Walk Like a Local: Asking “How Long?” in Korean
Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Ever found yourself in a new city, wondering if that cool café is close enough to walk to? Today, we’re going to learn a super useful phrase for exactly that situation: “How long does it take to walk?”
Lately in Korea, exploring trendy, walkable neighborhoods like Seongsu-dong in Seoul by foot (it’s called 뚜벅이 여행 – ttubeogi yeohaeng) is super popular! Imagine you’re there, you spot a famous bakery on the map, and you want to know if you can walk. This lesson will give you the confidence to ask a local and navigate like a pro. Let’s get started!
Key Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three essential building blocks for asking about walking time.
- 1. 걸어서 (geol-eo-seo)
- Romanization: [geol-eo-seo]
- English Meaning: on foot / by walking
- Detailed Explanation: This is the magic word! It comes from the verb 걷다 (geot-da), which means “to walk.” Adding -어서 (-eo-seo) specifies how you are traveling. Always use this word to make it clear you’re not asking about the bus or subway. It’s a casual and friendly expression.
- 2. 얼마나 걸려요? (eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?)
- Romanization: [eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?]
- English Meaning: How long does it take?
- Detailed Explanation: This is your main question phrase. 얼마나 (eolmana) means “how much” or “how long,” and 걸려요 (geollyeoyo) is the polite form of “it takes.” You can use this phrase for time, money, or effort, but in this context, it’s all about time!
- 3. (10)분 정도 (sip-bun jeong-do)
- Romanization: [(sip)-bun jeong-do]
- English Meaning: About (10) minutes
- Detailed Explanation: This is the kind of answer you will hear. 분 (bun) means “minute,” and 정도 (jeongdo) means “about” or “approximately.” Koreans use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사…) with 분. So, 5 minutes is 오분 (o-bun) and 10 minutes is 십분 (sip-bun).
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation. Imagine you are in the trendy Seongsu neighborhood and want to walk to the famous Seoul Forest park.
A (You):
실례합니다. 여기에서 서울숲까지 걸어서 얼마나 걸려요?
[Sillyehamnida. Yeogi-eseo Seoul-sup-kkaji geol-eo-seo eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?]
(Excuse me. How long does it take to walk to Seoul Forest from here?)
B (A friendly local):
아, 서울숲이요? 걸어서 10분 정도 걸려요.
[A, Seoul-sup-i-yo? Geol-eo-seo sip-bun jeong-do geol-lyeo-yo.]
(Ah, Seoul Forest? It takes about 10 minutes on foot.)
A (You):
네, 감사합니다!
[Ne, gamsahamnida!]
(Okay, thank you!)
See? Simple and effective!
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, walking is a huge part of daily life, especially in big cities. That’s why “뚜벅이 여행” (ttubeogi yeohaeng – traveling on foot) is such a popular trend among young Koreans. They love exploring alleys, finding hidden cafes, and enjoying the city at a slower pace.
Pro-Tip: While navigation apps like Naver Maps are fantastic and give precise walking times, asking a person is a great way to practice your Korean and have a friendly interaction. When you use the phrase “걸어서 얼마나 걸려요?”, you sound much more natural than just pointing at a map. It shows you’ve made an effort to learn the local language, and Koreans really appreciate that! You’ll look like a true insider!
Let’s Review and Practice!
Great job today! You learned how to ask how long it takes to walk somewhere. We covered:
* 걸어서 (on foot)
* 얼마나 걸려요? (How long does it take?)
* ~분 정도 (About ~ minutes)
Now, it’s your turn to practice!
Practice Quiz:
You want to walk to the subway station (지하철역 – jihacheol-yeok). How would you ask “How long does it take to walk to the subway station?” using the phrases we learned?
Fill in the blank:
지하철역까지 _________ _________?
Leave your answer in the comments below! We’d love to see you practice. Keep up the amazing work
