Asking for directions is a common task for travelers, and knowing how to inquire about specific landmarks like a historic fountain can greatly enhance your exploration of Korea. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for tourists seeking directions to a historic fountain, along with cultural tips for polite interaction.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 역사적인 분수
Pronunciation: yeok-sa-jeok-in bun-su
Meaning: Historic fountain
Basic Tourist Phrases
-
Expression: 실례합니다.
Pronunciation: sil-lye-ham-ni-da
Meaning: Excuse me. -
Expression: 저기요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo
Meaning: Excuse me (to get someone’s attention). -
Expression: 저는 관광객이에요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun gwan-gwang-gaek-i-e-yo
Meaning: I am a tourist. -
Expression: 한국말 잘 못해요.
Pronunciation: han-guk-mal jal mot-hae-yo
Meaning: I don’t speak Korean well. -
Expression: 영어로 말해도 괜찮아요?
Pronunciation: yeong-eo-ro mal-hae-do gwaen-chan-a-yo?
Meaning: Is it okay if I speak English? -
Expression: 좀 도와주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: jom do-wa-ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Can you help me for a moment? -
Expression: 길을 잃었어요.
Pronunciation: gi-reul i-reo-sseo-yo
Meaning: I’m lost. -
Expression: 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Meaning: Thank you (formal). -
Expression: 천천히 말해주세요.
Pronunciation: cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please speak slowly. -
Expression: 다시 한번 말해주세요.
Pronunciation: da-si han-beon mal-hae-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please say that again. -
Expression: 이 주소를 아세요?
Pronunciation: i ju-so-reul a-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you know this address? -
Expression: 사진 좀 찍어 주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: sa-jin jom jji-geo ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please take a picture for me? (Useful near landmarks)
Asking About the Fountain’s Location
-
Expression: 이 근처에 역사적인 분수가 있나요?
Pronunciation: i geun-cheo-e yeok-sa-jeok-in bun-su-ga it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a historic fountain near here? -
Expression: 역사적인 분수가 어디에 있는지 아세요?
Pronunciation: yeok-sa-jeok-in bun-su-ga eo-di-e it-neun-ji a-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you know where the historic fountain is? -
Expression: 역사적인 분수까지 어떻게 가요?
Pronunciation: yeok-sa-jeok-in bun-su-kka-ji eo-tteo-ke ga-yo?
Meaning: How do I get to the historic fountain? -
Expression: 가장 가까운 역사적인 분수가 어디예요?
Pronunciation: ga-jang ga-kka-un yeok-sa-jeok-in bun-su-ga eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is the nearest historic fountain? -
Expression: 이 분수가 유명해요?
Pronunciation: i bun-su-ga yu-myeong-hae-yo?
Meaning: Is this fountain famous? -
Expression: 여기서 멀어요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo meo-reo-yo?
Meaning: Is it far from here? -
Expression: 걸어서 갈 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: geo-reo-seo gal su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Can I walk there? -
Expression: 버스를 타야 해요?
Pronunciation: beo-seu-reul ta-ya hae-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to take a bus? -
Expression: 지하철을 타야 해요?
Pronunciation: ji-ha-cheo-reul ta-ya hae-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to take the subway? -
Expression: 지도를 보여주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: ji-do-reul bo-yeo-ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Can you show me on the map? -
Expression: 어느 방향으로 가야 해요?
Pronunciation: eo-neu bang-hyang-eu-ro ga-ya hae-yo?
Meaning: Which direction should I go? -
Expression: 분수 이름이 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: bun-su i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the name of the fountain?
Understanding Directions and Descriptions
-
Expression: 이쪽으로 쭉 가세요.
Pronunciation: i-jjok-eu-ro jjuk ga-se-yo
Meaning: Go straight this way. -
Expression: 오른쪽으로 도세요.
Pronunciation: o-reun-jjok-eu-ro do-se-yo
Meaning: Turn right. -
Expression: 왼쪽으로 도세요.
Pronunciation: oen-jjok-eu-ro do-se-yo
Meaning: Turn left. -
Expression: 길 건너편에 있어요.
Pronunciation: gil geon-neo-pyeon-e i-sseo-yo
Meaning: It’s across the street. -
Expression: 여기서 가까워요.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo ga-kka-wo-yo
Meaning: It’s close from here. -
Expression: 조금 멀어요.
Pronunciation: jo-geum meo-reo-yo
Meaning: It’s a bit far. -
Expression: 걸어서 10분 정도 걸려요.
Pronunciation: geo-reo-seo sip-bun jeong-do geol-lyeo-yo
Meaning: It takes about 10 minutes on foot. -
Expression: 저기 큰 건물 뒤에 있어요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi keun geon-mul dwi-e i-sseo-yo
Meaning: It’s behind that big building over there. -
Expression: 그 분수는 아주 오래됐어요.
Pronunciation: geu bun-su-neun a-ju o-rae-dwae-sseo-yo
Meaning: That fountain is very old. -
Expression: 밤에 보면 더 예뻐요.
Pronunciation: bam-e bo-myeon deo ye-ppeo-yo
Meaning: It’s prettier if you see it at night. -
Expression: 공원 안에 있어요.
Pronunciation: gong-won an-e i-sseo-yo
Meaning: It’s inside the park. -
Expression: 찾기 쉬울 거예요.
Pronunciation: chat-gi swi-ul geo-ye-yo
Meaning: It will be easy to find.
Cultural Tips
Politeness Matters: Always start with a polite greeting like 실례합니다 (sil-lye-ham-ni-da – Excuse me) before asking for directions. Koreans appreciate politeness, especially from foreigners.
Use Formal Language: When speaking to strangers, especially those older than you, use formal language endings like -요 (-yo) or -ㅂ니다/습니다 (-m-ni-da / -seum-ni-da). The phrases provided here use the polite -요 (-yo) ending, which is generally safe.
Show Gratitude: After receiving help, always express thanks with 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da – Thank you). A slight bow can also show respect.
Be Prepared for Helpfulness: Koreans are often very helpful to tourists. Don’t be surprised if someone goes out of their way to help you, perhaps even walking you part of the way or drawing a map.
Using Technology: While asking locals is great practice, having a map app (like Naver Map or Kakao Map, which are more detailed in Korea than Google Maps) on your phone is highly recommended as a backup.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) approaches a local resident (B) near a park entrance to ask about a historic fountain mentioned in a guidebook.
-
Expression: A: 실례합니다. 저는 관광객인데요.
Pronunciation: sil-lye-ham-ni-da. jeo-neun gwan-gwang-gaek-in-de-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me. I’m a tourist. -
Expression: B: 네, 안녕하세요. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. mu-eo-seul do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, hello. How can I help you? -
Expression: A: 이 근처에 오래된 역사적인 분수가 있다고 들었어요. 혹시 어디 있는지 아세요?
Pronunciation: i geun-cheo-e o-rae-doen yeok-sa-jeok-in bun-su-ga it-da-go deu-reo-sseo-yo. hok-si eo-di it-neun-ji a-se-yo?
Meaning: A: I heard there’s an old, historic fountain near here. Do you happen to know where it is? -
Expression: B: 아, 네! 저 공원 안에 있는 분수 말씀이시죠? 아주 유명해요.
Pronunciation: a, ne! jeo gong-won an-e it-neun bun-su mal-sseum-i-si-jyo? a-ju yu-myeong-hae-yo.
Meaning: B: Ah, yes! You mean the fountain inside that park, right? It’s very famous. -
Expression: A: 네, 맞아요! 거기까지 어떻게 가야 하나요? 걸어서 갈 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: ne, ma-ja-yo! geo-gi-kka-ji eo-tteo-ke ga-ya ha-na-yo? geo-reo-seo gal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: A: Yes, that’s right! How do I get there? Can I walk? -
Expression: B: 네, 걸어서 5분 정도면 가요. 이 길로 쭉 가셔서 공원 입구로 들어가세요. 들어가서 왼쪽 길로 조금만 가면 바로 보일 거예요.
Pronunciation: ne, geo-reo-seo o-bun jeong-do-myeon ga-yo. i gil-lo jjuk ga-syeo-seo gong-won ip-gu-ro deu-reo-ga-se-yo. deu-reo-ga-seo oen-jjok gil-lo jo-geum-man ga-myeon ba-ro bo-il geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, it’s about a 5-minute walk. Go straight down this path and enter the park entrance. Once inside, take the left path for a short distance, and you’ll see it right away. -
Expression: A: 아, 그렇군요! 정말 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-kun-yo! jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: A: Ah, I see! Thank you so much! -
Expression: B: 별말씀을요. 즐거운 여행 되세요!
Pronunciation: byeol-mal-sseum-eul-lyo. jeul-geo-un yeo-haeng doe-se-yo!
Meaning: B: You’re welcome. Have a pleasant trip!
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect~! Try saying these phrases out loud, focusing on the pronunciation. You can practice asking for directions to places near you, even if you already know the way. Role-play the conversation example with a friend or language partner. Don’t be afraid to approach people in Korea; starting with a polite 실례합니다 (sil-lye-ham-ni-da) and a smile goes a long way! Good luck finding those beautiful historic fountains! 화이팅!
