[Learn Korean Day 10] Getting Around: Essential Transportation Words

Lee Serene
2 days ago
4 min read

[Learn Korean Day 10] Getting Around: Essential Transportation Words

Essential Korean transportation vocabulary: subway, bus, and taxi phrases.

Hello, Korean learners! Welcome back to Day 10 with Instructor Soona.

Over the past few days, we learned the names of important places and how to ask for directions. Now, there is only one question left: How do you actually get there?

South Korea, especially Seoul, has one of the best public transportation systems in the world. It is clean, fast, and incredibly easy to use. Today, we will learn the essential vocabulary for vehicles, stations, and the verbs you need to travel like a local.

Let’s dive right in!

1. Vehicles (교통수단)

First, let's learn the nouns for different types of vehicles. Read these out loud:

1. 버스 [beo-seu] - Bus

2. 지하철 [ji-ha-cheol] - Subway / Metro

3. 택시 [taek-si] - Taxi

4. 기차 [gi-cha] - Train

Note: "지하철" is for the subway inside the city, while "기차" is for long-distance trains traveling between different cities (like the KTX).

5. 비행기 [bi-haeng-gi] - Airplane

6. 자전거 [ja-jeon-geo] - Bicycle

2. Stations & Stops (장소)

Where do you go to catch these vehicles?

7. 역 [yeok] - Station (Subway / Train)

Usage: 서울역 (Seoul Station), 강남역 (Gangnam Station)

8. 정류장 [jeong-nyu-jang] - Bus stop

Usage: 버스 정류장 (Bus stop)

9. 공항 [gong-hang] - Airport

10. 교통카드 [gyo-tong-ka-deu] - Transit card (Transportation card)

3. Essential Action Verbs (동사)

Knowing the vehicles is not enough; you need to know the action verbs to use them properly! Note the specific particles attached to them.

11. 타다 [ta-da] - To ride / To get on

Usage: [Vehicle] + 을/를 타다
Example: 지하철을 타요. (I take the subway.)

12. 내리다 [nae-ri-da] - To get off

Usage: [Vehicle] + 에서 내리다
Example: 버스에서 내려요. (I get off the bus.)

13. 환승하다 [hwan-seung-ha-da] / 갈아타다 [ga-ra-ta-da] - To transfer

Note: Both mean "to transfer," but "환승하다" is the formal word you will hear in subway announcements!

14. 걸어가다 [geol-eo-ga-da] - To walk (to a place)

Example: 학교에 걸어가요. (I walk to school.)

4. Soona's Culture Tip: The Magical Transit Card

If you visit Korea, the very first thing you should buy at a convenience store is a 교통카드 (Transit Card), often called a T-money card.

Why is it so important? Not only does it give you a small discount on your fare, but it also allows you to 환승 (Transfer) for FREE!

If you take a subway and then transfer to a bus within 30 minutes, your bus ride is free. When you tap your card on the bus scanner, you will hear a pleasant voice say: "환승입니다!" (It is a transfer!).

Just remember the golden rule: You must tap your card when you get ON the bus, and you must tap it again when you get OFF the bus to get the transfer discount!

5. Mini Pop Quiz!

Let’s test your transportation vocabulary.

Q1. You are giving directions and want to say "Get off at Gangnam Station." Which verb means "To get off"?

A) 타다 B) 내리다 C) 걸어가다

Q2. What is the Korean word for "Subway"?

A) 버스 B) 기차 C) 지하철

(Answers at the bottom of the page!)

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Quiz Answers: Q1 (B - 내리다 means to get off), Q2 (C - 지하철 is subway, 기차 is train)