전화하다
The verb 전화하다 means "to make a phone call." It combines the noun 전화 (phone/call) with 하다 (to do).
Frequent Combinations
지금 전화하다 : to call right now
나중에 전화하다 : to call later
전화를 받다 : to answer the phone (literally "receive a call")
When you state who you are calling, use the particle 한테 (to) or 에게 (to) after the person's name.
보내다
The verb 보내다 means "to send." You use it for sending physical items like packages, as well as digital items like text messages, emails, and photos.
How to Send (Method)
To specify how you are sending something, attach the particle -(으)로 (by means of) to the method.
Method · Expression · Meaning
이메일 · 이메일로 보내다 · to send by email
문자 · 문자로 보내다 · to send by text
카톡 · 카톡으로 보내다 · to send by KakaoTalk
연락하다
연락하다 means "to contact" or "to get in touch." It is a broader term than 전화하다. It can refer to calling, texting, emailing, or any other messaging method.
Useful Sentence Frames
This verb is very common in polite requests and future promises.
도착하면 연락해 주세요. (Please contact me when you arrive.)
나중에 제가 연락할게요. (I will contact you later.)
언제든지 연락해 주세요. (Please contact me anytime.)
에 vs. 한테
When you express who you are contacting, it is important to use the correct particle.
Common Mistake
In Korean, the particle 에 typically means "to" a place or time. The particle 한테 (or 에게 ) means "to" a living person.
Mistake: 친구에 전화해요.
Correction: 친구 한테 전화해요.
However, if you are contacting a company or organization (which acts as a place), you should use 에 .
회사에 연락했어요. (I contacted the company.)
Quick review
친구한테
회사에