Getting Around: Transportation Phrases for Subway, Bus, Taxi, and Walking

How to Use Transportation Phrases Efficiently

When you’re moving around Korea, you usually need two kinds of language: (1) must-say phrases to get what you need (destination, time, platform/exit, fare/payment), and (2) must-understand phrases that staff or drivers ask you. This chapter is organized by transport mode so you can quickly grab the right sentence frame.

Core Sentence Frames (Reusable Everywhere)

• Destination: ___(으)로 가요? (Does this go to ___?) / ___에 가고 싶어요. (I want to go to ___.)
• Time: 지금 출발해요? (Does it leave now?) / 몇 시에 도착해요? (What time does it arrive?)
• Where to go (platform/stop/exit): 어디로 가야 해요? (Where should I go?) / 어느 쪽이에요? (Which way is it?)
• Fare/payment: 얼마예요? (How much is it?) / 카드 돼요? (Can I pay by card?)

Directional Vocabulary + Sentence Frames

These are the building blocks for subway exits, bus stops, and walking directions. Learn them as pairs: a word + a frame you can plug into.

Subway (지하철): Stations, Platforms, Transfers, Exits

Must-say (What you need to say)

• Destination / line: ___역에 가려면 몇 호선 타요? (To go to ___ Station, which line do I take?)
• Direction (bound for): ___ 방면이에요? (Is this toward ___?)
• Platform: ___행은 몇 번 승강장이에요? (What platform is the train to ___?)
• Transfer: 어디에서 환승해요? (Where do I transfer?) / 환승이 몇 번이에요? (How many transfers?)
• Exit number: ___에 가려면 몇 번 출구로 나가요? (To go to ___, which exit number should I use?)
• Time / last train: 막차가 몇 시예요? (What time is the last train?)
• Fare/payment: 교통카드 어디서 사요? (Where do I buy a transit card?) / 충전은 어디서 해요? (Where do I top up?)

Must-understand (What staff may ask you)

• 어디까지 가세요? (How far are you going?/Where are you going to?)
• 몇 호선 타세요? (Which line are you taking?)
• 환승하세요? (Are you transferring?)
• 출구는 몇 번이에요? (Which exit number?)
• 교통카드 있어요? (Do you have a transit card?)

Step-by-step: Getting from station entrance to the right exit

1. Confirm the line and direction: ask ___ 방면이에요? and look for the terminal station name on signs.
2. Find the platform (승강장): ask 몇 번 승강장이에요? if you’re unsure.
3. Plan transfers: ask 어디에서 환승해요? and follow 환승 signs.
4. Choose the correct exit: ask 몇 번 출구로 나가요? and follow n번 출구 signs.

Listening-style: Common announcements & signage keywords

• 이번 역은 ___입니다. (This station is ___.)
• 다음 역은 ___입니다. (The next station is ___.)
• 환승역입니다. (This is a transfer station.)
• 내리실 문은 오른쪽(왼쪽)입니다. (Doors will open on the right/left.)
• 막차 (last train), 첫차 (first train), 운행 종료 (service ended)
• 입구 (entrance), 출구 (exit), 승강장 (platform), 개찰구 (fare gate)

Bus (버스): Stops, Routes, Paying, Getting Off

Must-say

• Does this bus go to…? 이 버스 ___에 가요? (Does this bus go to ___?)
• Which bus number? ___에 가려면 몇 번 버스 타요? (To go to ___, which bus number do I take?)
• Where is the stop? 버스 정류장이 어디예요? (Where is the bus stop?)
• When does it come? 버스 언제 와요? (When does the bus come?)
• Next stop / getting off: 다음 정류장에서 내릴게요. (I’ll get off at the next stop.) / 여기서 내려요? (Do I get off here?)
• Fare/payment: 교통카드로 돼요? (Can I use a transit card?) / 현금 돼요? (Is cash okay?)

Must-understand

• 어디까지 가세요? (Where are you going to?)
• 이 버스 맞아요? (Is this the right bus?)
• 내리실 분 계세요? (Anyone getting off?)
• 교통카드 찍어 주세요. (Please tap your transit card.)

Listening-style: Bus announcements & signage keywords

• 다음 정류장은 ___입니다. (Next stop is ___.)
• 이번 정류장은 ___입니다. (This stop is ___.)
• 하차 (getting off), 승차 (boarding)
• 정류장 (bus stop), 노선 (route), 종점 (terminal)

Taxi (택시): Destination, Meter, Detours, Receipt

Must-say

• Give destination clearly: ___(으)로 가 주세요. (Please go to ___.)
• Confirm the destination: ___ 맞아요? (Is it ___?) / 여기 맞죠? (This is the right place, right?)
• Ask for fastest/normal route: 가장 빠른 길로 가 주세요. (Please take the fastest route.)
• Refuse detours / keep it direct: 돌아가지 말고 바로 가 주세요. (Don’t go around; please go directly.)
• Request the meter: 미터기 켜 주세요. (Please turn on the meter.)
• Payment: 카드로 계산할게요. (I’ll pay by card.) / 현금으로 계산할게요. (I’ll pay cash.)
• Receipt: 영수증 주세요. (Please give me a receipt.)
• Stop here / drop-off: 여기서 세워 주세요. (Please stop here.)

Must-understand

• 어디로 가세요? (Where are you going?)
• 큰길로 갈까요, 안쪽으로 갈까요? (Main road or inside streets?)
• 고속도로(톨게이트) 타도 돼요? (Is it okay to take the highway/toll gate?)
• 카드 돼요. / 카드 안 돼요. (Card is okay / not okay.)

Step-by-step: A safe, clear taxi interaction

1. Before you get in: have the destination name ready (place name + nearest station/landmark if possible).
2. As you sit down: say ___(으)로 가 주세요.
3. If you worry about route: add 가장 빠른 길로 가 주세요. or 바로 가 주세요.
4. If the meter is not on: say 미터기 켜 주세요.
5. At arrival: say 영수증 주세요. if needed, then confirm payment: 카드로 계산할게요.

Walking Directions (도보): Finding Places and Fixing Mistakes

Must-say

• Where is…? ___ 어디예요? (Where is ___?)
• How do I get there? ___에 어떻게 가요? (How do I get to ___?)
• Is it far? 멀어요? (Is it far?) / 걸어서 몇 분이에요? (How many minutes on foot?)
• Confirm direction: 이쪽 맞아요? (Is this way correct?)
• Correcting after a wrong turn: 제가 길을 잘못 들었어요. (I took the wrong way.) / 어디서 돌아가야 해요? (Where should I turn back?)

Must-understand

• 어디에서 오셨어요? (Where are you coming from?)
• 지금 어디쯤이에요? (About where are you now?)
• 지하철역 몇 번 출구예요? (Which subway exit number is it?)

Mini-frames for directions (plug-and-play)

• 쭉 가다가 ___에서 왼쪽(오른쪽)으로 도세요. (Go straight, then turn left/right at ___.)
• ___ 지나서 바로 오른쪽이에요. (After passing ___, it’s immediately on the right.)
• ___ 앞이에요. (It’s in front of ___.) / ___ 옆이에요. (It’s next to ___.)
• 횡단보도에서 길을 건너세요. (Cross at the crosswalk.)

Scenario Dialogues (Practice)

1) Finding the right subway exit

Traveler: 죄송한데요, ___에 가려면 몇 번 출구로 나가요?

Staff: n번 출구로 나가세요.

Traveler: 환승해야 해요?

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Staff: 아니요, 여기서 내리시면 돼요. (No, you can get off here.)

Traveler: 감사합니다.

2) Asking if a bus goes to a place

Traveler: 기사님, 이 버스 ___에 가요?

Driver: 네, 가요. (Yes, it does.)

Traveler: 몇 정거장 남았어요? (How many stops are left?)

Driver: 다섯 정거장 남았어요. (Five stops left.)

Traveler: 다음 정류장에서 내릴게요.

3) Correcting a wrong turn while walking

Traveler: 죄송한데요, 제가 길을 잘못 들었어요. ___에 어떻게 가요?

Local: 여기서 다시 돌아가서, 첫 번째 신호등에서 왼쪽으로 도세요. (Go back from here, then turn left at the first traffic light.)

Traveler: 쭉 가면 돼요? (Then go straight?)

Local: 네, 쭉 가다가 횡단보도에서 길을 건너면 바로 보여요. (Yes, go straight; cross at the crosswalk and you’ll see it right away.)