Practice Meeting Someone New in Korean
First impressions in Korean are built from small details — the right greeting, the right register of 'you', whether to use a kiss-on-the-cheek or a handshake. This scenario rehearses introducing yourself, asking the basic getting-to-know-you questions ('Where are you from?', 'What do you do?'), and navigating the moment when conversation could continue or fizzle. You'll practise the friendly-but-polite register most Korean speakers default to with strangers, and the natural follow-up questions that turn an introduction into an actual conversation.
Sample Korean conversation
안녕하세요! 만나서 반갑습니다. 저는 링구아루도예요. 이름이 뭐예요?
Hello! Nice to meet you. My name is Linguarudo. What's your name?만나서 반갑습니다. 저는 알렉스예요.
Nice to meet you. My name is Alex.만나서 반갑습니다, 알렉스! 어디서 오셨어요?
Great to meet you, Alex! Where are you from?여기 사람이에요.
I'm from here.아, 좋아요! 그러면 이 지역을 잘 아시겠네요. 무슨 일 하세요?
Oh, wonderful! So you know this area well. What do you do for work?학생이에요.
I'm a student.
What you'll learn
- Greet someone with the right level of formality
- Introduce yourself with name, origin, and purpose
- Ask the basic getting-to-know-you questions
- Show interest with follow-up questions and reactions
- Politely exchange contact details or end the chat
Frequently asked questions
Should I use formal or informal Korean when meeting someone new?
It depends on age and context — but as a learner, defaulting to formal is safer. The other person will invite you to switch. The scenario rehearses both registers.
What's a good icebreaker in Korean?
Asking about the local area or their work usually works. The scenario gives you the natural follow-up question patterns.
How do I exchange names without it feeling awkward in Korean?
The Korean script is gentler than the English 'What's your name?'. We use a softer construction in the scenario.
What if I forget the person's name in Korean?
There's a polite phrase — the Korean equivalent of 'Sorry, what was your name again?' — that's the universal recovery line.