Knowing how to properly introduce colleagues is essential for smooth communication and relationship-building in a Korean workplace. This guide provides key Korean expressions and cultural context for making introductions between coworkers professionally and effectively. You’ll learn phrases for initiating introductions, describing roles, responding appropriately, and understanding the cultural nuances involved.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
This is the fundamental phrase used when introducing one person to another.
- Expression: 소개할게요 (sogaehalgeyo)
Pronunciation: so-geh-hal-geh-yo
Meaning: I will introduce (someone). (Used to initiate an introduction)
Basic Introduction Phrases
Use these phrases to start the introduction process and introduce names.
- Expression: 이쪽은 [이름] 씨입니다. (ijjogeun [ireum] ssiimnida.)
Pronunciation: ee-jjok-eun [name] sshi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is Mr./Ms. [Name]. - Expression: 제 동료 [이름] 씨를 소개합니다. (je dongnyo [ireum] ssireul sogaehamnida.)
Pronunciation: jeh dong-nyo [name] sshi-reul so-geh-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I introduce my colleague, Mr./Ms. [Name]. - Expression: 서로 인사하세요. (seoro insahaseyo.)
Pronunciation: seo-ro in-sa-ha-seh-yo.
Meaning: Please greet each other. - Expression: [이름] 씨, 이쪽은 [다른 이름] 씨입니다. ([ireum] ssi, ijjogeun [dareun ireum] ssiimnida.)
Pronunciation: [name] sshi, ee-jjok-eun [other name] sshi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Mr./Ms. [Name], this is Mr./Ms. [Other Name]. - Expression: 처음 뵙겠습니다. (cheoeum boepgetseumnida.)
Pronunciation: cheo-eum bwep-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Nice to meet you for the first time. (Formal) - Expression: 만나서 반갑습니다. (mannaseo bangapseumnida.)
Pronunciation: man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Nice to meet you. (Formal) - Expression: 말씀 많이 들었습니다. (malsseum mani deureotseumnida.)
Pronunciation: mal-sseum ma-ni deu-reot-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I’ve heard a lot about you. - Expression: 이분은 저희 팀 [직책] [이름] 씨입니다. (ibuneun jeohui tim [jikchaek] [ireum] ssiimnida.)
Pronunciation: ee-bun-eun jeo-hui tim [job title] [name] sshi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This person is [Job Title] [Name] from our team. - Expression: 새로 오신 [이름] 씨입니다. (saero osin [ireum] ssiimnida.)
Pronunciation: seh-ro oh-shin [name] sshi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is Mr./Ms. [Name], who recently joined. - Expression: 제 옆자리 동료예요. (je yeopjari dongnyoyeyo.)
Pronunciation: jeh yeop-ja-ri dong-nyo-yeh-yo.
Meaning: This is the colleague who sits next to me. - Expression: 같이 일하게 된 [이름] 씨입니다. (gachi ilhage doen [ireum] ssiimnida.)
Pronunciation: ga-chi il-ha-geh dwen [name] sshi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is Mr./Ms. [Name], whom we will be working with. - Expression: 잘 부탁드립니다. (jal butakdeurimnida.)
Pronunciation: jal bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da.
Meaning: Please take good care of me / I look forward to working with you.
Describing Roles and Departments
Provide context by mentioning the colleague’s department or role.
- Expression: [부서명]에서 근무하고 있습니다. ([buseomyeong]-eseo geunmuhago itseumnida.)
Pronunciation: [department name]-eh-seo geun-mu-ha-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) works in the [Department Name] department. - Expression: 저희 팀 팀장님이십니다. (jeohui tim timjangnimisimnida.)
Pronunciation: jeo-hui tim tim-jang-nim-ee-shim-ni-da.
Meaning: This is our team leader. - Expression: 마케팅팀 소속입니다. (marketingtim sosogimnida.)
Pronunciation: ma-keh-ting-tim so-sok-im-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) belongs to the Marketing team. - Expression: 개발팀에서 일해요. (gaebaltim-eseo ilhaeyo.)
Pronunciation: geh-bal-tim-eh-seo il-heh-yo.
Meaning: (He/She) works in the Development team. - Expression: 이 프로젝트 담당자입니다. (i peurojekteu damdangjaimnida.)
Pronunciation: ee peu-ro-jek-teu dam-dang-ja-im-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) is in charge of this project. - Expression: 저와 같은 팀원입니다. (jeowa gateun timwonimnida.)
Pronunciation: jeo-wa ga-teun tim-won-im-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) is a member of the same team as me. - Expression: 영업부에서 오셨어요. (yeongeopbu-eseo osyeosseoyo.)
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bu-eh-seo oh-shyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: (He/She) came from the Sales department. - Expression: 인사과에서 근무합니다. (insagwa-eseo geunmuhamnida.)
Pronunciation: in-sa-gwa-eh-seo geun-mu-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) works in Human Resources. - Expression: 회계팀의 [이름] 씨입니다. (hoegyetim-ui [ireum] ssiimnida.)
Pronunciation: hwe-geh-tim-eui [name] sshi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is Mr./Ms. [Name] from the Accounting team. - Expression: 디자인을 담당하고 있습니다. (dijaineul damdanghago itseumnida.)
Pronunciation: di-ja-in-eul dam-dang-ha-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) is in charge of design. - Expression: 입사 동기입니다. (ipsa donggiimnida.)
Pronunciation: ip-sa dong-gi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: (He/She) joined the company at the same time as me. - Expression: 제 사수입니다. (je sasuimnida.)
Pronunciation: jeh sa-su-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is my senior/mentor (who trains me).
Responding to Introductions
These are common responses used by the people being introduced or meeting someone new.
- Expression: 네, 반갑습니다. [이름]입니다. (ne, bangapseumnida. [ireum]imnida.)
Pronunciation: neh, ban-gap-seum-ni-da. [name]-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, nice to meet you. I am [Name]. - Expression: 안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다. (annyeonghaseyo, cheoeum boepgetseumnida.)
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-seh-yo, cheo-eum bwep-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Hello, nice to meet you for the first time. - Expression: 만나 뵙게 되어 영광입니다. (manna boepge doeeo yeonggwangimnida.)
Pronunciation: man-na bwep-geh dwe-eo yeong-gwang-im-ni-da.
Meaning: It’s an honor to meet you. (Very formal) - Expression: 앞으로 잘 부탁드립니다. (apeuro jal butakdeurimnida.)
Pronunciation: a-peu-ro jal bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da.
Meaning: I look forward to working well with you in the future. - Expression: 저도 만나서 반갑습니다. (jeodo mannaseo bangapseumnida.)
Pronunciation: jeo-do man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: It’s nice to meet you too. - Expression: [소개자 이름] 씨한테 말씀 많이 들었어요. ([sogaeja ireum] ssihante malsseum mani deureosseoyo.)
Pronunciation: [introducer’s name] sshi-han-teh mal-sseum ma-ni deu-reo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’ve heard a lot about you from Mr./Ms. [Introducer’s Name]. - Expression: 이렇게 뵙게 되어 기쁩니다. (ireoke boepge doeeo gippeumnida.)
Pronunciation: ee-reo-keh bwep-geh dwe-eo gi-bbeum-ni-da.
Meaning: I am happy to meet you like this. - Expression: 궁금한 점이 있으면 언제든지 물어보세요. (gunggeumhan jeomi isseumyeon eonjedeunji mureoboseyo.)
Pronunciation: gung-geum-han jeom-ee it-seu-myeon eon-jeh-deun-ji mu-reo-bo-seh-yo.
Meaning: If you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime. (Often said to a new colleague) - Expression: 네, 감사합니다. (ne, gamsahamnida.)
Pronunciation: neh, gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, thank you. - Expression: 좋은 말씀 감사합니다. (joeun malsseum gamsahamnida.)
Pronunciation: jo-eun mal-sseum gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for the kind words. - Expression: 다음에 또 뵙겠습니다. (daeume tto boepgetseumnida.)
Pronunciation: da-eum-eh tto bwep-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I’ll see you again next time. - Expression: 명함 있으신가요? (myeongham isseusingayo?)
Pronunciation: myeong-ham it-seu-shin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Do you have a business card?
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding workplace etiquette is crucial when making introductions in Korea.
- Hierarchy Matters: Always be mindful of seniority (age, position, length of service). Introduce the junior person to the senior person first. Use appropriate honorifics and formal language (존댓말 – jondaetmal).
- Titles are Key: Use job titles (like 팀장님 – Timjangnim, 과장님 – Gwajangnim) rather than just names, especially when addressing someone senior or during formal introductions. Adding ‘님’ (nim) after the title shows respect.
- Business Cards (명함 – Myeongham): Exchanging business cards is very common during initial introductions. Present and receive cards with two hands or with the right hand supported by the left at the wrist/elbow. Take a moment to read the card carefully.
- Bowing: A slight bow often accompanies introductions and greetings like “처음 뵙겠습니다” (cheoeum boepgetseumnida) and “잘 부탁드립니다” (jal butakdeurimnida). The depth of the bow can indicate the level of respect or formality.
- “잘 부탁드립니다” (Jal Butakdeurimnida): This phrase is essential. It conveys a sense of goodwill, humility, and the expectation of a positive working relationship. It’s used by all parties during an introduction.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun introduces his new team member, Sora, to a colleague from another department, Jihoon, near the coffee machine.
Roles:
* A: Minjun (Introducer)
* B: Jihoon (Existing Colleague)
* C: Sora (New Colleague – implied speaker in responses)
- Expression: A: 지훈 씨, 안녕하세요. 잠깐 소개할 분이 있어요.
Pronunciation: A: ji-hun sshi, an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. jam-kkan so-geh-hal bun-i i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: A: Jihoon, hello. There’s someone I’d like to introduce briefly. - Expression: B: 아, 민준 씨. 안녕하세요. 네, 그러세요.
Pronunciation: B: ah, min-jun sshi. an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. neh, geu-reo-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Ah, Minjun. Hello. Yes, please go ahead. - Expression: A: 이쪽은 저희 팀에 새로 오신 김소라 씨입니다. 소라 씨, 이분은 영업팀의 박지훈 씨예요.
Pronunciation: A: ee-jjok-eun jeo-hui tim-eh seh-ro oh-shin gim-so-ra sshi-im-ni-da. so-ra sshi, ee-bun-eun yeong-eop-tim-eui bak-ji-hun sshi-yeh-yo.
Meaning: A: This is Ms. Sora Kim, who recently joined our team. Sora, this is Mr. Jihoon Park from the Sales team. - Expression: C: 안녕하세요, 김소라입니다. 처음 뵙겠습니다. 잘 부탁드립니다.
Pronunciation: C: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, gim-so-ra-im-ni-da. cheo-eum bwep-get-seum-ni-da. jal bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da.
Meaning: C: Hello, I’m Sora Kim. Nice to meet you for the first time. I look forward to working with you. - Expression: B: 네, 반갑습니다. 박지훈입니다. 민준 씨한테 말씀 들었어요. 환영합니다.
Pronunciation: B: neh, ban-gap-seum-ni-da. bak-ji-hun-im-ni-da. min-jun sshi-han-teh mal-sseum deu-reo-sseo-yo. hwan-yeong-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Jihoon Park. I heard about you from Minjun. Welcome. - Expression: C: 감사합니다. 앞으로 많이 도와주세요.
Pronunciation: C: gam-sa-ham-ni-da. a-peu-ro ma-ni do-wa-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: C: Thank you. Please help me out a lot in the future. - Expression: B: 그럼요. 궁금한 거 있으면 언제든 저나 민준 씨에게 물어보세요.
Pronunciation: B: geu-reom-yo. gung-geum-han geo it-seu-myeon eon-je-deun jeo-na min-jun sshi-eh-ge mul-eo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Of course. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or Minjun anytime.
Practice Tips
Mastering workplace introductions takes practice! Try role-playing with a friend or language partner~ Imagine introducing a new colleague or being introduced yourself. Pay close attention to using the correct titles and formal language (존댓말). Listen to how native speakers introduce each other in K-dramas set in offices. Don’t forget “잘 부탁드립니다!” – it’s a key phrase for building good relationships! Keep practicing, and you’ll soon feel comfortable making introductions in any Korean work setting! 파이팅! (Fighting!)
