Need to check a platform, recharge a card, or recover from a missed stop? Save the Korean text below and point to your destination on a map. A clear place name helps more than a long sentence spoken from memory.
These are 25 polite phrases for buses and subways. Romanization is an approximate reading aid. The examples are language practice, not directions for a particular journey.
25 phrases to save before your journey
| # | Korean | Reading aid | Meaning / when to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 저기요. | Jeogiyo. | Excuse me; get someone’s attention. |
| 2 | 도와주세요. | Dowajuseyo. | Please help me. |
| 3 | 천천히 말해 주세요. | Cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo. | Please speak slowly. |
| 4 | 여기 가고 싶어요. | Yeogi gago sipeoyo. | I want to go here; show the map pin. |
| 5 | 이 역이 맞아요? | I yeogi majayo? | Is this the right station? |
| 6 | 이 버스가 맞아요? | I beoseuga majayo? | Is this the right bus? |
| 7 | 서울역에 가요? | Seoullyeoge gayo? | Does it go to Seoul Station? |
| 8 | 어디에서 타요? | Eodieseo tayo? | Where do I board? |
| 9 | 몇 호선을 타요? | Myeot hoseoneul tayo? | Which subway line do I take? |
| 10 | 어느 방향이에요? | Eoneu banghyangieyo? | Which direction is it? |
| 11 | 어디에서 갈아타요? | Eodieseo garatayo? | Where do I transfer? |
| 12 | 몇 번 출구예요? | Myeot beon chulgu-yeyo? | Which exit number? |
| 13 | 엘리베이터가 어디예요? | Ellibeiteoga eodiyeyo? | Where is the elevator? |
| 14 | 이 정류장이 맞아요? | I jeongnyujangi majayo? | Is this the right bus stop? |
| 15 | 몇 정거장 남았어요? | Myeot jeonggeojang namasseoyo? | How many stops are left? |
| 16 | 다음 정류장에서 내려요. | Daeum jeongnyujangeseo naeryeoyo. | I’m getting off at the next stop. |
| 17 | 여기에서 내려도 돼요? | Yeogieseo naeryeodo dwaeyo? | May I get off here? Ask when stopped. |
| 18 | 교통카드 충전하고 싶어요. | Gyotongkadeu chungjeonhago sipeoyo. | I’d like to top up my transit card. |
| 19 | 이 카드가 안 돼요. | I kadeuga an dwaeyo. | This card isn’t working. |
| 20 | 잔액이 얼마예요? | Janaegi eolmayeyo? | How much balance is left? |
| 21 | 추가 요금이 있어요? | Chuga yogeumi isseoyo? | Is there an additional fare? |
| 22 | 반대 방향으로 탔어요. | Bandae banghyangeuro tasseoyo. | I boarded in the opposite direction. |
| 23 | 정류장을 지나쳤어요. | Jeongnyujangeul jinachyeosseoyo. | I missed my stop. |
| 24 | 막차가 몇 시예요? | Makchaga myeot siyeyo? | What time is the last service? |
| 25 | 얼마나 걸려요? | Eolmana geollyeoyo? | How long does it take? |
For number 7, replace 서울역 with your destination. Keep the Korean place name visible: 서울역 (Seoul Station) and 서울 (the city) are different requests. For number 24, show your destination too; the final departure from a station may terminate before your stop.
What to check before boarding
| If you are using… | Check these together | A useful phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Subway | Line number, direction, destination and transfer station | 어느 방향이에요? |
| City bus | Bus number, side of the road and stop list | 이 버스가 맞아요? |
| Airport transport | Terminal, service type and ticket conditions | 여기 가고 싶어요. |
| A route with luggage | Elevator location and final walk to the address | 엘리베이터가 어디예요? |
An exit number is not necessarily an accessible route. Follow elevator signs when needed. On a bus, use the stop button in time and wait for a designated stop; a phrase asking to get off does not authorize the driver to stop anywhere.
The Seoul public-transport guide and KTO transportation-card guide explain fare media and transfers. Check the current rules for your route instead of assuming a transfer discount applies to every airport, intercity or regional service. Keep your card ready and follow entry/exit tapping instructions.
Three practice situations
Wrong platform: Show your destination and say 반대 방향으로 탔어요. 여기 가고 싶어요. You have explained the mistake and the place you want to reach. Ask station staff before leaving a paid area; do not climb barriers or follow someone through a gate.
Card failure: Say 이 카드가 안 돼요. Let staff or the machine identify the problem before adding money repeatedly. A balance problem, wrong ticket type and card-reading problem need different solutions.
Unclear directions: Say 천천히 말해 주세요, then point to the station name or exit on the map. Confirm one step at a time. A line number without a direction and destination is incomplete advice.
Signs worth recognizing
- 입구 / 출구 — entrance / exit
- 타는 곳 / 내리는 곳 — boarding / alighting area
- 환승 — transfer
- 충전 — top-up
- 막차 — last service
- 운행 종료 — service ended
Listen to word pronunciations in the National Institute of Korean Language’s Korean Basic Dictionary. Our sentences are practical examples; the dictionary is a language reference, not the source of a specific transit route.
Save the guide that matches the next leg
For an airport arrival, compare AREX Express and All-Stop trains before buying a ticket. For a day carrying bags, check the Seoul luggage-storage options. Once you reach your stop, the restaurant phrase table covers ordering and payment.
The image is an editorial illustration, not a photograph of a documented journey.