Korean phrases for travel
You can get around Korea with surprisingly few phrases, as long as they are polite ones. Every phrase here is given the way a traveller should say it to a stranger.
Most travel Korean is one pattern with the noun swapped. [place] 어디예요? asks where something is, as in 화장실 어디예요? (hwajangsil eodiyeyo?). [thing] 주세요 asks for something — 주세요 (juseyo). 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) works for anything you can point at. Learn those three and you have covered half your trip.
Keep everything in the -요 form. A stranger in a subway station or a market is exactly the person you should be polite to, and the casual forms you hear in dramas (도와줘, 어디야?) sound rude from a stranger. The good news is that polite Korean is also the version people expect from learners, so they will understand you faster.
In Seoul, younger people, subway staff and most hotels can manage some English, and street signs and subway stations are in English too. It is still courteous to ask first: 영어 할 줄 아세요? (yeongeo hal jul aseyo?). If you do not catch the answer, 이해 못 했어 (ihae mot haesseo) plus 천천히 말해 주세요 (“please speak slowly”) gets you a second, slower try.
Three numbers worth saving: 112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, and 1330, the Korea Travel Hotline, which answers in English around the clock and can interpret for you on the phone with a driver or a shop.
The 11 phrases on this page
Hear it in a real conversation
Lost near a subway station. Press play on any line to hear it.
- A 저기요, 실례합니다. 길을 잃었어요.jeogiyo, sillyehamnida. gireul ireosseoyo.Excuse me, sorry to bother you. I'm lost.
- B 어디 가세요?eodi gaseyo?Where are you going?
- A 명동역이요. 여기서 멀어요?myeongdongyeogiyo. yeogiseo meoreoyo?Myeongdong Station. Is it far from here?
- B 아니요, 저 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가세요.aniyo, jeo sageorieseo oreunjjogeuro gaseyo.No, turn right at that intersection.
- A 죄송한데, 천천히 한 번만 더 말해 주세요.joesonghande, cheoncheonhi han beonman deo malhae juseyo.Sorry — could you say that once more, slowly?
- B 사거리에서, 오른쪽이요.sageorieseo, oreunjjogiyo.At the intersection — right.
- A 아, 감사합니다!a, gamsahamnida!Ah, thank you!
How to say “Where is the bathroom?” in Korean
화장실 어디예요?
hwajangsil eodiyeyo?
Literally: Bathroom, where is it?
The one sentence worth memorising before you land. Korean puts the thing first and the question word after, which is the reverse of English.
Polite form
- 화장실이 어디 있습니까?hwajangsiri eodi isseumnikka?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 편의점 어디예요?pyeonuijeom eodiyeyo?= Where is the convenience store?Swap the noun and the sentence still works - 역 (station), 약국 (pharmacy), 지하철 (subway).
- 여기서 멀어요?yeogiseo meoreoyo?= Is it far from here?The natural follow-up question.
In a sentence
- 저기요, 화장실 어디예요?jeogiyo, hwajangsil eodiyeyo?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
- 지하철역 어디예요?jihacheollyeok eodiyeyo?Where is the subway station?
How people answer
- 저쪽에 있어요.jeojjoge isseoyo.= It's over there.Usually with a point of the hand.
How to say “How much is it?” in Korean
얼마예요?
eolmayeyo?
Literally: How much is it?
The one sentence that makes a market trip possible. Point at the thing and say it.
Polite form
- 얼마입니까?eolmaimnikka?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 이거 얼마예요?igeo eolmayeyo?= How much is this?Add 이거 (this) and point.
- 너무 비싸요neomu bissayo= That is too expensiveThe follow-up line at a traditional market.
- 깎아 주세요kkakka juseyo= Please give me a discountWorks at markets, not at shops with price tags.
In a sentence
- 이거 얼마예요?igeo eolmayeyo?How much is this?
- 전부 얼마예요?jeonbu eolmayeyo?How much for everything?
How people answer
- 만 원이에요.man wonieyo.= It's 10,000 won.Prices use the Sino-Korean numbers: 만 = ten thousand.
How to say “Do you speak English?” in Korean
영어 할 줄 아세요?
yeongeo hal jul aseyo?
Literally: Do you know how to do English?
Korean expresses ability as knowing how - 할 줄 알다, literally to know the way of doing. Asking politely matters here, so the polite form is given as the main one.
Polite form
- 영어 하실 수 있으세요?yeongeo hasil su isseuseyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 한국말 조금 해요hangungmal jogeum haeyo= I speak a little KoreanSay this first and watch how much more patient people become.
- 영어 되세요?yeongeo doeseyo?= English, possible?Shorter and very common in shops, though slightly blunt.
In a sentence
- 죄송한데, 영어 할 줄 아세요?joesonghande, yeongeo hal jul aseyo?Sorry, do you speak English?
- 한국말 조금밖에 못 해요.hangungmal jogeumbakke mot haeyo.I only speak a little Korean.
How people answer
- 네, 조금요.ne, jogeumyo.= Yes, a little.
- 아니요, 잘 못해요.aniyo, jal motaeyo.= No, not well.잘 못해요 = I can't do it well.
How to say “I do not understand” in Korean
이해 못 했어
ihae mot haesseo
Literally: I failed to understand.
The most valuable sentence for a learner in Korea. Saying it clearly gets people to slow down instead of switching to English.
Polite form
- 이해 못 했어요ihae mot haesseoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 잘 못 알아들었어요jal mot aradeureosseoyo= I did not catch thatAbout hearing rather than meaning. Very natural.
- 천천히 말해 주세요cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo= Please speak slowlyThe follow-up. Memorise it together with the line above.
- 한 번만 더 말해 주세요han beonman deo malhae juseyo= Please say it one more timeAsking for a repeat.
In a sentence
- 죄송해요, 이해 못 했어요.joesonghaeyo, ihae mot haesseoyo.Sorry, I did not understand.
- 조금 천천히 말해 주세요.jogeum cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.Please speak a little more slowly.
How people answer
- 다시 설명해 줄게.dasi seolmyeonghae julge.= I'll explain it again.
How to say “What does it mean?” in Korean
무슨 뜻이야?
museun tteusiya?
Literally: What meaning is it?
The sentence that makes every other sentence learnable. Point at the word and say it.
Polite form
- 무슨 뜻이에요?museun tteusieyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 이거 뭐예요?igeo mwoyeyo?= What is this?For objects and dishes rather than words.
- 한국어로 뭐예요?hangugeoro mwoyeyo?= What is it in Korean?Point at something and ask. This is how you build vocabulary fastest.
- 어떻게 써요?eotteoke sseoyo?= How do you write it?Ask this next and you get the spelling too.
In a sentence
- 이 단어 무슨 뜻이에요?i daneo museun tteusieyo?What does this word mean?
- 이거 한국어로 뭐예요?igeo hangugeoro mwoyeyo?What is this called in Korean?
How to say “Wait a second” in Korean
잠깐만
jamkkanman
Literally: Just a moment.
Stopping someone mid-action, or buying yourself a second to think.
Polite form
- 잠깐만요jamkkanmanyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 잠시만요jamsimanyo= One moment pleaseSlightly more formal. Phone calls, service desks.
- 기다려gidaryeo= WaitA command. Only to friends, pets or children.
In a sentence
- 잠깐만, 나 아직 준비 안 됐어.jamkkanman, na ajik junbi an dwaesseo.Wait a second, I am not ready yet.
- 잠시만요, 확인해 볼게요.jamsimanyo, hwaginhae bolgeyo.One moment, let me check.
How people answer
- 응, 천천히 해.eung, cheoncheonhi hae.= Sure, take your time.천천히 = slowly.
How to say “What time is it?” in Korean
몇 시야?
myeot siya?
Literally: What hour is it?
Korean counts hours with native Korean numbers and minutes with Sino-Korean ones. That split catches every learner out, so the variants below are worth memorising.
Polite form
- 몇 시예요?myeot siyeyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 세 시예요se siyeyo= It is three o'clockHours use native numbers - 한, 두, 세, 네.
- 세 시 삼십 분이에요se si samsip bunieyo= It is three thirtyMinutes switch to Sino-Korean numbers - 삼십 for thirty. Both in one sentence.
- 몇 시에 만나?myeot sie manna?= What time shall we meet?Add 에 to make it at what time.
In a sentence
- 지금 몇 시예요?jigeum myeot siyeyo?What time is it now?
- 일곱 시에 봐.ilgop sie bwa.See you at seven.
How people answer
- 세 시 반이야.se si baniya.= It's half past three.Hours use native numbers (세), and 반 means half.
How to say “I'm lost” in Korean
길을 잃었어요
gireul ireosseoyo
Literally: I have lost the road.
Korean says you lost the road, not that you are lost. Worth memorising as a whole sentence, along with the follow-up below.
Polite form
- 길을 잃었습니다gireul ireosseumnidaUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 여기가 어디예요?yeogiga eodiyeyo?= Where am I?Often the more practical question. Hold up your phone map with it.
- 도와주세요dowajuseyo= Please help meThe line that gets someone to stop and help.
In a sentence
- 죄송한데, 길을 잃었어요.joesonghande, gireul ireosseoyo.Sorry, I'm lost.
- 여기가 어디예요? 지도 좀 봐 주세요.yeogiga eodiyeyo? jido jom bwa juseyo.Where is this? Could you look at my map.
How people answer
- 어디 가세요?eodi gaseyo?= Where are you going?What a helpful stranger will usually ask first.
How to say “Help me” in Korean
도와줘
dowajwo
Literally: Help me.
Everyday asking for a hand. For an actual emergency, use the variant below - it is the word that makes people come running.
Polite form
- 도와주세요dowajuseyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 살려 주세요sallyeo juseyo= Save me (emergency)Only for real danger. This is the scream, not the favour.
- 좀 도와주실 수 있어요?jom dowajusil su isseoyo?= Could you help me?Polite request to a stranger.
In a sentence
- 이것 좀 도와줘.igeot jom dowajwo.Help me with this.
- 도와주세요! 길을 잃었어요.dowajuseyo! gireul ireosseoyo.Please help! I am lost.
How people answer
- 뭐 도와줄까?mwo dowajulkka?= What can I do?
How to say “May I try?” in Korean
해 봐도 돼요?
hae bwado dwaeyo?
Literally: Is it alright if I try doing it?
The one pattern that turns any verb into a polite request. It is built from two pieces you will meet everywhere: -아/어 보다 (try doing) and -아/어도 되다 (it is allowed). Together they ask permission without sounding stiff — which is why Koreans use it far more than the textbook -해도 됩니까.
Where you hear it
My Mister (나의 아저씨) · tvN D ENT
한 번 안아 봐도 돼요?
Can I hug you once?
She adds 한 번 — once, just this once. That little word is what makes the request easy to say yes to.
Polite form
- 해 봐도 돼요?hae bwado dwaeyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 먹어 봐도 돼요?meogeo bwado dwaeyo?= May I taste it?The stem changes, the ending does not. 먹다 → 먹어 봐도 돼요?
- 써 봐도 돼?sseo bwado dwae?= Can I try using it?Casual. Drop the 요 with friends and people younger than you.
- 여기 앉아도 돼요?yeogi anjado dwaeyo?= May I sit here?Without 보다 it is plain permission — no sense of trying it out.
In a sentence
- 사진 찍어 봐도 돼요?sajin jjigeo bwado dwaeyo?May I take a photo?
- 이거 입어 봐도 돼요?igeo ibeo bwado dwaeyo?Can I try this on?
- 한 번 들어 봐도 돼?han beon deureo bwado dwae?Can I have a listen?
How people answer
- 네, 해 보세요.ne, hae boseyo.= Sure, go ahead.
How to say “I could use one” in Korean
하나 더 사야겠다
hana deo sayagetda
Literally: I should buy one more.
English softens a want into I could use. Korean has no matching softener, so it goes the other way and states the decision: I should buy one. The ending 야겠다 is what carries it, and it works on any verb.
Polite form
- 하나 더 사야겠어요hana deo sayagesseoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 좀 쉬어야겠다jom swieoyagetda= I could use a breakSame ending on 쉬다 (rest). This is how you say it when it is not about buying anything.
- 커피 한 잔 해야겠다keopi han jan haeyagetda= I could use a coffee한 잔 하다 is the set phrase for having a drink of something.
In a sentence
- 양말 하나 더 사야겠다.yangmal hana deo sayagetda.I could use another pair of socks.
- 오늘은 좀 쉬어야겠어요.oneureun jom swieoyagesseoyo.I could use a rest today.
Mistakes learners make
- Dropping the ending to sound simple화장실 어디? is how you would ask a friend. To a stranger it sounds blunt. 화장실 어디예요? is only two syllables longer.
- Reading romanization like Englisheo is one vowel, not “e-o”; eu is one vowel too. Hearing the line once beats reading it ten times — every phrase below has a play button.
- Using 도와줘 in an emergencyIt works, but 도와주세요 is what people expect from an adult stranger, and it carries further when shouted. Pair it with 112 or 119.
Practise these. Every phrase here is in the phrase quiz — five rounds, no sign-up. Not reading Hangul yet? Start with the alphabet in 20 minutes, and see the speech levels guide for when to use the polite forms.