Directions in Korean

Directions in Korean：Essential Expressions and Tips

If you're on the journey to learn Korean, one of the most practical skills to develop is understanding how to ask for and give directions. Whether you’re visiting Korea or simply levelling up your Korean, knowing how to say directions is essential. In this article, you’ll discover useful phrases, vocabulary, and cultural tips to help you confidently navigate your way in Korean!

Essential Phrases for Asking Directions in Korean

Before getting into specific vocabulary, it's essential to know how to ask for directions politely. Here are some handy phrases that you can use:

에 어떻게 가요? (...e eotteoke gayo?)
Translation: How do I get to…?
Example: 명동에 어떻게 가요? (Myeongdong-e eotteoke gayo?) – How do I get to Myeongdong?
이 길은 어디로 가요? (i gil-eun eodiro gayo?)
Translation: Where does this road go?
가장 가까운 지하철역이 어디예요? (gajang gakkaun jihacheolyeok-i eodieyo?)
Translation: Where is the nearest subway station?
오른쪽/왼쪽으로 가세요. (oreunjjok/oenjjok-euro gaseyo.)
Translation: Go to the right/left.
직진하세요. (jikjin-haseyo.)
Translation: Go straight.

Politeness is highly valued in Korean culture, so it's good practice to start with these polite expressions before asking questions:

실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) – Excuse me (formal and polite).
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) – I'm sorry (used to politely get someone’s attention)
혹시... (hoksi) – By any chance... (a soft way to start a question).
여쭤봐도 될까요? (yeojjwobwado doelkkayo?) – May I ask you something? (very polite).

For more useful expressions, check out: 15 Basic Korean Phrases for Beginners to Start Using Today!

Korean Vocabulary for Understanding Directions

Directional Words in Korean

Let’s begin with some basic directional words in Korean. Understanding these key terms is essential in both the physical and gaming world!

Korean (Hangul)	Romanization	English Meaning	Example Sentence
오른쪽	oreunjjok	Right	오른쪽으로 가세요. (oreunjjok-euro gaseyo) Go to the right.
왼쪽	oenjjok	Left	왼쪽으로 가세요. (oenjjok-euro gaseyo) Go to the left.
직진	jikjin	Go straight	직진하세요. (jikjin-haseyo) Go straight.
뒤로	dwiro	Go back	뒤로 가세요. (dwiro gaseyo) Go back.

Positional Words in Korean

Then let’s check out some positional words in Korean. These positional words can help you understand where things are relative to each other.

Korean (Hangul)	Romanization	English Meaning	Example Sentence
건너편	geonneopyeon	Across from	건너편에 있어요. (geonneopyeon-e isseoyo) It’s across from (something).
옆에	yeope	Beside	건물 옆에 있어요. (geonmul yeope isseoyo) It’s beside the building.
근처에	geuncheoe	Nearby	건물 옆에 있어요. (geonmul yeope isseoyo) It’s beside the building.

Cardinal Directions in Korean

In some situations, such as using a map, Koreans may refer to cardinal directions.

Korean (Hangul)	Romanization	English Meaning	Example Sentence
북쪽	bukjjok	North	북쪽으로 가세요. (bukjjok-euro gaseyo) Go to the north.
남쪽	namjjok	South	남쪽으로 가세요. (namjjok-euro gaseyo) Go to the south.
동쪽	dongjjok	East	동쪽으로 가세요. (dongjjok-euro gaseyo) Go to the east.
동쪽	seojjok	West	서쪽으로 가세요. (seojjok-euro gaseyo) Go to the west.

Intercardinal Directions in Korean

If you want to refer to a more specific location on the map, such as northwest, here’s how to say it!

북서쪽 (bukseojjok): 북 (north) + 서 (west) + 쪽 (jjok) (which means "side" or "direction") = Northwest
북동쪽 (bukdongjjok): 북 (north) + 동 (east) + 쪽 (jjok) = Northeast
남서쪽 (namseojjok): 남 (south) + 서 (west) + 쪽 (jjok) = Southwest
남동쪽 (namdongjjok): 남 (south) + 동 (east) + 쪽 (jjok) = Southeast

Common Korean Phrases to Understand the Direction

We’ve compiled some basic Korean words that are commonly used in responses. Now, let’s put them into sentences to illustrate what you might hear when asking for directions.

첫 번째 신호등에서 오른쪽으로 가세요.
(cheot beonjjae shinhodeung-eseo oreunjjok-euro gaseyo.)
Turn right at the first traffic light.
교차로를 건너면 목적지가 보여요.
(gyocharo-reul geonneomyeon mokjeokji-ga boyeoyo.)
After crossing the intersection, you'll see your destination.
왼쪽에 은행이 있어요.
(oenjjok-e eunhaeng-i isseoyo.)
There is a bank on your left.
건물 옆에 있어요.
(geonmul yeope isseoyo.)
It’s beside the building.

Additional Korean Words for Asking Directions

Here are other useful Korean words you may use when asking for directions.

Korean (Hangul)	Romanization	English Meaning
화장실	hwajangsil	Restroom
엘리베이터	ellibeiteo	Elevator
에스컬레이터	eseukeolleiteo	Escalator
역	yeok	Station
병원	byeongwon	Hospital
약국	yakguk	Pharmacy
은행	eunhaeng	Bank
우체국	ucheguk	Post Office
경찰서	gyeongchalseo	Police Station
음식점	eumsikjeom	Restaurant

How to Practice Directions in Korean

These Korean expressions may seem challenging at first, but with practice, you’ll become more fluent. Here are some strategies to enhance your Korean skills, especially regarding directions:

Watch Korean dramas: Immerse yourself in the language by watching local dramas or movies. You’ll find numerous scenes where characters navigate the city. Listen to their expressions and repeat them to sound more natural when giving directions.
Practice with apps: Language learning apps, like LingoDeer, are always a good start point! It offers interactive exercises and quizzes to help you master essential Korean expressions, including directions and locations. Start your Korean learning journey on their website or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Listen to podcasts: With the growing popularity of podcasts, they gradually become an excellent resource for language learning. Check out this blog post to explore useful channels to boost your Korean language skills.

Conclusion

Knowing how to ask for and understand directions in Korean is a vital skill for both visitors and language learners. With the vocabulary, phrases, and tips outlined in this article, you’re well on your way to confidently navigating Korean-speaking environments. Keep practicing and don’t be afraid to ask for help—every question brings you closer to fluency!