Korean for your trip

Korean travel phrases

What to say, sorted by the moment you need it. Every phrase is polite enough for a stranger and short enough to remember. Tap to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Excuse me, sorry, I don't understand

English uses “excuse me” for three jobs. Korean has a different phrase for each: calling someone, getting past, and apologising.

저기요jeogiyo · Excuse me! (to call someone)To get the attention of a waiter, a shop assistant or a stranger in the street. Literally “over there”. Not an apology.
실례합니다sillyehamnida · Excuse me. (formal)Before you interrupt or trouble someone, for example to ask a stranger a question. More formal than 저기요.
잠시만요jamsimanyo · Just a moment. / Coming through.The usual thing to say when squeezing past people on a crowded subway or bus. Also “wait a second”.
지나갈게요jinagalgeyo · I'm coming through.Said together with 잠시만요 when you need people to let you pass.
죄송합니다joesonghamnida · I'm sorry.A real apology: you bumped into someone, stepped on a foot, arrived late.
괜찮아요gwaenchanayo · It's all right. / No, thank you.Answers an apology, and also politely turns down an offer.
감사합니다gamsahamnida · Thank you.Safe everywhere, with everyone.
한국어를 잘 못해요hangugeoreul jal motaeyo · I don't speak Korean well.Say it early; people slow down and simplify.
영어 하실 수 있어요?yeongeo hasil su isseoyo? · Can you speak English?Polite way to ask before switching language.
천천히 말해 주세요cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo · Please speak slowly.When the answer came too fast.
다시 한번 말해 주세요dasi hanbeon malhae juseyo · Please say that once more.When you missed it entirely.
여기에 써 주세요yeogie sseo juseyo · Please write it here.Hand over your phone or a pen: useful for prices, addresses and station names.
사진 좀 찍어 주세요sajin jom jjigeo juseyo · Could you take a photo for me, please?Asking a passer-by to photograph you. 좀 softens the request.
사진 찍어도 돼요?sajin jjigeodo dwaeyo? · May I take a photo?In shops, museums, temples, or before photographing a person.

Asking the way

One pattern does most of the work: the place + 어디예요? “where is …?”. Point at a map and say 여기 “here” if you cannot pronounce the name.

화장실이 어디예요?hwajangsiri eodiyeyo? · Where is the toilet?The model for every “where is …?” question. Swap in another place.
지하철역이 어디예요?jihacheollyeogi eodiyeyo? · Where is the subway station?지하철역 is pronounced [지하철력].
여기가 어디예요?yeogiga eodiyeyo? · Where am I? (Where is this place?)Show a map so the person can point.
여기까지 어떻게 가요?yeogikkaji eotteoke gayo? · How do I get here?Said while pointing at a place on a map or screen.
걸어서 갈 수 있어요?georeoseo gal su isseoyo? · Can I walk there?To decide between walking and a taxi.
여기에서 멀어요?yeogieseo meoreoyo? · Is it far from here?Expect 가까워요 “it's near” or 멀어요 “it's far”.
얼마나 걸려요?eolmana geollyeoyo? · How long does it take?The answer comes in 분 (minutes) or 시간 (hours).
근처에 편의점이 있어요?geuncheoe pyeonuijeomi isseoyo? · Is there a convenience store nearby?Swap 편의점 for 은행 (bank), 약국 (pharmacy), 카페 (café).
오른쪽으로 가세요oreunjjogeuro gaseyo · Go to the right.An answer you will hear, not one you need to say.
왼쪽으로 가세요oenjjogeuro gaseyo · Go to the left.An answer you will hear.
쭉 가세요jjuk gaseyo · Go straight ahead.An answer you will hear; often with a hand pointing the way.
길을 잃었어요gireul ireosseoyo · I'm lost.Literally “I lost the way”.

Bus, subway and taxi

Showing the address on your phone and saying 여기로 가 주세요 is the surest way to tell a taxi driver where to go.

이 버스 명동에 가요?i beoseu myeongdonge gayo? · Does this bus go to Myeongdong?Ask the driver as you board. Swap in your own destination before 에.
어디에서 내려요?eodieseo naeryeoyo? · Where do I get off?Ask the driver or the person next to you.
어디에서 갈아타요?eodieseo garatayo? · Where do I change?For subway lines and buses.
다음 역이 어디예요?daeum yeogi eodiyeyo? · What is the next station?Literally “where is the next station?”.
표 한 장 주세요pyo han jang juseyo · One ticket, please.두 장 for two, 세 장 for three.
교통카드 충전해 주세요gyotongkadeu chungjeonhae juseyo · Please top up my transport card.At a convenience store counter; hand over the card and the cash.
여기로 가 주세요yeogiro ga juseyo · Please take me here.In a taxi, while showing the address on your phone.
여기서 세워 주세요yeogiseo sewo juseyo · Please stop here.To tell the taxi driver where to let you out.
공항까지 얼마예요?gonghangkkaji eolmayeyo? · How much is it to the airport?Swap 공항 for any destination; 까지 means “as far as”.
카드 돼요?kadeu dwaeyo? · Can I pay by card?Works in taxis, shops and restaurants. Nearly everywhere says yes.

Prices, shopping and bargaining

Prices are fixed in shops, department stores and convenience stores. Asking for a discount belongs in markets and at street stalls, and it works best with a smile.

이거 얼마예요?igeo eolmayeyo? · How much is this?Point and ask. 이거 is “this one”.
너무 비싸요neomu bissayo · It's too expensive.The opening move when bargaining at a market. Say it lightly.
좀 깎아 주세요jom kkakka juseyo · Could you give me a little discount?Only at markets and street stalls, never in shops with price tags.
더 싼 거 있어요?deo ssan geo isseoyo? · Do you have a cheaper one?A gentler way to bring the price down.
다른 색 있어요?dareun saek isseoyo? · Do you have another colour?For clothes, bags, cosmetics.
더 큰 사이즈 있어요?deo keun saijeu isseoyo? · Do you have a bigger size?For a smaller size, say 더 작은 사이즈.
입어 봐도 돼요?ibeo bwado dwaeyo? · May I try it on?For clothes. For shoes the verb is 신어 봐도 돼요?
그냥 볼게요geunyang bolgeyo · I'm just looking.When a shop assistant comes to help and you want to browse.
이거 주세요igeo juseyo · I'll take this one, please.Works for buying and for ordering: point and say it.
카드로 할게요kadeuro halgeyo · I'll pay by card.At the till.
현금으로 할게요hyeongeumeuro halgeyo · I'll pay in cash.Market stalls sometimes give a better price for cash.
영수증 주세요yeongsujeung juseyo · A receipt, please.You need it for a tax refund.
봉투 주세요bongtu juseyo · A bag, please.Bags are not given automatically and may cost a little.
면세 돼요?myeonse dwaeyo? · Is it tax-free? (Can I get a tax refund?)In larger shops; have your passport ready.

Eating out

You call staff over with 저기요, water and side dishes are free, and you usually pay at the counter on the way out. There is no tipping.

두 명이에요du myeongieyo · There are two of us.The answer to 몇 분이세요? “how many people?” at the door. 한 명 one, 세 명 three, 네 명 four.
메뉴판 주세요menyupan juseyo · The menu, please.Many places have it on the wall or on a tablet at the table instead.
영어 메뉴 있어요?yeongeo menyu isseoyo? · Do you have an English menu?Common in tourist areas.
뭐가 맛있어요?mwoga masisseoyo? · What's good here?Asking for a recommendation. Literally “what is tasty?”.
이거 하나 주세요igeo hana juseyo · One of these, please.Point at the menu. 두 개 for two, 세 개 for three.
안 맵게 해 주세요an maepge hae juseyo · Please make it not spicy.Worth saying if you cannot take heat; “a little spicy” in Korea is still spicy.
물 좀 주세요mul jom juseyo · Some water, please.Water is free. In many places it is self-service: look for a sign saying 물은 셀프.
포장해 주세요pojanghae juseyo · To take away, please. / Please wrap this up.For take-away orders and for leftovers.
계산해 주세요gyesanhae juseyo · The bill, please.Or simply walk to the counter with the slip from your table.
잘 먹겠습니다jal meokgesseumnida · Thank you for the meal. (before eating)Said before the first bite, to whoever is treating you or cooking. Literally “I will eat well”.
잘 먹었습니다jal meogeosseumnida · Thank you, that was delicious. (after eating)Said as you leave a restaurant. Literally “I ate well”.

At the hotel

Front desks in the big cities often speak some English; these few phrases cover the rest.

체크인하고 싶어요chekeuinhago sipeoyo · I'd like to check in.At the front desk, passport in hand.
예약했어요yeyakaesseoyo · I have a reservation.For hotels and restaurants alike. Then give your name.
짐을 맡길 수 있어요?jimeul matgil su isseoyo? · Can I leave my luggage here?Before check-in or after check-out.
와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요?waipai bimilbeonhoga mwoyeyo? · What is the Wi-Fi password?In hotels and cafés. It is often printed on the receipt.
체크아웃이 몇 시예요?chekeuausi myeot siyeyo? · What time is check-out?The answer uses native numbers for the hour: 열한 시 is eleven o'clock.

When something goes wrong

Emergency numbers in Korea: 112 for the police, 119 for an ambulance or fire. The tourist helpline 1330 answers in several languages around the clock.

도와주세요dowajuseyo · Please help me.For any trouble, big or small.
약국이 어디예요?yakgugi eodiyeyo? · Where is a pharmacy?Look for the sign 약.
병원이 어디예요?byeongwoni eodiyeyo? · Where is a hospital?병원 covers both clinics and hospitals.
여기가 아파요yeogiga apayo · It hurts here.Point to the place. Enough for a pharmacist or a doctor to start with.
지갑을 잃어버렸어요jigabeul ireobeoryeosseoyo · I've lost my wallet.At a police box, a station office or the hotel desk.
여권을 잃어버렸어요yeogwoneul ireobeoryeosseoyo · I've lost my passport.Report it to the police first, then to your embassy.
경찰을 불러 주세요gyeongchareul bulleo juseyo · Please call the police.The police number is 112.

Before you try them

Everything here ends in 요 or 니다. Those are the polite endings, right for anyone you meet on a trip.
주세요 means “please give me” or “please do … for me”. Put a thing in front of it and you can ask for almost anything: 물 주세요, 이거 주세요.
A rising tone turns a statement into a question. 카드 돼요 is “cards are fine”; 카드 돼요? is “do you take cards?”.
Prices use the Sino-Korean numbers. If the number goes by too fast, ask for it in writing: 여기에 써 주세요.

Heard or saw something that is not here? Paste it into the lookup on the Hangul chart page to take it apart.

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