Level 3 · Confident Speaker
Master the vocabulary and expressions needed for professional Korean email and phone communication. Learn proper greetings, formal closings, and the etiquette that makes Korean business correspondence effective.
14 words · tap 🔊 to hear native-speaker pronunciation
Email and phone calls are the backbone of Korean business communication. But don't just translate your English emails into Korean — Korean business correspondence follows its own rules and conventions that can make or break your professional relationships.
Korean business emails have a distinct structure: a formal greeting line, clear purpose statement, body content, and a polite closing that often includes 감사합니다 (thank you) or 부탁드립니다 (I humbly request). Phone calls follow strict politeness levels, with ultra-formal speech used for clients and senior contacts.
In this unit, you'll learn 14 essential vocabulary words for professional communication — from 이메일 (email) to 담당자 (person in charge) — plus two grammar patterns crucial for formal business language: -(으)시겠습니까 (would you, ultra polite) and -는 바입니다 (this is to inform, formal written). 이메일부터 시작해 볼까요?
이메일을 확인해 주시기 바랍니다.Please check your email.
💡 Memory tip: A direct loanword from English "email" — one of the easiest Korean business words to remember!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [이메일]. A loanword with Korean phonetic adaptation. The ㄹ batchim at the end has a soft lateral [l] sound.
phone call / telephone
전화 드려도 되겠습니까?May I call you?
💡 Memory tip: 전 (transmit/electric) + 화 (speech/talk) — transmitting speech electrically. The original concept of telephone!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [전화]. The ㄴ batchim in 전 flows smoothly into ㅎ of 화. Standard pronunciation.
outgoing call / sender
발신 번호가 표시되지 않습니다.The caller ID is not displayed.
💡 Memory tip: 발 (send out/emit) + 신 (message/signal) — sending out a signal. The origin of an outgoing call!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [발신]. The ㄹ batchim in 발 connects cleanly to the ㅅ in 신.
incoming call / recipient
수신: 마케팅 팀 전체To: All Marketing Team
💡 Memory tip: 수 (receive) + 신 (message/signal) — receiving a signal. The opposite of 발신! Together they cover all communication directions.
Pronunciation: Pronounced [수신]. Clean pronunciation with no sound changes.
reply (email / letter)
빠른 회신 부탁드립니다.I request a prompt reply.
💡 Memory tip: 회 (return/turn back) + 신 (message) — returning a message. Your reply goes back to the sender!
Pronunciation: 회 has the diphthong ㅚ, commonly pronounced [훼] or [회]. 신 is a clean [신].
attachment
첨부 파일을 확인해 주세요.Please check the attached file.
💡 Memory tip: 첨 (add/attach) + 부 (affix/stick) — adding something that sticks. Files you attach to your email!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [첨부]. The ㅁ batchim in 첨 flows naturally into the ㅂ of 부.
CC / reference
참조에 팀장님을 추가해 주세요.Please add the team leader to the CC.
💡 Memory tip: 참 (refer to) + 조 (look at/compare) — referring to and looking at. The CC line on your email — for those who need to see it!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [참조]. The ㅁ batchim in 참 connects to the ㅈ of 조. Standard pronunciation.
matter / case / item
그 건에 대해 회의가 필요합니다.We need a meeting about that matter.
💡 Memory tip: Think of 건 as a "case file" counter — each 건 is one matter, one item, one case to handle.
Pronunciation: Pronounced [건]. Single syllable with the ㄴ batchim. Also used as a counter: 한 건 (one case/item).
confirmation / verification
일정 확인 부탁드립니다.I request confirmation of the schedule.
💡 Memory tip: 확 (certain/firm) + 인 (recognize/verify) — firmly recognizing something. Making sure it's right!
Pronunciation: 확인 is pronounced [화긴]. The ㄱ batchim in 확 links to the vowel ㅣ in 인, creating [화긴].
inquiry / question
제품에 대해 문의 드립니다.I am making an inquiry about the product.
💡 Memory tip: 문 (ask) + 의 (meaning/discussion) — asking about the meaning. Your formal business question!
Pronunciation: 문의 is pronounced [무니]. The ㄴ batchim in 문 links to the vowel ㅢ in 의, and ㅢ often reduces to [이]: [무니].
formal reply / response
답변 감사합니다.Thank you for your response.
💡 Memory tip: 답 (answer) + 변 (explain/speak) — answering and explaining. A thorough response to an inquiry!
Pronunciation: 답변 is pronounced [답뼌]. The ㅂ batchim in 답 causes the ㅂ in 변 to tense to [ㅃ].
person in charge / contact person
담당자에게 연결해 드리겠습니다.I will connect you to the person in charge.
💡 Memory tip: 담당 (responsibility/charge) + 자 (person) — the person who carries the responsibility. The go-to contact!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [담당자]. The ㅁ batchim and ㅇ batchim are both nasal. Clean pronunciation throughout.
absent / away / out of office
담당자가 현재 부재중입니다.The person in charge is currently away.
💡 Memory tip: 부 (not) + 재 (exist/be present) + 중 (in the middle of) — in the state of not being present. The "out of office" status!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [부재중]. Three clean syllables. The ㅇ batchim in 중 is nasal and unreleased at the end.
message
메시지를 남겨 주시겠습니까?Would you like to leave a message?
💡 Memory tip: A loanword from English "message" — adapted to Korean pronunciation. Easy to remember!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [메시지]. A loanword with Korean phonetic adaptation. Each syllable is clean and distinct.
Korean business emails follow a structured format that reflects the cultural values of hierarchy, respect, and clarity. Understanding these conventions will help you communicate professionally.
-- Email Header Format: Korean business emails often begin with explicit sender/recipient identification: 수신 (Recipient): [Name/Department] 발신 (Sender): [Your Name/Department] 참조 (CC): [Additional recipients] 제목 (Subject): [Clear, concise subject] This mirrors formal memo structure and is common in corporate environments.
-- Opening Greetings: Emails typically begin with a greeting like 안녕하십니까 (formal hello) or, in less formal contexts, 안녕하세요. For someone you know, add their title: 김 부장님, 안녕하십니까? (Manager Kim, how are you?). Starting without a greeting is considered rude.
-- Closing Conventions: Almost every Korean business email ends with 감사합니다 (thank you) or 감사드립니다 (humbly thank you), regardless of content. Other common closings include 부탁드립니다 (I humbly request your help) and 확인 부탁드립니다 (please confirm). The closing shows appreciation for the recipient's time.
-- Key Differences from English Emails: 1. Longer and more formal greetings 2. More honorific language throughout 3. The main request often comes after context-setting, not at the beginning 4. 수고하셨습니다 (you've worked hard) is a common appreciation phrase, not translatable directly 5. Reply-all culture is common — keeping everyone informed is valued
-- Phone Etiquette: When answering business calls, the standard greeting is 네, [Company name] [Your name]입니다 (Yes, this is [Name] from [Company]). When the person is unavailable, say 지금 자리를 비우셨습니다 (They have stepped away from their seat) — never simply "they're not here."
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