🇰🇷 KoreanA1–A2

Korean Public Transport Phrases

Use these polite Korean phrases to move through everyday public transport situations in Korea: finding the right bus, train, platform, or stop; asking about tickets and fares; checking departure times and transfers; and getting help if you are confused or miss your stop. The page uses common transit words like 정류장, 역, and 갈아타다, with polite -요 forms that are safe with staff and strangers.

Useful in real conversations

Essential Korean phrases

Find the right bus, train, stop, or platform

Phrases for checking that you are at the right place and on the right service.

이 버스 맞나요?
Romanization: I beoseu matnayo?
Is this the right bus?
이 열차 맞나요?
Romanization: I yeolcha matnayo?
Is this the right train?
이 승강장이 맞아요?
Romanization: I seunggangjangi majayo?
Is this the right platform?
이 정류장이 맞나요?
Romanization: I jeongnyujangi matnayo?
Is this the right stop?
서울역 가는 거 맞죠?
Romanization: Seoul-yeok ganeun geo matjyo?
Does this go to Seoul Station?

Buy a ticket and ask about fares

Useful phrases for paying, asking where to buy, and checking the price.

표 한 장 주세요.
Romanization: Pyo han jang juseyo.
One ticket, please.
교통카드로 돼요?
Romanization: Gyotongkadeuro dwaeyo?
Can I use a transit card?
현금도 돼요?
Romanization: Hyeongeumdo dwaeyo?
Can I pay cash too?
요금이 얼마예요?
Romanization: Yogeumi eolmayeyo?
How much is the fare?
어디서 충전해요?
Romanization: Eodiseo chungjeonhaeyo?
Where do I top up?

Ask about times, stops, and transfers

Questions for departure times, frequency, the next stop, and where to change.

몇 시에 출발해요?
Romanization: Myeot sie chulbalhaeyo?
What time does it depart?
몇 분마다 와요?
Romanization: Myeot bunmada wayo?
How often does it come?
다음 역은 어디예요?
Romanization: Daeum yeogeun eodieyo?
What's the next station?
여기서 몇 정거장 더 가요?
Romanization: Yeogiseo myeot jeonggeojang deo gayo?
How many more stops are there from here?
어디서 갈아타요?
Romanization: Eodiseo galatayo?
Where do I transfer?

Handle delays, missed stops, and ask for help

Phrases for delays, missed stops, and getting practical help from staff.

지금 많이 늦어요?
Romanization: Jigeum mani neujeoyo?
Is it very delayed now?
내려야 할 곳을 지나쳤어요.
Romanization: Naeryeoya hal gos-eul jinachyeosseoyo.
I missed the stop I was supposed to get off at.
여기서 내려 주세요.
Romanization: Yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo.
Please let me off here.
도와주실 수 있어요?
Romanization: Dowajusil su isseoyo?
Could you help me?
이 방향 맞아요?
Romanization: I banghyang majayo?
Is this the right direction?

Example conversations

Buying a bus ride and checking the route

At a bus stop, the learner wants to make sure they are boarding the right bus and can pay with a transit card.

You
저기요, 2번 버스 어디서 타요?
Jeogiyo, ibeon beoseu eodiseo tayo?
Excuse me, where do I take bus 2?
Other person
저기 정류장에서 타세요.
Jeogi jeongnyujangeseo taseyo.
Get on at that stop over there.
You
이 버스 맞나요?
I beoseu matnayo?
Is this the right bus?
Other person
네, 서울역 가는 버스 맞아요.
Ne, Seoul-yeok ganeun beoseu majayo.
Yes, this is the bus to Seoul Station.
You
교통카드로 돼요?
Gyotongkadeuro dwaeyo?
Can I use a transit card?
Other person
네, 돼요. 현금도 돼요.
Ne, dwaeyo. Hyeongeumdo dwaeyo.
Yes, you can. Cash works too.

Train delay, transfer, and a missed stop

On the subway platform, the learner checks the departure time, asks where to transfer, and then realizes they missed their stop.

You
실례합니다, 이 승강장이 맞아요?
Sillyehamnida, i seunggangjangi majayo?
Excuse me, is this the right platform?
Other person
네, 맞아요. 그런데 지금 많이 늦어요.
Ne, majayo. Geurunde jigeum mani neujeoyo.
Yes, it is. But it's quite delayed right now.
You
몇 시에 출발해요?
Myeot sie chulbalhaeyo?
What time does it depart?
Other person
10분 뒤에 출발해요.
Sipbun dwie chulbalhaeyo.
It departs in 10 minutes.
You
어디서 갈아타요?
Eodiseo galatayo?
Where do I transfer?
Other person
시청역에서 2호선으로 갈아타세요.
Sicheongyeogeseo ihoseoneuro garataseyo.
Transfer to Line 2 at City Hall Station.
You
내려야 할 곳을 지나쳤어요.
Naeryeoya hal gos-eul jinachyeosseoyo.
I missed the stop I was supposed to get off at.
Other person
네, 다음 역에서 내리시면 돼요.
Ne, daeum yeokeseo naerisimyeon dwaeyo.
Yes, you can get off at the next station.

A few things to know

polite by default

Use polite -요 forms with drivers, station staff, and unfamiliar passengers. That is the normal safe choice for public transport in Korean. You will also hear short, direct replies in the same polite style, such as a station name, a boarding instruction, or a transfer point.

grammar

Use 에서 for the boarding or getting-off point

Korean often marks the place where an action happens with 에서. That is why you ask '2번 버스 어디서 타요?' and say '여기서 내려 주세요.' For the destination itself, Korean usually uses 에, as in '서울역 가는 거 맞죠?'. This helps you separate the boarding point from the final place.

usage

갈아타다 is the normal transfer verb

The everyday verb for changing buses or trains is 갈아타다, so '어디서 갈아타요?' is the standard way to ask for the transfer point. In real replies, staff often answer with just the station name or platform information, without repeating the full route.

Keep building your everyday vocabulary

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Put the phrases in context