How to say “I'm learning Korean” in Korean
- 한국어 배우고 있어요hangugeo baeugo isseoyo
I'm learning Korean
"I'm learning Korean" in Korean is 한국어 배우고 있어요 (hangugeo baeugo isseoyo), a polite sentence you can say to anyone. To a friend you can drop the 요: 한국어 배우고 있어 (hangugeo baeugo isseo).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 한국어 배우고 있어요 hangugeo baeugo isseoyo | Polite | "I'm learning Korean." The most useful version. |
| 한국어를 배우고 있습니다 hangugeoreul baeugo itseumnida | Formal | Formal, good for a self-introduction in class or at work. |
| 한국어 배우고 있어 hangugeo baeugo isseo | Casual | To friends and younger people. |
| 한국어 공부하고 있어요 hangugeo gongbuhago isseoyo | Polite | "I'm studying Korean." Very common, especially if you study with books or classes. |
| 한국어 공부 중이에요 hangugeo gongbu jungieyo | Polite | "I'm in the middle of studying Korean." Natural and friendly. |
| 한국어 공부해요 hangugeo gongbuhaeyo | Polite | "I study Korean." Simple present tense. |
Examples
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Telling someone why your Korean is basic
Explaining how you study
Chatting with a Korean friend
Tips
배우다 means "to learn" and 공부하다 means "to study". Both work here. 공부하다 suggests books and homework, while 배우다 is more general.
한국어 and 한국말 both mean the Korean language. 한국어 is a little more formal, and 한국말 is common in everyday speech.
Koreans usually react warmly to this sentence, so it is a great conversation starter.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between hangugeo and hangungmal?
Both mean the Korean language. 한국어 (hangugeo) sounds slightly more formal or academic, while 한국말 (hangungmal) is everyday speech.
How do you say "my Korean is not good"?
Say 한국어 잘 못해요 (hangugeo jal motaeyo), "I don't speak Korean well".