How to write a letter in Korean style
Maybe someday you will get to write a letter to a Korean friend, a favorite KPOP Star or a business partner. Of course, you can write a just simple letter, but using the Korean style could be greatly appreciated by your Korean contacts. Then, I propose to show you the basics of writing in Korean. There may be different type of development in a letter, but the introduction and the conclusion are, for the most part, almost the same. So Let’s try to learn this together..
| Parts | Letter | 편지 |
| To Who : Adjective + Name + Adverbial Case Postposition | To 주호 who i love. | 사랑하는 주호에게 |
| The Greeting : Greeting+Self-introduction | Hello, I am Paul. | 안녕! 나는 Paul이라고 해. |
| The Body : Main text | I will go to Korea soon. | 나는 곧 한국에 갈거야. |
| The Closing : Complimentary close | Then, See you later. | 그럼 다음에 또 보자. |
| From Who : Name + Adverbial Case Postposition | Paul sent (it) | Paul 보냄 |
[Essential schema of Korean letter]
(1) Adjectives in front of the name
- 사랑하는 + ‘이름’ (‘name ‘ + who i love)
- 좋아하는 + ‘이름’ (‘name ‘ + who i like)
- 존경하는 + ‘이름’ (‘name ‘ + who i respect)
(2) Adverbial Case Postposition after the name at the beginning
- ‘이름’ + 님께 (to ‘name ‘ + sir.)
- ‘이름’ + 님(‘name ‘ + sir)
- ‘이름’ + 에게(to ‘name ‘)
- ‘이름’ + 야(Hey ‘name ‘)
- ‘이름’ (‘name ‘)
(3) Greeting
- 안녕하십니까 (Hello : Formal, Pollite)
- 안녕하세요 (Hello : Informal, Pollite)
- 안녕 (Hello : Informal, Impolite)
- 잘 지내니?(How are you? : Informal, Impolite)
- 오랜만이에요. (long time no see)
(4) Self-introduction
- 저는 ‘이름’ 입니다. (I am ‘name’ : Formal, Pollite)
- 나 ‘이름'(이)야.(I am ‘name’ : Informal, Informal)
- 저는 이름 (이)라고 해요. (My name is ‘name’ : Informal, Pollite)
- 내 이름은 ‘이름'(이)야. (My name is ‘name’ : Informal, Impolite)
(5) Complimentary close
- 잘 지내!(Take care!)
- 연락해!(Keep in touch)
- 그럼 다음에 또 보자.(See you next time, Catch you later.)
- 그럼 이만.(I’m out)
- 결혼을 축하합니다.(Congratulations on your marriage)
- 사랑합니다.(I love you)
- 건강하게 오래오래 사세요.(Stay healthy long enough)
- 올 한 해도 즐겁게 보내자.(Let’s have a good time this year as well( as last year))
- 늘 건강하세요.(Always be healthy)
- 삼가 고인의 명복을 빕니다.(May his/her soul rest in peace.)
- 나 대신 A에게 안부 전해줘.(Say hello to A for me)
(6) Adverbial Case Postposition after the name at the beginning
- ‘이름’+이(가) (‘name’ + (did it) )
- ‘이름’+올림 (‘name’ + presented (it to you))
- ‘이름’+드림 (‘name’ + give (it to you))
- ‘이름’+보냄 (‘name’ + sent (it to you))
- ‘이름’+씀 (‘name’ + wrote (it to you))
Letter Greeting Examples
| Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3 |
| 사랑하는 주호야 | 좋아하는 주호에게 | 존경하는 주호님께 |
| 잘 지내니? 나 Sarah야 | 안녕? 내 이름은 Sarah라고 해 | 안녕하십니까. 저는 Sarah입니다. |
| …나는 곧 한국에 갈거야. | …할 말이 없네. | …아직도 많이 아프신가요. |
| 연락해! | 그럼 이만 | 늘 건강하세요. |
| Sarah가. | Sarah 보냄. | Sarah 올림. |
[template id=”978″]