Master Korean Waiting Lists: Name & Number Tips!

Hello! This is [Daily Korean], here to upgrade your Korean skills! 👋

Today, we are going to learn a super practical skill: Writing your Name and Phone Number.

You might be thinking, “Is that it?” But wait! Nowadays in Korea, especially in trendy areas like Seongsu-dong or Hongdae, famous cafes and restaurants have huge lines (we call this the “Waiting Culture”). To save your spot, you often need to write your name and number on a list or type it into a tablet kiosk.

If you want to taste that famous bagel or salt bread, you must master this! Let’s learn how to leave a simple note so you don’t lose your turn! 🥐☕️

📝 Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions to help you leave your contact information accurately.

1. 제 이름은 [Name]입니다.

• Pronunciation: [Je ireum-eun [Name]-imnida]
• English Meaning: My name is [Name].
• Detail: This is the standard, polite way to introduce yourself or write your name down. If you are writing a quick note, you can just write your name, but saying this sentence to the staff is very polite.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Korean has a rule called ‘Linking’ (Liason). When a final consonant is followed by a vowel, the sound carries over.
  • So, 이름은 is not pronounced [i-reum-eun] separately. It connects smoothly to sound like [i-reu-meun]. Try saying it like one long word!

2. 전화번호는 [Number]예요.

• Pronunciation: [Jeonhwabeonho-neun [Number]-yeyo]
• English Meaning: My phone number is [Number].
• Detail: In Korea, mobile numbers start with 010. When saying phone numbers, we use Sino-Korean numbers (Il, I, Sam, Sa…).
  • Example: 010-1234-5678 = Gong-il-gong, il-i-sam-sa e, o-yuk-chil-pal. (We say ‘e’ for the dash ‘-‘).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • 전화번호 (Phone number) is interesting. The ‘ㅎ(h)’ sound is often weak or silent between voiced sounds.
  • So, instead of [jeon-hwa-beon-ho], native speakers often pronounce it softer, like [jeon-wa-beo-no]. It sounds much more natural and less robotic!

3. 연락 주세요.

• Pronunciation: [Yeollak juseyo]
• English Meaning: Please contact me / Please call me.
• Detail: You can write this at the bottom of a note or say it after giving your number. It asks the other person to reach out to you when your table is ready or when a package arrives.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Important Rule! ‘연락’ is written as ‘yeon-rak’, but it is NOT pronounced that way.
  • When the patchim ‘ㄴ(n)’ meets the initial consonant ‘ㄹ(r/l)’, they both change to a ‘ㄹ(l)’ sound. This is called ‘Liquidization’.
  • So, pronounce it as [Yeollak], not [Yeon-rak]. It flows like the English word “YeLL”.

🗣️ Real-Life Dialogue

Let’s see how this works at a popular cafe with a waiting list!

(At a trendy cafe in Seoul)

Staff: 죄송하지만, 지금 자리가 없어요. 대기 명단 작성해 주세요.
(I’m sorry, but there are no seats right now. Please fill out the waiting list.)

Mark: 네, 알겠습니다. 제 이름은 마크입니다.
(Okay, I understand. My name is Mark.)

Staff: 네, 전화번호도 남겨 주세요.
(Okay, please leave your phone number too.)

Mark: 010-1234-5678예요. 자리가 나면 연락 주세요.
(It’s 010-1234-5678. Please call me when a seat opens.)

🇰🇷 Culture Tip & Trend: The “Waiting” App Revolution

Did you know? While some places still use paper and pen, many hot spots in Korea now use tablets with apps like ‘CatchTable’ (캐치테이블) or ‘Tabling’ (테이블링).

• Why is this important? You need to input your Korean phone number (starting with 010) to get a KakaoTalk message telling you to “Come in now!”
• Travel Tip: If you don’t have a Korean SIM card with a number, ask the staff: “Foreign number okay?” Some places might ask you to wait right there, or they might write your name on a paper list instead. Knowing how to write and say your name clearly is super helpful in these analog situations!

🎓 Wrap-up & Quiz

Today we learned how to leave your name and number—a survival skill for enjoying Korea’s trendy spots!

Let’s practice! (Fill in the blanks)

1. My name is Sarah. -> 제 ______ 사라입니다.
2. Please contact me. -> ______ 주세요.

(Answers: 이름은, 연락)

Start practicing now!
Try writing your name and a fake phone number using Korean numbers in the comments below! I’ll help you check it. 👇

See you in the next lesson! Annyeong! 👋