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Lesson 2

Self Introduction

Introduce your name, nationality, and role using polite speech.

Self-introduction in Korean follows a predictable structure: name, nationality, occupation, and optionally a closing phrase. The full pattern is 안녕하세요. 저는 [name]이에요/예요. [nationality] 사람이에요. [job]이에요. 잘 부탁드립니다. The choice of 이에요 vs 예요 depends on whether the preceding word ends in a consonant or vowel — 이에요 after consonants (학생이에요), 예요 after vowels (의사예요).

잘 부탁드립니다 is a closing phrase with no clean English equivalent. Literally 'please take care of me', it functions in Japanese-influenced Korean business culture similar to よろしくお願いします. It is appropriate in any first-meeting context — at work, in a class, when meeting your partner's family. For English speakers it can feel oddly humble, but it is the expected formal closing for Korean self-introductions, and skipping it can come across as abrupt.

은/는 (Topic Marker)

Use 은/는 after a noun to mark the topic. Use 은 after a consonant, 는 after a vowel.

저는 학생입니다.jeoneun haksaengimnidaI am a student.
이름은 수진이에요.ireumeun sujinieyoThe name is Sujin.

이/가 (Subject Marker)

Use 이/가 to mark the subject. 이 follows consonants, 가 follows vowels.

이름이 지수예요.ireumi jisuyeyoThe name is Jisu.
국적이 한국이에요.gukjeogi hangugieyoThe nationality is Korean.
이름ireumname
Examples제 이름은 제니예요.je ireumeun jeniyeyoMy name is Jenny.
국적gukjeoknationality
Examples국적은 한국이에요.gukjeogeun hangugieyoMy nationality is Korean.
한국 사람hanguk saramKorean person
Examples저는 한국 사람입니다.jeoneun hanguk saramimnidaI am Korean.
일본 사람ilbon saramJapanese person
Examples저는 일본 사람이에요.jeoneun ilbon saramieyoI am Japanese.
학생haksaengstudent
Examples저는 학생입니다.jeoneun haksaengimnidaI am a student.
회사원hoesawonoffice worker
Examples저는 회사원이에요.jeoneun hoesawon-ieyoI am an office worker.