When traveling or exploring new places in Korea, knowing how to ask for directions and explain locations is very important. Whether you are trying to find a restaurant, a subway station, or a tourist attraction, clear communication will save you time and help you avoid getting lost.
In this lesson, we’ll cover essential vocabulary and useful phrases for asking where something is, understanding responses, and giving directions politely in Korean.
Essential Vocabulary for Directions
- 어디 (eodi) – Where
- 가다 (gada) – To go
- 오다 (oda) – To come
- 여기 (yeogi) – Here
- 저기 (jeogi) – There (far from both speaker and listener)
- 근처 (geuncheo) – Near / vicinity
- 가까워요 (gakkawoyo) – It’s close
- 멀어요 (meoreoyo) – It’s far
- 직진하다 (jikjinhada) – To go straight
- 왼쪽 (wenjjok) – Left
- 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) – Right
- 길 (gil) – Road / way / street
- 사거리 (sageori) – Intersection
- 신호등 (sinho-deung) – Traffic light
How to Ask for Directions
To ask “Where is it?”, use “어디에 있어요?” or “어디에 가요?” To ask if a place is close, say “여기서 가까워요?” which means “Is it close from here?”
You can also ask for instructions by saying “어떻게 가요?” meaning “How do I get there?”
Common Phrases You’ll Hear
- 여기서 얼마나 걸려요? – How long does it take from here?
- 직진하세요. – Go straight.
- 왼쪽으로 도세요. – Turn left.
- 오른쪽으로 도세요. – Turn right.
- 사거리에서 왼쪽으로 가세요. – At the intersection, turn left.
- 신호등에서 오른쪽으로 가세요. – At the traffic light, turn right.
Example Dialogues
A: 서울역이 어디에 있어요?
B: 여기서 가까워요. 직진하세요.
A: 지하철역까지 얼마나 걸려요?
B: 걸어서 10분 정도 걸려요.
A: 오른쪽으로 도세요?
B: 네, 맞아요.
A: 사거리에서 왼쪽으로 가면 돼요?
B: 네, 정확해요.
Grammar Tips
The phrase “~에 있어요?” asks about the location of something. The particle “에” indicates the location or destination. When giving directions, imperative forms like “직진하세요” (go straight) and “돌아가세요” (turn) are commonly used politely.
Cultural Tips
Koreans are usually very helpful when giving directions. It’s polite to listen carefully and thank them with “감사합니다” after receiving directions.
Sometimes people may use landmarks like stores, statues, or buildings to explain directions. Asking “~ 근처에 있어요?” (Is it near ~?) can help clarify your destination.
Practice Challenge
Practice asking for directions and understanding responses with a language partner. Role-play different scenarios such as asking for subway stations, restaurants, or tourist spots.
Next Up
Next lesson will teach you how to make and receive phone calls in Korean.
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