🚌 Daily Hangeul: Essential Korean Phrases for Riding the Bus

Hello! Welcome to Daily Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever felt a little nervous about using the bus in a new country? Don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn some super useful Korean phrases for riding the bus.

This will make your travel in Korea so much easier and more fun. Lately, so many people in Korea are exploring hidden local gems, not just the famous tourist spots. To get to these trendy cafes and K-drama filming locations, the local bus is your best friend!

With the phrases we learn today, you’ll be navigating the city like a local in no time. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Must Know

Here are three essential phrases for your bus adventure in Korea.

1. 이 버스, [장소] 가요?

(I beoseu, [jangso] gayo?)

• English Meaning: Does this bus go to [place]?

• Detailed Explanation: This is the most important phrase to use before you even get on the bus! It’s a lifesaver.

  • 이 버스 (i beoseu): “This bus”

  • 가요? (gayo?): A polite way to ask “Does it go?”

  • Usage: Simply put the name of your destination in the [장소] part.

💡 Pronunciation Tip: The Korean word for bus, 버스 (beoseu), sounds a bit different from English. Try to make the ‘eo’ (ㅓ) sound like the ‘u’ in “uh-oh,” and the ‘eu’ (ㅡ) sound by smiling while saying “ooh.” It’s more like [beo-sseu] with a slightly stronger ‘s’ sound at the end.

2. 다음 정류장에서 내려요.

(Daeum jeongnyujang-eseo naeryeoyo.)

• English Meaning: I’m getting off at the next stop.

• Detailed Explanation: This is a clear and polite way to inform the driver that your stop is coming up. It’s a statement, but everyone will understand you need to get off soon.

  • 다음 (daeum): “Next”

  • 정류장 (jeongnyujang): “Bus stop”

💡 Pronunciation Tip: The word 정류장 can look tricky! Let’s break it down: [jeong-nyu-jang]. The ‘ㅇ’ at the end of a syllable is an “ng” sound (like in “sing”). Don’t pronounce it like “jeong-gu-jang”!

3. 여기서 내려주세요.

(Yeogiseo naeryeojuseyo.)

• English Meaning: Please let me off here.

• Detailed Explanation: This is a direct and polite request. You use this when the bus is already at your stop, and you need to get off.

  • 여기서 (yeogiseo): “Here”

  • -아/어 주세요 (-a/eo juseyo): “Please do [verb] for me.”

💡 Pronunciation Tip: Notice how 여기서 is written as yeo-gi-seo. The pronunciation is straightforward, but it’s good practice for the Korean vowel ‘ㅓ’ (eo). It’s an open sound, similar to the ‘o’ in “song.” Practice saying [yeo] clearly!

🗣️ Example Conversation

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real situation! Imagine a tourist, Alex, trying to get to the trendy neighborhood of Seongsu-dong, famous for its cool cafes and pop-up stores.

(At the bus stop)

• Alex: 실례합니다. 이 버스, 성수역 가요? (Sillyehamnida. I beoseu, Seongsu-yeok gayo?)

  Excuse me. Does this bus go to Seongsu Station?

• Local: 네, 가요. 타세요. (Ne, gayo. Taseyo.)

  Yes, it does. Get on.

(Inside the bus, approaching the stop)

• Alex (to driver): 기사님, 다음 정류장에서 내려요. (Gisanim, daum jeongnyujang-eseo naeryeoyo.)

  Driver, I’m getting off at the next stop.

• Driver: 네, 알겠습니다. (Ne, algesseumnida.)

  Yes, okay.

🇰🇷 Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

• 🔔 Push the Bell! (하차벨 – Hacha-bel) In Korea, you must press the red stop button located on the poles or windows before your stop. If no one presses the bell, the driver might not stop! The phrases we learned are a great backup if you’re unsure or can’t reach the bell in time.

• 💳 Tag On, Tag Off (환승 – Hwanseung) To travel like a true Seoulite, use a T-money card (교통카드, gyotong-kadeu). You tap your card when you get on AND when you get off. Why? Because you can get a discount when you transfer to another bus or the subway within 30 minutes! This is called 환승 (hwanseung).

• 📱 Tech-Savvy Travel Young Koreans heavily rely on navigation apps like Naver Maps or Kakao Maps. These apps show you real-time bus locations and even send you an alert when it’s time to get off. Using these apps along with today’s phrases will make you an unstoppable force in Korean public transport!

📝 Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned how to ask for your bus and how to get off safely and politely.

Recap:

1. 이 버스, [장소] 가요? (Does this bus go to [place]?)

2. 다음 정류장에서 내려요. (I’m getting off at the next stop.)

3. 여기서 내려주세요. (Please let me off here.)

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the Blank: You are approaching your destination. You should tell the driver:

   • “_________ 정류장에서 내려요.”

2. What would you say? You want to go to Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁). You see a bus and want to ask if it goes there. How do you ask?

   • “이 버스, ____________?”

Leave your answers in the comments below using the phrases you learned today! We’d love to see you try them out. Happy travels!