Kee Ma So Gee (Sitting Stance) |
Sanun So Gee (Diagonal Stance) |
Nachuo So Gee (Low Stance) |
Kyocha So Gee (X-Stance) |
Ko Chung So Gee (Fixed Stance) |
Soo Jik So Gee (Vertical Stance) |
Waebal So Gee (1-Leg Stance) |
Guburyo So Gee (Bending Stance) |
Bum So Gee (Tiger Stance) |
Koa So Gee (Twisted Stance) |
Juchoom So Gee (Horse Riding Stance) |
Kicks –
Cha Gee (Kick) |
Ap Cha Gee (Front Kick) |
Yup Cha Gee (Side Kick) |
Tollyo Cha Gee (Round / Turning Kick) |
Pon Tay Tollyo Cha Gee (Reverse Turning Kick) |
Bandal Cha Gee (Crescent Kick) |
Dwee Cha Gee (Back Kick) |
Naeryo Cha Gee (Axe / Downward Kick) |
Golcho Cha Gee or Hooryo Cha Gee (Hooking Kick) |
Bitro Cha Gee (Twisting Kick) |
Sparring –
Dare Ee On (Sparring) |
HohGoo (Body Protector) |
Jeon (Round) |
Il Hoejeon (1st Round) |
Kam Jom Hana (Penalty Point) |
Kyeongo Hana (Warning) |
Hong (Red) |
Chong (Blue) |
Boo Sang (Injury) |
Ilbo Dare Ee On (One-Step Sparring) |
Eebo Dare Ee On (Two-Step Sparring) |
Sambo Dare Ee On (Three-Step Sparring) |
Cha U Dare Ee On (Free Sparring) |
Pang Wi (also Pang Wee) (Defense Against) |
Tong Hyel (Pressure Point Which Induces Pain) |
Ma Hyel (Pressure Point Which Induces Paralysis) |
Sa Hyel (Lethal Pressure Points) |
Body –
Mom (Body) |
Eolgool (Upper Body – head and neck) |
Momtong (Middle part of the body – Trunk) |
Ahre (Lower part of the body – legs and feet) |
Meo Ii (Head) |
Mok (Neck) |
Myung Chi (Solar Plexus) |
Pal (Arm) |
Palkoop (Elbow) |
Palmok (Forearm) |
Son (Hand) |
Son Mok (Wrist) |
Ju Meok (Fist) |
Dari (Leg) |
Murup (Knee) |
Baal (Foot) |
Apchook (Ball of foot) |
Schools & Styles –
Dojang (School – Training Hall – School where the “way” is taught) |
Kwan (School – Gymnasium) |
Moo Do (also “Mu Do”) (Martial Arts “Way of the Martial Arts”) |
Moo Sul (also “Mu Sool”) (Martial Technique) |
Chang-Hun (Blue Cottage) |
Tae Kwon Do (Foot, Fist, Way of) |
Tae Soo Do (Foot, Hand, Way of) |
Tang Soo Do (China, Hand, Way of) |
Hap Ki Do (Harmony, Inner Power, Way of) |
Kong Soo Do (Empty Hand, Way of [Karate]) |
Shim Soo Do (Mind, Hand, Way Of) |
Koong Shi Do (Bow, Arrow, Way Of) |
Koong Do (Archery [Bow, Way Of]) |
Koong Sul (Archery Techniques) |
Sado Mu Do (Tribal “Village” Martial Arts) |
Buldo Mu Do (Buddhist Martial Arts) |
Koong Jong Mu Do (Royal Palace Martial Arts) |
Kwon Bup (Fist Method) |
Yu Sool (Throwing Techniques) |
Soo Bak Gi (Hand Striking Techniques) |
Soo Bak Do (Hand Striking, Way Of) |
Oh Do Kwan (My Way, School Of) |
Moo Duk Kwan (Martial Virtue, School Of) |
Chung Do Kwan (Blue Wave, School Of) |
Shim Duk Kwan (Virtuous Mind, School Of) |
Salutations & Titles –
Weapons –
Mu Ki (also “Mu Kee”) (Weapons) |
Ji Pang E (also “Jee Pang E”) (Cane) |
Tahn Bong (Short Stick) |
Jung Bong (Middle Staff) |
Jang Bong (Long Staff) |
Kal (Knife) |
Tan Do (Dagger) |
Gum (Kum) (Sword) |
Ee Chul Bong (Two-Section Stick – Nunchaku) |
Tahn Do Li Ga (Short Flail – Nunchaku) |
Nat (Sickle) |
Cha-Ru (Handle – Tonfa) |
Chang (Spear) |
Boo Chai (Fan) |
Pho Bak (Rope) |