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Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages?

Do you desire to learn or advance in Korean quickly and effectively?

Then you need a Korean tutor.

A common question that first-time language-learners ask is “Where do I begin?” The answer? Guidance.

For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language.

As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated pace with at least thirty minutes of study daily. The following Premium PLUS features contribute to my success:

• Access to thousands of lessons
• A voice recorder 
• Spaced-repetition system (SRS) flashcards
• Weekly homework assignments
• A personal language instructor

As someone who decided to make Japanese her second language one year ago, I am extremely grateful for Premium PLUS.

Allow me to emphasize on how these Premium PLUS features strengthen my language studies.

Gain Unlimited Access to Audio and Video Lessons!

As a Premium PLUS member, I have full access to the lesson library and other Premium features. Best of all, I’m not limited to one level; I can learn to my heart’s content with upper-level courses.

There are lessons on various topics that tackle crucial language-learning elements, such as:

• Reading
• Writing
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Specifically, there are pathways. Pathways are collections of lessons that center on a specific topic. Some Innovative Language sites, like JapanesePod101.com, even have pathways geared toward proficiency tests. For example, the JLPT N3 Master Course pathway.

Because of the abundance of lessons, I’ve found pathways in the lesson library to help me prepare for certain events. Thanks to the “Speaking Perfect Japanese at a Restaurant” pathway, I spoke fully in Japanese while dining in Japan. Additionally, I participated in conversations at language exchange meetups in South Korea after completing the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway.

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• Dialogue
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Pronunciation is an essential ingredient in language-learning. Proper pronunciation prompts clear understanding during conversations with native speakers.

Prior to learning full Korean sentences, my online Korean language tutor assigned the “Hana Hana Hangul” pathway to me. It demonstrated the writing and pronunciation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Throughout this pathway, I submitted recordings of my Hangul character pronunciations to my language teacher for review.

I was given a similar task on JapanesePod101.com with the “Ultimate Japanese Pronunciation Guide” pathway. My Japanese language teacher tested my pronunciation of the Japanese characters kana. My completion of the two pathways boosted my confidence in speaking.

Speaking is one of the more challenging components of learning a language. The voice recording tool in particular was a great way for me to improve my speaking skills. Further, because the lesson dialogues are spoken by native speakers, I’m able to practice speaking naturally.

This feature is also available for vocabulary words and sample sentences. Being able to hear these recordings improves my pronunciation skills for languages like Japanese, where intonation can change the meaning of a word entirely. The voice recorder examines my speed and tone. I also follow up by sending a recording to my online language tutor for feedback.

A great way to boost one’s speaking confidence is to shadow native speakers. During the vocabulary reviews, it’s helpful for me to hear the breakdown of each word; doing so makes a word that was originally difficult to even read a breeze to say!

Some lessons create opportunities to speak your own sentences. For example, the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway presents opportunities to answer questions personally. This helps you gain the ability to give answers as the unique individual you are.

Example Scenario:

The host asks the following question:

어디에 살고 있습니까?

eodieseo salgo isseumnikka

“Where do you live?”

If you live in Tokyo, you would readily say the following:

도쿄에 살고 있습니다.

Tokyo-e salgo isseumnida.

“I live in Tokyo.”

Increase Your Vocab with Spaced-Repetition Flashcards and More!

Imagine having a conversation with a native speaker and hesitating because you lack a solid vocabulary base.

Premium PLUS offers various features to expand learners’ vocabulary, including Free Gifts of the Month. KoreanClass101’s free gifts for April 2020 included an e-book with “400 Everyday Phrases for Beginners,” and the content is updated every month. When I download free resources like this, I find opportunities to use them with co-teachers, friends, or my language tutors.

An effective way to learn vocabulary is with SRS flashcards. SRS is a system designed for learning a new word and reviewing it in varying time intervals.

You can create and study flashcard decks, whether it’s your Word Bank or a certain vocabulary list. For example, if you need to visit a post office, the “Post Office” vocabulary list for your target language would be beneficial to study prior to your visit.

In addition to the SRS flashcards, each lesson has a vocabulary slideshow and quiz to review the lesson’s vocabulary.

There’s also the 2000 Core Word List, which includes the most commonly used words in your target language. Starting from the 100 Core Word List, you’ll gradually build up your knowledge of useful vocabulary. These lists can be studied with SRS flashcards, too.

With the SRS flashcards, you can change the settings to your liking. The settings range from different card types to number of new cards per deck. Personally, I give myself vocabulary tests by changing the settings.

After studying a number of flashcards, I change the card types to listening comprehension and/or production. Then I test myself by writing the translation of the word or the spoken word or phrase.

The change in settings allow me to remember vocabulary and learn how to identify the words. This is especially helpful with Japanese kanji!

Complete Homework Assignments!

Homework assignments are advantageous to my language studies. There are homework assignments auto-generated weekly. They range from multiple-choice quizzes to writing assignments.

Language tutors are readily available for homework help. Some writing assignments, for instance, require use of unfamiliar vocabulary. In such cases, my language teachers assist me by forwarding related lessons or vocabulary lists.

In addition to these auto-generated homework tasks, language tutors customize daily assignments. My daily homework assignments include submitting three written sentences that apply the target grammar point of that lesson, and then blindly audio-recording those sentences. My personal language tutor follows up with feedback and corrections, if needed.

Your language tutors also provide assignments upon requests. When I wanted to review grammar, my Korean teacher sent related quizzes and assignments. Thus, you are not only limited to the auto-generated assignments.

Every weekend, I review by re-reading those written sentences. It helps me remember sentence structures, grammar points, and vocabulary to apply in real-world contexts.

Furthermore, I can track my progress with language portfolios every trimester. It’s like a midterm exam that tests my listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Get Your Own Personal Language Teacher!

My language teachers cater to my goals with personalized and achievable learning programs. The tangible support of my online language teachers makes it evident that we share common goals.

Once I share a short-term or long-term goal with my teacher, we establish a plan or pathway that will ultimately result in success. I coordinate with my teachers regularly to ensure the personalized learning programs are prosperous. For example, during my JLPT studies, my Japanese language tutor assigned me practice tests.

Your language tutor is available for outside help as well. When I bought drama CDs in Japan, I had difficulty transliterating the dialogue. My Japanese teacher forwarded me the script to read along as I listened.

Additionally, I often practice Korean and Japanese with music. I memorize one line of the lyrics daily. Every time, I learn a new grammar point and new vocabulary. I add the vocabulary to my SRS flashcards, locate the grammar in the Grammar Bank, and study the associated lessons online.

I send my teachers the name of the songs, making them aware of my new goal. One time, my song for Korean was “If You Do” by GOT7. My Korean teacher revealed that she was a huge fan of GOT7 like me! For Japanese, it was “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA,” also known as the Dragonball Z theme song. My Japanese teacher excitedly told me that she sang the song a lot as a kid!

A remarkable thing happened to me in South Korea. I was stressed about opening a bank account with limited Korean. I sought help from my Korean teacher. She forwarded me a script of a bank conversation.

After two days, I visited the local bank. It all started with my opening sentence:

은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요

eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.

I want to open a bank account.

Everything went smoothly, and I exited the bank with a new account!

The MyTeacher Messenger allows me to share visuals with my teachers for regular interaction, including videos to critique my pronunciation mechanisms. I improve my listening and speaking skills by exchanging audio with my teachers. In addition to my written homework assignments, I exchange messages with my language teachers in my target language. This connection with my teachers enables me to experience the culture as well as the language.

Why You Should Subscribe to Premium PLUS

It’s impossible for me to imagine my continuous progress with Japanese and Korean without Premium PLUS. Everything—from the SRS flashcards to my language teachers—makes learning languages enjoyable and clear-cut.

You’re assured to undergo the same experience with Premium PLUS. You’ll gain access to the aforementioned features as well as all of the Premium features.

Complete lessons and assignments to advance in your target language. Increase your vocabulary with the “2000 Core Word List” for that language and SRS flashcards. Learn on-the-go with the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS users.

Learning a new language takes dedication and commitment. The Premium PLUS features make learning irresistibly exciting. You’ll look forward to learning daily with your language tutor.

As of right now, your challenge is to subscribe to Premium PLUS! Complete your assessment, and meet your new Korean teacher.

Have fun learning your target language in the fastest and easiest way!

Subscribe to Posted by KoreanClass101.com in Feature Spotlight, Korean Language, Korean Online, Site Features, Team KoreanClass101 | Comment

How to compose proper sentence structures is one of the most important language skills you can learn, because you can’t speak or write properly without knowing how to put sentences together. In this article, we’ll teach you basic Korean sentence structure and word order so that you can write a Korean sentence or speak with local friends.

Table of Contents

1. Overview of Word Order in Korean
2. Basic Word Order with Subject, Verb, and Object
3. Word Order with Prepositional Phrases
4. Word Order with Modifiers
5. How to Change the Sentence into a Yes-or-No Question
6. Korean Word Order Practice
7. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Your Korean Skills

1. Overview of Word Order in Korean

The Korean language word order is SOV. Therefore, the default grammatical order is always subject – object – verb. 

Example:

• 호랑이가 먹이를 먹어요. 

Horangiga meogireul meogeoyo.

“A tiger is eating prey.“

The Korean sentence structure and word order are different from those in English, which has an SVO (subject – verb –object) word order. The easiest way to remember the difference is that only the verb and object positions are switched. 

Let’s take a look at another example from Wikipedia. 

• 내가 상자를 연다.

Naega sangjareul yeonda.

“I open the box.“

Congratulations! You’ve just mastered the first basic Korean sentence structure pattern, and you’re ready to learn how to construct Korean sentences. Let’s go!

2. Basic Word Order with Subject, Verb, and Object

Rule #1: Subject + Noun pattern

The first rule of Korean word order is the subject + noun pattern. Here are two tables of Korean subjects and grammar structures to help you construct Korean sentences. Once you familiarize yourself with them, you’ll be able to form Korean sentences easily.

A. Basic Vocabulary for Korean Subjects

Subject	Romanization	English	Politeness
나는	naneun	“I am”	informal
저는	jeoneun	“I am”	formal
너는	neoneun	“You are”	informal
당신은	dangsineun	“You are”	formal
그는	geuneun	“He is”	formal
그녀는	geunyeoneun	“She is”	formal
*”He is” and “she is” are rarely used in spoken language. Try replacing the subject with a person’s name, such as 하영이는 (hayeongineun), 민경씨는 (mingyeongssineun), 영우님은 (yeongunimeun), etc.
우리는	urineun	“We are”	informal
그들은	geudeureun	“They are”	formal
“We are” in the formal register is rarely used in spoken language. When speaking, try saying 우리들은 (urideureun) instead.

B. Basic Grammar Structure to Remember

Subject	Romanization	English	Politeness
~ 이다.	~ ida.	“~am”	informal
~ 입니다.	~ imnida.	“~am”	formal
(이)에요.	(i)eyo.	“~is”	formal

When constructing the phrases above, you will always need to add a noun before. Let’s have a look at an example. 

Example:

• 나는 학생이다. (informal/writing)

Naneun haksaengida.

“I am a student.“

• 저는 학생이에요. (formal/speaking)

Jeoneun haksaengieyo.

“I am a student.“

Rule #2: Subject + Object + Verb pattern

The second rule of word order in Korean is the subject – object – verb rule we discussed at the beginning of this article. This is the default rule for how to complete a sentence. 

Example:

• 저는 사과를 먹어요.

Jeoneun sagwareul meogeoyo.

“I eat an apple.” 

Rule #3: Subject + Verb pattern

The third rule of Korean word order is the subject + verb sentence pattern. This is the easiest Korean sentence structure, and the pattern is similar to English. This SV pattern is usually used when you want to give a simple and direct answer to a question, without giving much context. For example, when someone asks “What is she doing?” you can simply answer by saying “She’s sleeping.”

Example:

• A: 지금 앤은 뭐해?

A: Jigeum aeneun mwohae?

A: “What is Anne up to?”

• B: 앤은 지금 요리해.

B: Aeneun jigeum yorihae.

B: “Anne is cooking now.”

Rule #4: Subject + Adjective pattern

The fourth rule of Korean word order is the subject + adjective sentence pattern, which is very similar to English. As we know, adjectives describe nouns or pronouns. 

Example:

• 앤은 예뻐.

Aeneun yeppeo.

“Anne is pretty.“

• 수업은 지루해요. 

Sueobeun jiruhaeyo.

“The class is boring.” 

3. Word Order with Prepositional Phrases

Now, let’s see how prepositional phrases come into Korean word order. According to Grammarly, a prepositional phrase is a group of words that contain a preposition, its object, and modifiers for that object. Let’s have a look at the ten most commonly used Korean prepositional phrases. 

1. ~ 의 앞에 (ui ap-e), “in front of” 

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase. 

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 슈퍼마켓 앞에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓에 있어요. 

Gangajineun syupeomakese isseoyo.

“The dog is at the supermarket.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 앞에 있어요. 

Gangajineun syupeomakesui ape isseoyo.

“The dog is in front of the supermarket.” 

2. ~ 의 뒤에 (dwie), “behind”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase. 

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 소파 뒤에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 소파에 앉아있어요.

Gangajineun sopae anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting on the sofa.” 

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 소파의 뒤에 앉아있어요.

Gangajineun sopaui dwie anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting behind the sofa.“

3. ~ 의 안에 (~ui ane), “inside”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase. 

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 슈퍼마켓 뒤에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓에 앉아있어요.

Gangajineun syupeomakese anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting by the sofa.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 안에 앉아있어요.

Gangajineun syupeomakesui ane anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting inside the supermarket.“

4. ~의 위에 (wie), “on” 

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase. 

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 책상 위에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 바나나는 책상에 있어요.

Banananeun chaeksange isseoyo.

“The banana is at the table.” 

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 바나나는 책상의 위에 있어요.

Banananeun chaeksangui wie isseoyo.

“The banana is on the table.” 

5. ~ 밑에 (mite), “under” 

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase. 

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 책상 밑에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 바나나는 책상에 있어요.

Banananeun chaeksange isseoyo.

“The banana is at the table.” 

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 바나나는 책상의 밑에 있어요.

Banananeun chaeksangui wie isseoyo.

“The banana is under the table.” 

6. ~ 과/와 함께 (gwa hamkke), “together with”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase. 

2) In spoken language, you can say 주인이랑 (juinirang) instead of 주인과 (juingwa); there’s no change in the meaning. 

A. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 주인과 산책해요.

Gangajineun juingwa sanchaekaeyo.

“The dog walks with the owner.” 

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 주인과 함께 산책해요.

Gangajineun juingwa hamkke sanchaekaeyo.

“The dog walks together with the owner.” 

7. ~에 관한 (~e gwanhan), “about” 

Rule:

1) Add only the noun in front of the prepositional phrase. 

A. Simple SV Sentence: 

 subject – verb

• 애나는 발표해요.

Aenaneun balpyohaeyo.

“Anna presents.”

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 애나는  한국문화에 관한 주제로 발표해요. 

Aenaneun hangungmunhwae gwanhan jujero balpyohaeyo.

“Anna presents about Korean culture.“

8. ~때문에 (~ttae mune), “Because of~” 

A. Simple SV Sentence: 

 subject – verb

• 운동회가 취소되었다. 

Undonghoega chwisodoeeotda.

“Sport Day is canceled.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 운동회가  비 때문에 취소되었다.  

Undonghoega  bi ttaemune chwisodoeeotda. 

“Sport Day is canceled because of the rain.“

9. ~한테 (hante), “To someone” / “From someone” / “By someone”

A. Simple SA Sentence: 

subject + adjective

• 이 훈련은 어려워요. 

I hullyeoneun eoryeowoyo.

“This training is difficult.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example Using “TO someone”:

• 이 훈련은 강아지한테 어려워요. 

I hullyeoneun gangajihante eoryeowoyo.

“This training is difficult to (for) the dog.” 

C. Simple SOV Sentence: 

 subject – object – verb

• 저는 장난감을 받았어요.

Jeoneun jangnangameul badasseoyo.

“I received a toy.“

D. Prepositional Phrase Example Using “FROM someone”:

• 저는 장난감을 친구한테 받았어요.

Jeoneun i jangnangameun chinguhante badasseoyo.

“I got this toy from my friend.” 

E. Simple SV Sentence: 

 subject – verb

• 강아지가 물어요.

Gangajiga mureosseoyo.

“A dog bites.“

F. Prepositional Phrase Example Using “BY someone”:

• 저는 강아지한테 물렸어요. 

Jeoneun gangajihante mullyeosseoyo.

“I got bitten by a dog.“

10. 으로 / 로 (euro / ro), “to” [destination]

Simple SV Sentence: 

 subject – verb

• 저는 여행할 거예요. 

Jeoneun yeohaenghal geoyeyo.

“I’m going to travel.“

A. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 저는 프랑스로 여행할 거예요. 

Jeoneun peurangseuro yeohaenggal geoyeyo.

“I’ll travel to France.“

4. Word Order with Modifiers

Descriptive verbs can become noun modifiers and describe the nouns directly. The verb acts as an adjective to modify a noun, which must follow immediately. In Korean grammar, word order with modifiers has two rules you need to remember. So, let’s take a look. 

1. General Rule #1  –  V + ~는 것 (geot)

The first rule for modifiers in Korean word order is the V + ~것 (geot) pattern, which is used to nominalize action verbs. It indicates the gerund form of a verb (e.g. X-ing).

Example:

1. 가다 (gada), “to go”

2. 가 (ga) is the verb stem

3. 가 (ga) + -는 것 (neun geot)

4. It becomes 가는 것 (ganeun geot), which means “going,” and the verb became the noun

2. General Rule #2  –  n~은 (eun) + noun 

Descriptive verbs can become noun modifiers and describe the nouns directly. The verb acts as an adjective to modify a noun, which must follow immediately. We usually translate the descriptive verb as “to be [Adjective].” Let’s have a look at an example. 

Example:

1. 작다 (jakda), “to be small”

2. 작 (verb stem ending in a consonant) + -은 (eun) becomes 작은 (jakeun), meaning “small.” 

3. 작은 + 모자 (noun) becomes 작은 모자 (jakeunmoja), meaning “a small hat.”

Note that ~은 (eun) is attached to the end of clauses that end in consonants. If there’s no consonant at the end of a clause, the rule is slightly different. 

Example:

1. 나쁘다 (nappeuda), “to be bad”

2. 나쁘 (verb stem ending without a consonant) + ~은 (eun) becomes 나쁜 (nappeun), meaning “bad.”

3. 나쁜 + 사람 (noun) becomes 나쁜 사람 (nappeunsaram), meaning “a bad person.”

Check out our lesson on Noun Modifying Particles to learn more about modifiers. 

5. How to Change the Sentence into a Yes-or-No Question

Asking questions in Korean doesn’t require a complicated sentence structure. All you need to do is raise the end of the sentence in order to form a question. 

“Dad sleeps” in Korean is 아빠는 자요 (Appaneun jayo). If you raise the end of the word 요 (yo), it becomes a yes-or-no question: 아빠는 자요↗ ? (Appaneun jayo?), meaning “Is dad asleep?” Perhaps this is the easiest Korean sentence structure we’ll learn today. 

Examples:

• 어제 학교 갔었어요. (Eoje hakgyo gasseosseoyo.) “I went to school yesterday.” 
• 어제 학교 갔었어요↗ ? (Eoje hakgyo gasseosseoyo?) “Did you go to school yesterday?”

• 어제 공부했어. (Eoje gongbuhaesseo.) “I studied yesterday.” 
• 어제 공부했어↗ ? (Eoje gongbuhaesseo?) “Did you study yesterday?” 

• 한국어 할 수 있어요. (Hangugeo hal su isseoyo.) “I can speak Korean.” 
• 한국어 할 수 있어요↗ ? (Hangugeo hal su isseoyo?) “Can you speak Korean?” 

You need to be able to answer “Yes” or “No” when someone asks you a question. You may already know these, but let’s review them again. 

How to Say “Yes” and “No” in Korean

Korean	Romanization	English	Politeness
예	ye	“Yes”	formal
응	eung	“Yes”	informal
아니요	aniyo	“No”	formal
아니	ani	“No”	informal

Example:

• 프랑스어 해↗?

Peurangseueohae?

“Can you speak French?”

• 아니, 못해. (Ani, mothae.) “No, I can’t.”  / 응, 해. (Eung, hae.) “Yes, I can.”

Let’s do some exercises

6. Korean Word Order Practice

Now that we’ve learned some basic Korean sentence structures, let’s do some practice exercises.

Question 1 

Translate a simple sentence in Korean. How do you say “I open the box” in Korean? (Hint: Check Part 1)

Question 2

How do you say “The dog is in front of the supermarket” in Korean? (Hint: Check Part 3)

1) 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 뒤에 있어요.

2) 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 앞에 있어요.

3) 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 옆에 있어요.

4) 강아지는 슈퍼마켓과 함께 있어요.

5) 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 안에 있어요.

Question 3

Write this yes-or-no question in Korean. “Did you go to school yesterday?” (Hint: Check Part 5)

7. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Your Korean Skills

In summary, we’ve learned basic Korean sentence structures by going over four basic word order patterns, ten of the most commonly used Korean prepositional phrases, two important modifier rules, and how to form yes-or-no questions. 

Once you familiarize yourself with these Korean sentence structures, you’ll be able to write a diary in Korean and continue learning about how to form advanced sentence structures! So keep studying. Here are more pages for you to learn about Korean sentence structure. 

From KoreanClass101: 

• Korean Grammar
• Korean Verbs
• Basic Korean Grammar
• How to Form Korean Phrases? Sentence Order | Basic Korean Phrases
• Basic Korean Sentence Structure

Other Websites: 

• Korean/Lesson I1
• Korean phrasebook
• Korean grammar
• Korean postpositions

We hope you enjoyed learning with KoreanClass101! Feel free to reach out to us in the comments section with any questions or concerns you have about Korean word order, and we’ll be glad to help!

Telling time is part of everyday life. It’s one of the essential conversation skills you need to learn when studying a new language. 

So how do you tell time in Korean?

Today, you’re going to learn many ways to address the time, including essential vocabulary for talking about the specific time with someone. By the end of this article, you should be more knowledgeable on Korean standard time and how to say the time in Korean! Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. How to Ask for the Time
2. How to Say “Hour” in Korean
3. How to Say the Minutes in Korean
4. Hours Divided into Minutes
5. General Time Reference of the Day
6. Time Adverbs in Korean
7. Bonus: Time Proverbs and Sayings
8. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean

1. How to Ask for the Time

1- 몇 시예요? (Myeot si-yeyo?)

몇 시예요? (Myeot si-yeyo?) literally means “What time is it?” 

몇 (myeot) means “how many” or “which number,” and 시 (si) means “o’clock” or “time.” 

So 몇 시 (myeot si) plus 예요 (yeyo), which means “it is,” becomes 몇 시예요? (Myeot si-yeyo?) or “What time is it?”

Example

• 지금 몇 시예요? 

Jigeum myeot siyeyo?

“What time is it now?”

*The first word, 지금 (jigeum), means “now.”

2- ~는 몇 시에 있어요? (~neun myeot sie isseoyo?)

You can use this phrase when you want to ask a question about when a specific thing will happen, such as the departure time of a bus or airplane. In order to ask, you say ~는 몇 시에 있어요? (~neun myeot sie isseoyo?), which means “What time is ~?” Simply add a noun to the front to ask the question. 

Examples

• 버스는 몇 시에 있어요?

Beoseu-neun myeot si-e isseoyo?

“What time is there a bus?”

• 기차는 몇 시에 있어요?

Gicha-neun myeot si-e isseoyo?

“What time is there a train?”

3- 몇 시에 ~? (myeot sie ~?)

If you want to know what time to meet someone or what time you’ll be doing something, you can put the verb indicating the action after saying 몇시에 (myeot si-e), meaning “at what time.” 

Examples

• 몇 시에 만나요?

Myeot sie mannayo?

“What time will (we) meet?”

• 몇 시에 먹어요?

Myeot sie meogeoyo?

“What time will (we) eat?”

• 몇 시에 가요?

Myeot sie gayo?

“What time will (we) go?”

2. How to Say “Hour” in Korean

In Korea, Korean people tend to give the time using the twelve-hour clock, especially when speaking. However, it really depends on the person. Some may prefer to use the twenty-four-hour clock instead.

1- ~시예요. (~siyeyo.)

To say that “It’s ten o’clock” in Korean, the rule is very simple. Add the number, in this case 열 (yeol) which means “ten,” followed by 시 (si) which means “o’clock” and 입니다 (imnida) which means “it is.” So the whole sentence becomes 열시 입니다 (yeolsi imnida).

Have a look at the table below to practice the hours in Korean. 

2- Hours in Korean

*Click on each Korean word to practice the pronunciation!

Korean	Romanization	English
한 시	hansi	1 o’clock
두 시	dusi	2 o’clock
세 시	sesi	3 o’clock
네 시	nesi	4 o’clock
다섯 시	daseotsi	5 o’clock
여섯 시	yeoseotsi	6 o’clock
일곱 시	ilgopsi	7 o’clock
여덟 시	yeodeolsi	8 o’clock
아홉 시	ahopsi	9 o’clock
열 시	yeolsi	10 o’clock
열한 시	yeolhansi	11 o’clock
열두 시	yeoldusi	12 o’clock

Check out 한국 숫자 (hanguk sutja) on KoreanClass101 to practice numbers in Korean. 

Examples

• 지금 몇시에요?

Jigeum myeotsieyo?

“What time is it now?”

• 지금은 12시예요. (formal – speaking)

Jigeumeun yeoldusiyeyo.

“It’s 12 o’clock.”

• 지금은 12시입니다. (formal – writing)

Jigeumeun yeoldusiimnida.

“It’s 12 o’clock.”

• 지금은 12시야. (casual – speaking)

Jigeumeun yeoldusiya.

“It’s 12 o’clock.”

3. How to Say the Minutes in Korean

1- ~ 시 ~ 분 (~ si ~ bun)

“Minute(s)” is 분 (bun) in Korean. When you want to write “how many minutes” in Korean, it’s 몇분 (myeotbun). 

Let’s have a look at a number of examples: 

Korean	Romanization	Translation
5분 (오분)	5bun (obun)	“Five minutes”
10분 (십분)	10bun (sipbun)	“Ten minutes”
20분 (이십분)	20bun (isipbun)	“Twenty minutes”
35분 (삼십오분)	35bun (samsibobun)	“Thirty-five minutes”
42분 (사십이분)	42bun (sasibibun)	“Forty-two minutes”
51분 (오십일분)	51bun (osibilbun)	“Fifty-one minutes”
59분 (오십구분)	59bun (osipgubun)	“Fifty-nine minutes”

Example

• 지금 몇시에요? 

Jigeum myeotsieyo?

“What time is it now?”

• 열시 사십오분이예요. 

Yeolsi sasibobuniyeyo.

“It’s 10:45.”

4. Hours Divided into Minutes

When learning how to read time in Korean, it’s important that you know how to talk about the minutes past the hour. Here are a couple of the most common time phrases in Korean for this.

1- ~분 전 (~bun jeon)

전 (jeon) means “ago.” To say “thirty minutes ago,” as you may have already guessed, you would write this as 30분 전 (samsipbun jeon). Let’s have a look at more examples below. 

Examples

• 삼십분 전에 일어났어요. 

Samsipbun jeone ireonasseoyo.

“I woke up thirty minutes ago.”

• 어? 지민이 한 이십 분 전에 나갔는데요? 

Eo? Jimini han isip bun jeone naganneundeyo?

“Ah? Jimin left (the house) about twenty minutes ago.”

• 십오분 전

sibobun jeon

“Twenty-five minutes ago”

2- ~분 후 (~bun hu)

후 (hu) means “after.” To say “after thirty minutes,” you would write it as 30분 후 (samsipbun hu). Let’s have a look at more examples below. Keep in mind that ~분 뒤 (~bun dwi) is frequently used in speaking as well. 

Examples

• 삼십분 후에 전화할께.

samsipbun hue jeonhwahalkke.

“I will give you a call after thirty minutes.”

• 10분뒤에 좀 쉬자. 

sipbundwie jom swija.

“Let’s take a rest after ten minutes.” 

5. General Time Reference of the Day

1- 오전 / 오후 (ojeon / ohu)

Meaning

• 오전 (ojeon) means “morning.”
• 오후 (ohu) means “afternoon.” 

Examples

• 나 오전 내내 집에만 있었어.

Na ojeon naenae jibeman isseosseo.

“I stayed home all morning.”

• 다음 주 월요일 오후에 시간 돼? 저녁이라도 같이 먹자.

Daeum ju wollyoil ohue sigan dwae? Jeonyeogirado gachi meokja.

“Are you free next Monday afternoon? Let’s grab something to eat.”

2- 아침 / 저녁 (achim / jeonyeok)

Meaning

• 아침 (achim) means “morning.”
• 저녁 (jeonyeok)  means “evening.”

Examples

• 아침부터 계속 비가 오고 있네.

Achimbuteo gyesok biga ogo inne.

“It has been raining since morning.”

• 미안, 오늘 저녁 늦게까지 일해야해.

Mian, oneul jeonyeok neutgekkaji ilhaeyahae.

“Sorry, I have to work late this evening.”

3- 오전 (ojeon) Vs. 아침 (achim) & 오후 (ohu) Vs. 저녁 (jeonyeok)

I’m sure you’re confused by these word pairs. They both have the same meaning, “morning,” but 아침 (achim) refers to early morning, such as when you’re going to work or having breakfast. 오전 (ojeon) includes early morning until noon. 

Examples

• 매일 아침 일찍 일어나서 운동하고 있어요. 

Maeil achim iljjik ireonaseo undonghago isseoyo.

“I wake early in the morning and try exercising everyday.”

• 이 리포트를 오전까지 학교로 내야해요. 

I ripoteureul ojeonkkaji hakgyoro naeyahaeyo.

“I have to submit this report in the morning (before 12pm).”

The difference between the second pair of words is similar to the explanation above. They both have the same translation in English, but the meanings are slightly different. 오후 (ohu) usually refers to the time between noon (we say this as jeongo in Korean) until five or six o’clock in the afternoon. 저녁 (jeonyeok) usually refers to late evening, such as the time when you have dinner, and it usually starts at about seven o’clock in the evening. 

Examples

• 미안, 우리 몇 시에 만나기로 했지? 오후 3시였나?

Mian, uri myeot sie mannagiro haetji? ohu 3siyeonna?

“Sorry, what time were we supposed to meet today? Was it 15:00?”

• 내일 저녁에 같이 밥먹을래?

Naeil jeonyeoge gachi bammeogeullae?

“Are you free for dinner tomorrow evening?”

4- 밤 / 새벽 (bam / saebyeok)

Meaning

• 밤 (bam) means “evening.”
• 새벽 (saebyeok) means “dawn.”

Examples

• 어제 밤에 2시간밖에 못 자서 너무 피곤해.

Eoje bame 2siganbakke mot jaseo neomu pigonhae.

“I slept for only two hours last night so I feel tired.”

• 잠이 안와서 새벽 4시까지 깨어 있었어.

Jami anwaseo saebyeok nesikkaji kkaeeo isseosseo.

“I couldn’t sleep so I stayed up until 4:00 a.m.”

5- 정오 / 자정 (jeongo / jajeong)

Meaning

• 정오 (jeongo) means “at noon.”
• 자정 (jajeong) means “at midnight.”

Examples

• 정오까지 일을 끝내보도록 하겠습니다. (formal – writing) 

Jeongokkaji ireul kkeunnaebodorok hagetseumnida.

“I will try to finish the work by noon.”

• 자정이 지나면 기본요금이 1,000원입니다.

Jajeongi jinamyeon gibonyogeumi cheonwonimnida.

“After midnight, the basic fare is 1,000won.”

6- 밤 (bam) Vs. 저녁 (jeonyeok)

Let’s have a look at the difference between these two. 밤 (bam) is after sunset and before sunrise, so it refers to night time. 저녁 (jeonyeok) refers to the evening and dinnertime. 

Examples

• 밤에도  철수는 일을 해. 

Bamedo  cheolsuneun ireul hae.

“Cheolsu works in the evening.”

• 오늘 저녁까지 꼭 숙제를 끝내야해.

Oneul jeonyeokkkaji kkok sukjereul kkeunnaeyahae.

“I have to finish the homework before this evening.” 

6. Time Adverbs in Korean

1- 지금 (jigeum)

Meaning

• 지금 (jigeum) means “currently” in English.
• It also means “right now” in English.

Examples

• 모든 옵션들이 지금 이용 가능해요.

modeun opsyeondeuri jigeum iyong ganeunghaeyo.

“All the options are currently available.”

• 현재 공사 중

hyeonjae gongsa jung

“currently under construction”

2- 전에 (jeone)

Meaning

• 전에 (jeone) means “before” in English.

Examples

• 점심 시간 전에 올께요. 

jeomsim sigan jeone olkkeyo.

“I will come back before lunch.”

• 지현이는 1년 전부터 거기에 살고 있어. 

jihyeonineun illyeon jeonbuteo geogie salgo isseo.

“Jihyeon’s lived there since one year ago.”

3- 후에 (hue) 

Meaning

• 후에 (hue) means “after” in English.

Example

• 점심 식사 후에 미팅이 있어서 바로 회사로 들어가야해.

jeomsim siksa hue mitingi isseoseo baro hoesaro deureogayahae.

“I have to return to work because I have a meeting after lunch.”

4- ~에 (~e)

The particle -에 (-e) can be translated into English as “at,” “to,” “on,” or “in,” depending on the context. It can be used to indicate time, direction, or a specific location where an action takes place. In this specific lesson, it’s used to indicate time and can be translated as “at,” “on,” or “in,” depending on the context.

This particle can be used to indicate the time at which an action takes place, and is attached to time-specific words (e.g. time, day of the week, date, month, and year). 

Examples

• 두 시 반에 끝나요.

Du si ban-e kkeunnayo. 

“It ends at two thirty.”

• 월요일에 학교에 안 갑니다. 

Woryoil-e hakgyo-e an gamnida.

“I don’t go to school on Monday.”

5- ~하다 (~hada) 

하다 (hada) is a very flexible and important verb in Korean. It’s generally translated as “to do,” but sometimes there’s a need to interpret it according to specific circumstances. 하다 (hada) verbs can be used as follows:

Examples

• 숙제를 하다.

Sukje-reul hada.

“do homework”

• 공부하다.

Gongbuhada.

“to study” 

• 무서워 하다.

Museowo hada.

“to be afraid”

7. Bonus: Time Proverbs and Sayings

Here are some common time expressions in Korean to help you sound like a native! 

• 시간이 약이다.

Sigani yagida.

“Time heals all wounds.”

• 시간은 돈이다.

Siganeun donida.

“Time is money.”

• 일찍 일어나는 새가 벌레를 잡는다.

Iljjik ireonaneun saega beollereul jamneunda.

“The early bird catches the worm.”

8. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean

By now, you should be able to read and say time in Korean! Practice makes perfect, so check out our free vocabulary list “Talking about Time” on KoreanClass101 to expand your vocabulary skills. 

Also, can you say what time it is in Korea? Drop us a comment below with your answer. Check out Korean standard time and give it a try! Lastly, can you answer the following questions? 

• 몇 시에 아침을 먹어요? 

Myeot sie achimeul meogeoyo?

• 몇 시에 퇴근해요?

Myeot sie toegeunhaeyo?

Find the translations here and try answering these questions in Korean. Good luck! 

Many expats discuss the culture shock they experienced while living or traveling in South Korea online, through Youtube videos or their personal blogs. They also give advice, which can be very useful to potential travelers planning to visit Korea, as it comes from their own personal experiences. Today, KoreanClass101 will introduce 10 common Korean culture shocks that travelers and expats experience in Korea.

Table of Contents

1. Culture Shock 1: Cafes are Everywhere in Korea
2. Culture Shock 2: Bumping into Someone While Walking
3. Culture Shock 3: People Don’t Hold Doors for You
4. Culture Shock 4: Metal Spoons and Chopsticks
5. Culture Shock 5: Holding Hands Amongst Girlfriends
6. Culture Shock 6: We Use Toilet Paper for Everything
7. Culture Shock 7: Sharing Food from the Same Dish
8. Culture Shock 8: The “Pali Pali” Culture in Korea
9. Culture Shock 9: You Can Use Free Wifi Everywhere in Korea
10. Culture Shock 10: Food Delivery at 1am? No Problem!
11. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean

1. Culture Shock 1: Cafes are Everywhere in Korea

You will be surprised how many cafes you find on one street. Some of the most famous cafe chains in Korea are: 

• 스타벅스 (seutabeokseu) – Starbucks
• 카페베네 (kapebene) – Caffe Bene 
• 커피빈  (keopibin) – Coffee Bean
• 엔제리너스  (enjerineoseu) – Angle-in-us
• 투썸플레이스 (tusseompeulleiseu) – A Twosome Place

And the list goes on. If you are curious to know the list of Korean cafes, click here. 

You may mistakenly conclude that Koreans love to drink coffee, but the real reason is related to Korean culture. Since renting an apartment is extremely expensive for young Koreans, it is quite common for them to live with their parents in order to save their money. Generally they stay with their parents until marriage, unless they decide to continue living with their parents even after they get married. 

Also, inviting friends over to one’s house is not common in South Korea, and it is even considered rude to organise a party at home without parental permission. Therefore, the younger generation prefer to hang out with their friends outside their homes in places like cafes.

KoreanClass101 has a free lesson on how to order food in Korean so feel free to check it out.

2. Culture Shock 2: Bumping into Someone While Walking

Do not be surprised or upset when you bump into someone while walking in the busy streets in South Korea. In Korea, this is very common, but this is one of the biggest pet peeves for travelers or expats in Korea. No matter how hard you try, you will bump into someone at one point, so be ready for this. And as this unfortunately happens to everyone, everyday so try not to take it personally.

3. Culture Shock 3: People Don’t Hold Doors for You

Every country has different manners. If you were told  to be polite and hold the door for the next person, don’t be offended if native Koreans do not return the favor. Instead of holding the door for the person behind you, some Koreans will push the door very hard, so that it doesn’t close quickly, allowing the person behind them to rush inside or out while the door is open.

4. Culture Shock 4: Metal Spoons and Chopsticks

Compared to other Asian chopsticks, Korean chopsticks are flatter and more square in shape and is made of metal. Many tourists wonder why Koreans use metal 젓가락 (jeotgarak), which means  “chopsticks” and 숟가락 (sutgarak) which means “spoon”, but there is actually a very interesting story behind this. In historical times, only the upper class used metal chopsticks made of gold or silver. Initially, silver chopsticks and spoons were used by the royal family in order to detect poison in their food. Since then, metal chopsticks became more common and is now used everywhere.  

5. Culture Shock 5:  Holding Hands Amongst Girlfriends

Don’t bewildered when you see two Korean ladies holding hands or walking arm in arm in Korea. This kind of gesture, which is called 팔짱끼다 (paljjangkkida) is to show their close relationship and their bond is strong, like sisters. You will often see two Korean students (mostly girls) doing this. Also you will see this between a daughter and a mother as well. This is a friendly gesture so do not be confused when you see this on the street. 

6. Culture Shock 6: We Use Toilet Paper for Everything

Korean use 두루마리 휴지 (durumari hyuji) which means “toilet paper roll” for …pretty much everything! Toilet paper is not only used for its original purpose, but Koreans use it in many occasions, such as using it as a kitchen towel, to wipe tables with, to blow your nose, wipe sweat, and more. Therefore, it is quite common to see a roll of toilet paper sitting on a desk or table in many Korean households. When you visit a hole in the wall Korean restaurant, you may need to use toilet paper as a napkin. 

7. Culture Shock 7: Sharing Food from the Same Dish

If you are from a country where everyone has their own plate and do not share food together, this may be a shock for you. In Korea, sharing food is a big part of Korean culture. Sharing the food, or, in other words, eating from the same bowl, is very common so don’t be surprised when you see your local friends dipping their spoons and chopsticks into a big pot of soup or side dishes. Usually the main dish, such as 불고기 (bulgogi), which means “Korean Barbecue”, 김치찌개 (gimchijjigae) which means “Kimchi Soup”, 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) which means “Grilled Pork Belly”, is placed in the middle of the table and many 반찬 (banchan) which means “small side dishes” are placed around the main dish. Each person does not receive the same banchan, meaning everything on the table is for sharing. 

8. Culture Shock 8: The “Pali Pali” Culture in Korea

빨리빨리 (ppallippalli), the direct translation being “hurry hurry” or “quick quick”, is a big part of the culture in South Korea. When you order food at a restaurant, your dish will be ready right away. This also goes for preparing food, making payments and even traveling around on the subway. This means that you will almost never have to wait for anything, and that everything will be ready within a desired time. On the other hand, this ‘pali pali’ culture has side effects as well. Since everything has to be done quickly, Koreans may appear extremely impatient to those who are not aware of this Korean culture. 

9. Culture Shock 9: You Can Use Free Wifi Everywhere in Korea

Finding free 와이파이 (waipai), which means “wifi” in Korea is a lot easier than you think, because wifi is virtually everywhere in Korea. Every cafe in Korea–especially Seoul–will provide free wi-fi services. You can even use free wifi on subway and at open public spaces (look for a sign that says wifi zone). You want to use free wifi? Simply turn on the wifi button and look through the list. You will easily find some such as Free U+Zone, T Wifi Zone , and KT Free WiFi . These free provides usually require you to add some personal information or make you watch an advertisement which lasts about a minute until you can use the free wifi for a minimum 60 minutes to a maximum 24 hours.

10. Culture Shock 10: Food Delivery at 1am? No Problem!

You can order food anytime–whether it is 1 am or 3 am in the morning. Koreans enjoy nightlife and 야식 (yasik) which means “Midnight Snack” is something we enjoy. Some of the famous Yasik include 라면 (ramyeon) which means “noodle”, 치맥 (chimaek) which means  “Fried Chicken and Beer”, 보쌈 (Bossam) which means “pork dish”, 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) which means “stir-fried rice cakes”, 순대 (sundae) which means “blood sausage”, 군고구마 (gungoguma) which means “Roasted Sweet Potato,”  비빔면 (bibimmyeon) which means “cold noodles.”

These days, Koreans use food-delivery apps to order the food. All you need to do is to use a food delivery app such as 요기요 (Yogiyo) 배달통 (Baedaltong), or 푸드플라이 (FoodFly). 

First, choose the cuisine, then make the payment and wait until your dishes arrive by the door. 

Do you want to study Korean while learning more about Korean culture shocks? Visit our online lesson “Culture Shock” and “Korean Instant Noodles!” and learn more about why Korean instant noodles may be a culture shock for some people. In addition, you can learn Korean cultures in depth on our “Korean Culture Class” lessons where you can learn many interesting Korean culture such as dialects, age, level of politeness, marriage and so on. So do check out our free lessons on our website! 

11. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean 

I hope you enjoyed reading our top 10 Korean cultures that you may encounter when you travel to Korea. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or simply visit our forum, where you can receive any practical advice from native Korean speakers. Also, KoreanClass101 provides fun and culturally relevant lessons–there are over 1,000,000+ lessons provided on our website. Our effective teaching method lets you study Korean at your own pace. We have free lessons such as the Korean Key Phrase List, interactive lessons like How to Write My Name in Korean, and more, so feel free to drop by KoreanClass101 anytime, because our goal is to help you improve your Korean! Thank you and have a great day!

Knowing how to say left and right in Korean isn’t good enough if you want to really get around Korea. Let’s learn how to give directions in Korean with KoreanClass101!

Have you ever gotten lost in an unfamiliar city? In your own country, you can simply get in a taxi or ask someone for directions. But what would you do if this happens to you in a foreign country?

Many Koreans can speak English, but this doesn’t mean that everyone speaks English fluently like you do. Therefore, it’s important to learn some basic phrases and words for directions so that when you’re not sure where you are in Korea, you can easily converse with locals in their native language.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes when practicing, because this is just a part of learning the language. Koreans will appreciate that you speak their language and they’ll definitely help you find the way.


Table of Contents

1. On the Map
2. On the Road (10 Basic Opposites)
3. Directions in Korea Using Landmarks
4. Must-Know Phrases for Asking for Directions
5. Must-Know Phrases for Giving Directions
6. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean

1. On the Map

1. Cardinal Directions in Korean

Korean	Romanization	English
동(쪽)	dong(jjok)	East
서(쪽)	seo(jjok)	West
남(쪽)	nam(jjok)	South
북(쪽)	buk(jjok)	North

2. Cardinal Direction Combinations

When you want to describe the location precisely, you can combine the four words above. For example, if you want to say “southwest,” combie 서 (seo) and 남 (nam) together, followed by 쪽 (jjok) which means “side/way.”

Examples

• 북서쪽 bukseojjok
  “Northwest side”


• 남동쪽 namdongjjok
  “Southeast side”

3. Talking about Directions

• [시티]은/는 [나라]의 [방향]에 위치해있다.
  [Siti]eun/neun [nara]ui [banghyang]e wichihaeitda.
  “[City] is in the [direction] part of Korea.”

Examples

• 부산은 한국의 남쪽에 위치해있다.
  Busaneun hangugui namjjoge wichihaeitda.
  “Busan is in the south(ern) part of Korea.”


• 서울은 한국의 중서부에 위치해있다.
  Seoureun hangugui jungseobue wichihaeitda.
  “Seoul is in the midwest(ern) part of Korea.”

2. On the Road (10 Basic Opposites)

If you need to give or receive driving directions in Korean, here are some basic opposites you should know!

1.앞 (ap ) ↔ 뒤 (dwi)

A- Meaning

• 앞 (ap) “front”
• 뒤 (dwi) “back”

B- Examples

• 아파트는 슈퍼 앞에 있어요.
  Apateuneun syupeo ape isseoyo.
  “The apartment is in front of the supermarket.”


• 아파트는 병원 뒤에 있어요.
  Apateuneun byeongwon dwie isseoyo.
  “The apartment is at the back of (behind) the hospital.”

2. 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) ↔ 왼쪽 (oenjjok)

A- Meaning

• 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) “right”
• 왼쪽 (oenjjok) “left”

There are two ways to say “right” and “left” in Korean. 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) / 왼쪽 (oenjjok) and 우회전 (uhoejeon) / 좌회전 (jwahoejeon). The meanings are exactly the same.

B- Examples

• 오른쪽에 보이는 저 건물이 우리 학교야.
  Oreunjjoge boineun jeo geonmuri uri hakgyoya.
  “That building that you see to the right is my school.”


• 저기 횡단보도에서 오른쪽으로 돌아주세요.
  Jeogi hoengdanbodoeseo oreunjjogeuro dorajuseyo.
  “Please turn to the right at that pedestrian road.”

3. 우회전 (uhoejeon) ↔ 좌회전 (jwahoejeon)

A- Meaning

• 우회전 (uhoejeon) “right”
• 좌회전 (jwahoejeon) “left”

우회전 (uhoejeon) and 좌회전 (jwahoejeon) are the same as 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) and 왼쪽 (oenjjok), respectively. Taxi drivers use these two words a lot, so it’s important to memorize them. Knowing taxi directions in Korean is essential if you want to get anywhere!

B- Examples

• 두 번째 신호등에서 우회전해주세요. (formal)
  Du beonjjae sinhodeungeseo uhoejeonhaejuseyo.
  “Please turn right at the second traffic light.”


• = 두 번째 신호등에서 오른쪽으로 가주세요. (formal)
  Du beonjjae sinhodeungeseo oreunjjogeuro gajuseyo.
  “Please turn right at the second traffic light.”


• 다음 교차로에서 좌회전해주세요. (formal)
  Daeum gyocharoeseo jwahoejeonhaejuseyo.
  “Please make a left at the next intersection.”


• = 다음 교차로에서 왼쪽으로 가주세요. (formal)
  Daeum gyocharoeseo oenjjogeuro gajuseyo.
  “Please make a left at the next intersection.”

4. 가깝다 (gakkapda) ↔ 멀다 (meolda)

A- Meanings

• 가깝다 (gakkapda) “close by”
• 멀다 (meolda) “far”

B- Examples

• 여기서 가장 가까운 지하철역은 어디입니까? (formal)
  Yeogiseo gajang gakkaun jihacheollyeogeun eodiimnikka?
  “Where is the nearest subway station from here?”


• 강남역에서 역삼역까지는 멀지 않아요. (formal)
  Gangnamyeogeseo yeoksamyeokkkajineun meolji anayo.
  “It’s not far from Gangnam Station to Yeoksam Station.”

5. 바로 앞에 (baro ape) ↔ 바로 뒤에 (baro dwie)

A- Meanings

• 바로 앞에 (baro ape) “right in front”
• 바로 뒤에 (baro dwie) “right behind”

B- Examples

• 기사님, 저기 바로 앞에 세워주세요. (formal)
  Gisanim, jeogi baro ape sewojuseyo.
  “Driver, please pull up in front of there.”


• 기사님, 저기 슈퍼 바로 뒤에서 세워주세요. (formal)
  Gisanim, jeogi syupeo baro dwieseo sewojuseyo.
  “Driver, please pull up right behind the supermarket.”

3. Directions in Korea Using Landmarks

1. 공항 (gonghang) “airport”

Not sure which Korean airport to go to? Check out a handy list of airports in South Korea.

Examples

• A: 아저씨, 인천공항으로 가주세요.
  A: Ajeossi, incheongonghangeuro gajuseyo.
  A: “Please go to Incheon Airport.”


• B: 국내선이이요, 국제선이요?
  B: Gungnaeseoniiyo, gukjeseoniyo?
  B: “To the domestic or international terminal?”


• A: 국제선으로 가주세요.
  A: Gukjeseoneuro gajuseyo.
  A: “To the international terminal.”

2. 전철역 (jeoncheollyeok) “subway station”

• Getting around by subway is fairly easy in Korea. You can check out this map of the Seoul subway.

Examples

• A: 여기서 이수역까지 가려면 어떻게 가면 되나요?
  A: Yeogiseo isuyeokkkaji garyeomyeon eotteoke gamyeon doenayo?
  A: “How do I go to Isu Yeok from here?”


• B: 2호선 타고 4정거장 가면돼요.
  B: Ihoseon tago 4jeonggeojang gamyeondwaeyo.
  B: “Just take the number 2 line and go 4 stops.”

3. 공원 (gongwon) “the park”

Examples

• A: 한강공원에서 할수 있는게 뭐있을까?
  A: Hanganggongwoneseo halsu inneunge mwoisseulkka?
  A: “What kind of activities can we do at Hangang Park?”


• B: 자전거 빌려서 한바퀴 돌 수 있는데, 해볼래?
  B: Jajeongeo billyeoseo hanbakwi dol su inneunde, haebollae?
  B: “You can rent a bicycle and cycle around the park. Do you want to try?”

4. 호텔 (hotel) “hotel”

• Here are some more words related to accommodation:
  • 여관 (yeogwan) — “inn”
  • 게스트하우스 (geseuteuhauseu) — “guest house”
  • 에어비엔비 (eeobienbi) — “Airbnb”

Examples

• A: 어디로 갈까요?
  A: Eodiro galkkayo?
  A: “Where do you want to go?”


• B: 신라호텔로 가주세요.
  B: Sillahotello gajuseyo.
  B: “Please take me to Silla Hotel.”


• A: 네.
  A: Ne.
  A: “Okay.”

5. 병원 (byeongwon) “hospital”

Examples

• A: 영어가능한 병원으로 가고 싶은데, 어디가 좋을까요?
  A: Yeongeoganeunghan byeongwoneuro gago sipeunde, eodiga joeulkkayo?
  A: “I’d like to go to an English-speaking hospital. Do you know any places?”


• B: 순천향대학병원이 좋아요. 통역사가 많이 일하고 있거든요.
  B: Suncheonhyangdaehakbyeongwoni joayo. Tongyeoksaga mani ilhago itgeodeunyo.
  B: “I recommend Soonchunhyang University Hospital. There are many interpreters working there.”

6. 은행 (eunhaeng) “bank”

• “To withdraw money” is 돈(을) 뽑다 (don(eul) ppopda). This phrase is often used, so it’s good to memorize it.

Examples

• A: 돈 좀 뽑고 싶은데 은행이 어디에 있지?
  A: Don jom ppopgo sipeunde eunhaengi eodie itji?
  A: “I want to withdraw some money. Where is the bank?”


• B: 아, 저 횡단보도 앞에 바로 있네, 가자!
  B: A, jeo hoengdanbodo ape baro inne, gaja!
  B: “Ah, there is one right in front of the pedestrian road. Let’s go!”

7. 쇼핑몰 (syopingmol) “shopping mall”

• In Korea, if you pay with cash, you’ll receive a greater discount than you will by paying with a credit card. This is true for places such as 지하상가 (jihasangga), or the “underground shopping mall.”


• If you go to a department store, or many other shops, they offer tax-free shopping.

Examples

• A: 쇼핑몰 어디로 가면 좋을까?
  A: Syopingmol eodiro gamyeon joeulkka?
  A: “Which shopping mall should we go to?”


• B: 동대문? 홍대? 아니면 명동이지 않을까?
  B: Dongdaemun? Hongdae? animyeon Myeongdongiji aneulkka?
  B: “We should go to either Dongdaemoon, Hongdae, or Myeongdong?”

8. 지하상가 (jihasangga) “underground shopping mall”

• You can buy a lot of stuff here, such as clothing, accessories, colored lenses, and so on, for a cheap price. However, these shops don’t offer tax-free shopping, and oftentimes they’ll charge ten percent more if you use a credit card. So do carry some cash with you if you want to go.

Examples

• A: 현금가 1만원이라는 뜻이 뭐야?
  A: Hyeongeumga ilmanwoniraneun tteusi mwoya?
  A: “What does it mean by “Cash price 10,000 won?”


• B: 아, 현금으로 내면 1만원이고, 카드로 내면 돈 몇천원 더 내야한다는 뜻이야.
  B: A, hyeongeumeuro naemyeon ilmanwonigo, kadeuro naemyeon don myeotcheonwon deo naeyahandaneun tteusiya.
  B: “That means if you pay by cash, it cost 10,000 won, but there will be a sub-charge if you pay by credit card.”

9. 육교 (yukgyo) “a pedestrian bridge”

Examples

• A: 육교로 건너가서 택시 타자.
  A: Yukgyoro geonneogaseo taeksi taja.
  A: “Let’s cross the road by the pedestrian bridge and catch a taxi.”

10. On a Road

1. 교차로 (gyocharo) “intersection”

• There are many kinds of intersections in Korea. Check out this page to see the list.

Examples

• 차들은 다른 방향으로 들어 가기 위해 교차로로 갑니다.
  Chadeureun dareun banghyangeuro deureo gagi wihae gyocharoro gamnida.
  “Cars enter the intersection to change directions.”

2. 횡단보도 (hoengdanbodo) “pedestrian crossing”

Examples

• 횡단보도에서 내려 주실래요?
  Hoengdanbodoeseo naeryeo jusillaeyo?
  “Can you pull over at the crosswalk?”

3. 신호등 (sinhodeung) “traffic light”

• Be careful when you cross the road in Korea. Many drivers ignore the traffic light, and they don’t slow down when the light turns yellow on its way to red.

Examples

• 한국에는 신호등을 무시하고 운전하는 택시운전사가 많아요.
  Hangugeneun sinhodeungeul musihago unjeonhaneun taeksiunjeonsaga manayo.
  “There are many taxi drivers who ignore the traffic light and continue driving in Korea.”

4. 주유소 (juyuso) “gas station”

• “Top it up” is 만땅이요 (manttangiyo) in Korean. This phrase is only used when you’re at a gas station.

Examples

• 주유소를 찾고 있는데요, 어디에 있나요?
  Juyusoreul chatgo inneundeyo, eodie innayo?
  “I’m looking for a gas station. Where is it?”

5. 휴게소 (hyugaeso) “rest area”

Examples

• 운전 좀 했더니 피곤하네. 휴게소에 들러서 뭐 좀 먹고 가자.
  Unjeon jom haetdeoni pigonhane. hyugesoe deulleoseo mwo jom meokgo gaja.
  “I feel tired after driving for awhile. Let’s have a bite to eat at the rest area.”

6. 차선 (chaseon) “lane”

Examples

• 차선이 이렇게 아무리 많아도 교통체증이 심하네.
  Chaseoni ireoke amuri manado gyotongchejeungi simhane.
  “There are so many lanes, but still so much traffic.”

11. In a Structure/Building

Here’s a list of additional vocabulary for you to memorize.

Korean	Romanization	English
화장실	hwajangsil	restroom
엘리베이터	ellibeiteo	elevator
게이트	geiteu	gate
주차장	juchajang	parking area
비상구	bisanggu	emergency exit
[이름] 빌딩	[ireum] bilding	[name] building
미팅룸	mitingnum	meeting room
수영장	suyeongjang	swimming pool

4. Must-Know Phrases for Asking for Directions

Now that we’ve looked at essential vocabulary, let’s practice asking for directions in Korean!

1. Polite Phrases to Start the Question

• 저기 죄송한데요. (Jeogi joesonghandeyo.)
• 실례합니다. (Sillyehamnida.)
• 죄송한데요. (Joesonghandeyo.)

These three phrases have the same meaning: “excuse me.” There’s not much difference in their meanings, so you can choose the one that feels comfortable to you.

2. Where is…?

• [장소]은/는 어디에 있습니까? (formal – business level)
  [Jangso]eun/neun eodie itseumnikka?
  “Where is [location]?”


• [장소]은/는 어디에 있나요? (formal – friendly)
  [jangso]eun/neun eodie innayo?
  “Where is [location]?”


• 이 근처에 [장소]있나요?
  I geuncheoe [jangso]innayo?
  “Is there [location] near here?”

Example

• A: 화장실은 어디에 있나요?
  A: Hwajangsireun eodie innayo?
  A: “Where is the restroom?”


• B: 왼쪽에 바로 있어요.
  B: Oenjjoge baro isseoyo.
  B: “It’s right there on the left.”


• A: 이 근처에 슈퍼마켓있나요?
  A: I geuncheoe syupeomakesinnayo?
  A: “Is there a supermarket around here?”


• B: 바로 직진해서 횡단보도 건너면 바로 세븐일레븐이 있어요.
  B: Baro jikjinhaeseo hoengdanbodo geonneomyeon baro sebeunillebeuni isseoyo.
  B: “Just go straight, then cross the pedestrian road. There will be a Seven-Eleven.”

3. How do I get to…?

• [장소]는 어떻게 가나요?
  [Jangso]neun eotteoke ganayo?
  “How do I go to [location]?”


• [장소]는 여기서 어떻게 가나요?
  [Jangso]neun yeogiseo eotteoke ganayo?
  “How do I go to [location] from here?”

If your Korean is good enough to hold a conversation, it’s good to ask for more-detailed directions. When you say one of these sentences, people will explain the directions in detail. Or if you’re lucky, they’ll take you to the right bus stop/subway station.

Examples

• A: 실례합니다, 서울역은 어떻게 가나요?
  A: Sillyehamnida, seoullyeogeun eotteoke ganayo?
  A: “Excuse me, how do I go to Seoul Station?”


• B: 서울역이요? 여기서 1호선 지하철 타고 가면 금방이예요.
  B: Seoullyeogiyo? Yeogiseo 1hoseon jihacheol tago gamyeon geumbangiyeyo.
  B: “Seoul Station? The fastest way is to take the Line 1 subway from here.”


• A: 죄송한데요, 가로수길은 여기서 어떻게 가나요?
  A: Joesonghandeyo, Garosugireun yeogiseo eotteoke ganayo?
  A: “Excuse me, how do I go to Garosu Street from here?”


• B: 가로수길은 버스타고 가는게 제일 나아요. 잠시만요, 확인해드릴께요.
  B: Garosugireun beoseutago ganeunge jeil naayo. Jamsimanyo, hwaginhaedeurilkkeyo.
  B: “It’s better to take a bus to go to Garosu Street. Hold on, let me check the way for you.”

4. How far is …?

• [장소]는 얼마나 먼가요?
  [Jangso]neun eolmana meongayo?
  “How far is [location]?”


• 여기서 [장소]까지는 얼마나 먼가요?
  Yeogiseo [jangso]kkajineun eolmana meongayo?
  “How far is [location] from here?”


• [장소1]에서 [장소2]까지 얼마나 걸리나요?
  [Jangsoil]eseo [jangsoi]kkaji eolmana geollinayo?
  “How long does it take to get to [location2] from [location1]?”

Examples

• A: 강남역에서 교보문고까지 얼마나 걸리나요?
  A: Gangnamyeogeseo Gyobomungokkaji eolmana geollinayo?
  A: “How long does it take to get to Kyobo Book Centre from Gangnam Station?”


• B: 글쎄요, 강남역에서 걸어간다면 한 15분에서 20분정도 걸리겠네요.
  B: Geulsseyo, gangnamyeogeseo georeogandamyeon han 15buneseo 20bunjeongdo geolligenneyo.
  B: I’m not sure, but if you walk from Gangnam Station it will take about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

5. Courtesy Phrases to Thank People

감사합니다.
Gamsahamnida.
“Thank you.”

This phrase is the most-used method to thank someone after the conversation is over. If you want to expand a little, you can also say 네, 알겠습니다. 감사합니다 (Ne, algetseumnida. Gamsahamnida.). The translation is “I understand, thank you!”

Roads

5. Must-Know Phrases for Giving Directions

1. Street Phrases

Korean	Romanization	English
직진하면	jikjinhamyeon	If you go straight
유턴하면	yuteonhamyeon	If you do a U-turn
왼쪽/오른쪽으로 가면	oenjjok/oreunjjogeuro gamyeon	If you go left/right
우회전/좌회전하면	uhoejeon/jwahoejeonhamyeon	If you go left/right

2. For Buildings

Korean	Romanization	English
# 층	# cheung	#th floor
밑으로 가다	miteuro gada	To go down (by elevator/escalator)
위로 올라가다	wiro ollagada	To go up (by elevator/escalator)
지하로 가다	jiharo gada	To go to the basement

3. To a Driver

You’ll find the phrases below very useful when you’re traveling in South Korea. Many taxis are equipped with a free interpreter service, and some taxi drivers can speak another language, the most popular languages being Japanese and English. Nevertheless, it’s good to memorize these taxi directions in Korean!

Examples

• 계속 직진해주세요.
  Gyesok jikjinhaejuseyo.
  “Please continue straight.”


• 서둘러주세요.
  Seodulleojuseyo.
  “Please speed up a bit.”


• 조금 천천히 가주세요.
  Jogeum cheoncheonhi gajuseyo.
  “Please slow down the speed.”


• ~에서 오른쪽/왼쪽으로 가주세요.
  ~eseo oreunjjok/oenjjogeuro gajuseyo.
  “Please turn right/left from ~.”


• ~에서 우회전/좌회전이요.
  ~eseo uhoejeon/jwahoejeoniyo.
  “Please turn right/left from ~.”


• 횡단보도에서 세워주세요.
  Hoengdanbodoeseo sewojuseyo.
  “Please pull over at the pedestrian road.”

6. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean

In this article, we looked at many different ways to ask for directions in Korean. If you’re interested in learning more vocabulary about the directions in Korean, you can challenge yourself by visiting our free vocabulary page, Position / Direction, to check out more words. KoreanClass101 also provides many direction-related study materials for free, so why not create a new account today and explore the website? Good luck with your Korean studies!

But before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about asking and giving directions in Korean! Do you feel more confident now? Are there any Korean direction words you still want to know? We look forward to hearing from you!