Lost in Seoul? How to Ask “Where Is…?” in Korean!
Hello! Welcome to Maeil Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever been wandering through a new city, trying to find a specific place? Today, we’re going to learn the most essential Korean phrases for asking for directions. This will be super useful whether you’re looking for a bank, a subway station, or that trendy café you saw in a K-drama!
These days in Korea, pop-up stores and hidden gem restaurants are all the rage. To find these cool spots like a local, you’ll need to know how to ask, “Where is it?” So, let’s get you ready for your next Korean adventure!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the key phrases that will make you a pro at navigating Korea!
1. ~이/가 어디에 있어요? (~i/ga eodi-e isseoyo?)
- Korean Expression: ~이/가 어디에 있어요?
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: ~i/ga eodi-e isseoyo?
- English Meaning: Where is ~?
- Detailed Explanation: This is the magic phrase for asking where something is. It’s polite and can be used in almost any situation. You simply add the name of the place you’re looking for before it.
- Use 이 (i) if the place name ends in a consonant (e.g., 은행이 – eunhaeng-i).
- Use 가 (ga) if the place name ends in a vowel (e.g., 약국가 – yakguk-ga). Wait, that’s not right! Let’s correct that:
- Use 이 (i) if the place name ends in a consonant (e.g., 은행이 – eunhaeng-i).
- Use 가 (ga) if the place name ends in a vowel (e.g., 학교가 – hakgyo-ga).
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The phrase 어디에 (eodi-e) is pronounced smoothly. The ‘어 (eo)’ sound is similar to the ‘o’ in the English word “song.” Don’t pronounce it like “oh-dee-eh,” but more like a fluid [eodi-e].
2. 저기요 (Jeogiyo)
- Korean Expression: 저기요
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jeogiyo
- English Meaning: Excuse me
- Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect way to politely get someone’s attention before you ask your question. You can use it to call a waiter in a restaurant or stop someone on the street for help. It literally means “over there,” but it’s used to say, “Excuse me, can I get your attention?”
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The ‘저 (jeo)’ sound is key here. Again, it’s that ‘eo’ sound, not a hard “jo.” The ‘요 (yo)’ at the end makes the expression polite and friendly.
3. 은행 (Eunhaeng)
- Korean Expression: 은행
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Eunhaeng
- English Meaning: Bank
- Detailed Explanation: A simple but very useful vocabulary word! Here are a few others you might need:
- 지하철역 (jihacheol-yeok): Subway station
- 약국 (yakguk): Pharmacy
- 편의점 (pyeonui-jeom): Convenience store
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
In 은행 (eunhaeng), the 받침 (final consonant) ‘ㄴ(n)’ meets the next letter ‘ㅎ(h)’. When this happens, the ‘h’ sound becomes very soft or disappears, making it sound like [eunaeng]. It’s not a strong “eun-H-aeng” but a smoother [eunaeng]. This makes your pronunciation sound much more natural!
4. 감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida)
- Korean Expression: 감사합니다
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gamsahamnida
- English Meaning: Thank you (Formal)
- Detailed Explanation: After someone helps you, this is the most common and polite way to express your gratitude. Always remember to say thank you!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
This is a classic example of a Korean pronunciation rule called ‘nasalization.’ Even though it’s written with a ‘ㅂ’ (b) sound in ‘합 (hap)’, when ‘ㅂ (b)’ is followed by ‘ㄴ (n)’, the ‘ㅂ’ sound changes to an ‘ㅁ (m)’ sound. So, instead of saying “gam-sa-hab-ni-da,” you should pronounce it as [gam-sa-ham-ni-da]. It sounds much smoother and more native!
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation! Imagine you’re in Seoul, looking for a bank near a famous K-drama filming spot.
- A: 저기요, 실례합니다. 이 근처에 은행이 어디에 있어요?
- (Jeogiyo, sillyehamnida. I geuncheo-e eunhaeng-i eodi-e isseoyo?)
- Excuse me. Where is a bank near here?
- B: 아, 은행이요? 저기 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가시면 바로 보여요.
- (A, eunhaeng-iyo? Jeogi sageori-eseo oreunjjogeuro gasimyeon baro boyeoyo.)
- Oh, the bank? If you go right at that intersection, you’ll see it right away.
- A: 아, 그렇군요. 감사합니다!
- (A, geureokun-yo. Gamsahamnida!)
- Oh, I see. Thank you!
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
While navigation apps like Naver Maps are amazing, sometimes asking a person is the best way to find your destination in Korea’s winding streets. Especially when you’re looking for a trendy, new pop-up store for a K-pop group like SEVENTEEN or IVE, which might not be marked on the map yet!
Koreans are generally very friendly and willing to help a lost foreigner. Using a polite phrase like “저기요” and a smile will almost always get you a kind response. If you can ask “은행이 어디에 있어요?” in Korean, they’ll be even more impressed and eager to help you. It’s a great way to have a small, positive interaction with a local!
Wrap-up & Practice Time!
Great job today! You’ve learned how to get someone’s attention (저기요), ask where a place is (~이/가 어디에 있어요?), and thank them politely (감사합니다).
Now, let’s test your knowledge!
- Fill in the blank: You want to ask, “Where is the subway station?”
- 지하철역___ 어디에 있어요? (What goes in the blank, 이 or 가?)
- Sentence Building: How would you ask where the pharmacy (약국) is? (Hint: Remember to be polite and start by getting their attention!)
You’re now ready to explore Korea without getting lost!
Leave a comment below and try asking where your favorite place is in Korean! See you next time
