Photo: Tony, CC BY 2.0
Flirting in Korean: Polite, Charming and Respectful
A warm, live hour of Korean for complete beginners who want to connect with people. You will learn how to start a conversation politely, give compliments like 멋있어요 and 예뻐요, ask for a number or KakaoTalk, invite someone for coffee (같이 커피 마실래요?), say yes, and say no kindly or take a no with grace. Everything is in polite Korean, the right level for anyone you have just met. Every phrase comes with romanization, so you do not need to read Hangul yet.
After this hour you can
- Start a polite conversation and ask about hobbies
- Give natural compliments and answer one modestly
- Ask for a phone number or KakaoTalk and send a first message
- Invite someone for coffee or a meal and agree on a day
- Say yes warmly, or say no politely
- Take a no gracefully and end on a kind note
- 0′–5′
Welcome
Know how the class works and the ground rules: polite, respectful, consent first.
- 5′–11′
Hangul taster: dating words
See how letters stack into blocks and read a few dating words.
커피
keopi
say kuh-pee
coffee
카톡
katok
say kah-tohk
KakaoTalk, Korea's main messaging app
+ 4 more on your phrase sheet
- 11′–18′
Starting a conversation politely
Open a friendly conversation, ask a few easy questions and close it nicely.
저기요, 실례지만…
jeogiyo, sillyejiman…
say juh-gee-yoh, sheel-lyeh-jee-mahn…
Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but…
혹시 이 근처에 좋은 카페 알아요?
hoksi i geuncheoe joeun kape arayo?
say hohk-shee ee geun-chuh-eh joh-eun kah-peh ah-rah-yoh?
Do you happen to know a good café around here?
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 18′–25′
Compliments: 멋있어요, 예뻐요
Give a natural compliment and answer one modestly.
멋있어요.
meosisseoyo.
say muh-shee-ssuh-yoh.
You're cool. / You look great. / That's impressive.
예뻐요.
yeppeoyo.
say yeh-ppuh-yoh.
You're pretty. / That's pretty.
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 25′–31′
Phone numbers and KakaoTalk
Ask for a number or KakaoTalk and send a friendly first message.
카톡 해요?
katok haeyo?
say kah-tohk heh-yoh?
Do you use KakaoTalk?
번호 줄 수 있어요?
beonho jul su isseoyo?
say buhn-hoh jool ssoo ee-ssuh-yoh?
Could you give me your number?
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 31′–38′
Asking someone out and saying yes
Invite someone for coffee or a meal, agree on a day and say yes warmly.
같이 커피 마실래요?
gachi keopi masillaeyo?
say gah-chee kuh-pee mah-sheel-leh-yoh?
Would you like to get a coffee together?
같이 밥 먹을래요?
gachi bap meogeullaeyo?
say gah-chee bahp muh-geul-leh-yoh?
Would you like to grab a meal together?
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 38′–47′
Saying no politely, and taking no gracefully
Say no kindly, recognise a soft no, and respond to a no with grace.
미안해요, 좀 바빠서요.
mianhaeyo, jom bappaseoyo.
say mee-ahn-heh-yoh, johm bahp-pah-suh-yoh.
Sorry, I'm a bit busy.
마음은 고마워요.
maeumeun gomawoyo.
say mah-eu-meun goh-mah-wuh-yoh.
Thank you for the thought. (but no)
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 47′–57′
Practice: a language-exchange café
Run a polite mini-conversation from first hello to an invitation, with a yes or a no.
- 57′–60′
Recap and this week
Remember the key phrases and know what to practise this week.
Korean looks hard, but its alphabet, Hangul, was designed to be easy: 24 basic letters that stack into syllable blocks, and many people learn to sound out words in a few hours of practice. Politeness is built into the grammar: with someone you have just met you use polite speech ending in 요, and couples only switch to casual banmal once they are close. Age matters, so do not be surprised if someone asks how old you are early on. Korean has no strong word stress: say the syllables evenly.
- Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone
- A microphone; headphones with a mic are best
- Somewhere you are happy to speak out loud
- Pen and paper, if you like. No Korean needed.
Do I need to know any of the language already?
No. Every class is for complete beginners. We start from hello, and everything is explained in English. If you already know a little, it will be a good warm-up, but it will feel easy.
What happens in the hour?
A short welcome, then the sounds (or, for Japanese and Korean, a first look at the writing), greetings, introducing yourself, numbers to ten, ordering at a café and the phrases that get you out of trouble. Then you practise in small breakout rooms and we finish with a recap. Each class page shows the hour minute by minute.
Will I have to speak?
Yes, that is the point, but gently. Most of the time the whole class repeats together with microphones on, so nobody is singled out. Near the end you practise in breakout rooms of 2 or 3. Your camera is up to you.
How big are the classes?
At most 12 people, so everyone gets to speak and ask questions.
How much is a class?
One class is one payment, and you see the price before you pay. Nothing renews and there is no subscription.
Can I cancel or move my class?
Yes. Write to support@bunevents.com at least 24 hours before the start and we will refund you in full or move you to another time, whichever you prefer.
