Korean Taxi and Subway Phrases

32 flashcards · Beginner · Language Learning

Teaches the Korean phrases for taking a taxi and the subway in Korea, from hailing a cab and giving the destination to paying and finding the right line and exit. Includes what drivers and train announcements say, so you recognize it.

Best forTravelers and beginners who want to take taxis and the subway in Korea with simple polite Korean.

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택시

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Call or hail a taxi

Taxi. The word comes from English and is said with a Korean sound: taek-si.

택시

Pronunciation
taeksi

What you'll learn

  • How to say taxi in Korean and hail a free one
  • How to give a driver your destination politely
  • How to say stop here, turn right, turn left and go straight
  • How to pay by card or transit card in a taxi
  • How to ask about subway lines, transfers and exit numbers
  • What drivers and subway announcements say

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Call or hail a taxi · 5

택시/ taeksi /
Taxi. The word comes from English and is said with a Korean sound: taek-si.
빈차/ bincha /
Vacant. The lit sign that shows a taxi is free. If you see it, wave the taxi down.
택시 정류장이 어디예요?/ taeksi jeongnyujang-i eodiyeyo /
Where is the taxi stand? Useful at airports, train stations and big hotels, where taxis wait in line.
택시 좀 불러 주세요./ taeksi jom bulleo juseyo /
Could you call a taxi for me, please? Say it to hotel or shop staff.
택시 불렀어요./ taeksi bulleosseoyo /
I called a taxi. Use it when you booked a ride on an app, such as Kakao T, and staff or a driver asks if you are waiting.

Give the destination · 5

서울역으로 가 주세요./ seoullyeogeuro ga juseyo /
To Seoul Station, please. Put the place name before 로 가 주세요 (으로 after a final consonant). This is the standard way to tell a driver where to go.
공항까지 가 주세요./ gonghangkkaji ga juseyo /
Please take me to the airport. 까지 means "as far as". It works the same as 로 가 주세요; both are polite.
여기로 가 주세요./ yeogiro ga juseyo /
Please go here. Say it while you show the driver an address or a map on your phone. Many drivers find this easier than a spoken name.
홍대입구역이요./ hongdaeipguyeogiyo /
Hongik University Station, please. The short way: just the place name plus 이요 (요 after a vowel). Drivers hear this all day.
명동까지 얼마나 걸려요?/ myeongdongkkaji eolmana geollyeoyo /
How long does it take to Myeongdong? Swap in your destination before 까지.

On the way · 5

여기서 세워 주세요./ yeogiseo sewo juseyo /
Please stop here. Say it when you want the car to pull over now.
여기서 내려 주세요./ yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo /
Please let me off here. Means almost the same as 세워 주세요, from the rider's side.
우회전해 주세요./ uhoejeonhae juseyo /
Please turn right. Drivers use the words for right and left turns, 우회전 and 좌회전.
좌회전해 주세요./ jwahoejeonhae juseyo /
Please turn left.
직진해 주세요./ jikjinhae juseyo /
Please go straight ahead. 쭉 가 주세요 (jjuk ga juseyo) is also common.

Pay · 5

얼마예요?/ eolmayeyo /
How much is it? The fare shows on the meter, so you can also just look.
카드 돼요?/ kadeu dwaeyo /
Can I pay by card? Most taxis in Seoul take cards, but ask before you set off if you are not sure.
교통카드로 할게요./ gyotongkadeuro halgeyo /
I'll pay with my transit card. A transit card such as T-money works in many taxis as well as on the subway and bus.
영수증 주세요./ yeongsujeung juseyo /
A receipt, please.
수고하세요./ sugohaseyo /
A common polite goodbye as you get out, said to someone at work. Some people feel it sounds a little casual toward an older driver; 감사합니다 (thank you) is always safe.

What drivers say · 4

어디 가세요?/ eodi gaseyo /
Where are you going? The driver asks this as you get in. You will also hear 어디로 가세요? or 어디까지 가세요?
안전벨트 매 주세요./ anjeonbelteu mae juseyo /
Please fasten your seatbelt. A driver may say this as you set off, in the back seat too.
여기서 내려 드릴까요?/ yeogiseo naeryeo deurilkkayo /
Shall I let you off here? The driver asks when you are close. Answer 네 (yes) or 조금 더 가 주세요 (a little further, please).
카드 여기 대 주세요./ kadeu yeogi dae juseyo /
Tap your card here, please. The driver points to the card reader.

Subway basics · 8

지하철역이 어디예요?/ jihacheollyeogi eodiyeyo /
Where is the subway station? Ask a passer-by or shop staff.
몇 호선이에요?/ myeot hoseonieyo /
Which line is it? Seoul subway lines have numbers and colors, so the answer is often a number plus 호선.
이거 강남역 가요?/ igeo gangnamyeok gayo /
Does this go to Gangnam Station? Ask on the platform before you get on. Swap in your station name.
어디서 갈아타야 돼요?/ eodiseo garataya dwaeyo /
Where do I need to transfer? 갈아타다 means to change trains. Signs for transfers say 환승.
몇 번 출구로 나가야 해요?/ myeot beon chulguro nagaya haeyo /
Which exit number should I take? Big stations have many numbered exits, and directions in Korea often use the exit number.
교통카드 충전해 주세요./ gyotongkadeu chungjeonhae juseyo /
Please top up my transit card. Say it at a convenience store counter. Stations also have top-up machines. Top-up is often cash only, so carry some won.
이번 역은 강남역입니다./ ibeon yeogeun gangnamyeogimnida /
This stop is Gangnam Station. The train announcement you will hear before each stop, with the station name in the middle. Listen for 이번 역은 and the name.
내리실 문은 오른쪽입니다./ naerisil muneun oreunjjogimnida /
The doors open on the right. An announcement before each stop; 왼쪽 means left.
Korean Taxi and Subway Phrases

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