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Lesson Transcript

Hi everybody! Jae here. Welcome to Ask a Teacher, where I’ll answer some of your most common Korean questions.
The question for this lesson is…
How do I introduce myself in Korean?
You can introduce yourself in three different ways in Korean. The most polite version ends in 입니다[imnida], the most common one ends in 예요[yeyo] or 이에요[ieyo] and the most casual version ends in 야[ya] or 이야[iya].
Let’s go through some examples so you can learn how to introduce yourself in Korean.
Let’s say you’re at a job interview. In this case, you’ll want to use the most polite version. For example, if I want to say, “My name is Jaehwi Lee,” using this version, I would say, 이재휘입니다 [Ijaehwiimnida] using 입니다 (imnida) at the end." It’s safe to use this introduction in any formal or professional setting.
If you want to be polite, but not too formal, you can use the 예요[yeyo] or 이에요[ieyo] ending. The ending depends on whether your name ends in a vowel or a consonant. Since my name is 재휘[jaehwi] , which ends in a vowel, I’ll use 예요[yeyo]. So the whole introduction would be, 재휘예요. [Jaehwiyeyo]. If your name ends in a consonant, like the common Korean female name 지현 [Jihyeon], then you would use the 이에요[ieyo] ending. Therefore, the whole introduction would be 지현이에요. [Jihyeonieyo]. using 이에요 [ieyo] at the end.
This is the most common way to introduce yourself.
The last version is really casual, so be careful when you use it. Again, the ending depends on whether your name ends in a vowel or a consonant. With my name, 재휘[jaehwi], I’ll use the 야[ya] ending. Therefore, the whole phrase would sound like, 재휘야. [jaehwiya.] For the name I mentioned before, 지현 [Jihyeon], she would use the 이야[iya] ending. So, her introduction would sound like 지현이야. [ jihyeoniya.] You can use this version only when you’re absolutely sure that person is younger than you or the same age. However, once you’re out of school, it’s better to use the more polite forms.
How was this lesson. Pretty interesting, right?
Please leave any more questions in the comments below and I’ll try to answer them!
See you next time. 다음 시간에 만나요. (Daeum-sigane mannayo.)

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