Finding a restroom is a basic need when traveling or navigating a new place. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for asking where the restroom is, understanding directions, and related cultural information to help you handle this common situation politely and effectively in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 화장실 어디예요?
Pronunciation: hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is the restroom? (Standard polite)
Basic Vocabulary
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Expression: 화장실
Pronunciation: hwa-jang-sil
Meaning: Restroom, toilet, bathroom -
Expression: 남자
Pronunciation: nam-ja
Meaning: Man (often seen on men’s restroom doors) -
Expression: 여자
Pronunciation: yeo-ja
Meaning: Woman (often seen on women’s restroom doors) -
Expression: 공용
Pronunciation: gong-yong
Meaning: Unisex, shared use -
Expression: 여기
Pronunciation: yeo-gi
Meaning: Here -
Expression: 저기
Pronunciation: jeo-gi
Meaning: Over there -
Expression: 거기
Pronunciation: geo-gi
Meaning: There (near the listener) -
Expression: 층
Pronunciation: cheung
Meaning: Floor (level of a building) -
Expression: 지하
Pronunciation: ji-ha
Meaning: Basement -
Expression: 계단
Pronunciation: gye-dan
Meaning: Stairs -
Expression: 엘리베이터
Pronunciation: el-li-be-i-teo
Meaning: Elevator -
Expression: 비밀번호
Pronunciation: bi-mil-beon-ho
Meaning: Passcode (sometimes needed for restrooms in cafes/restaurants)
Useful Phrases for Asking
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Expression: 실례합니다. 화장실 어디예요?
Pronunciation: sil-lye-ham-ni-da. hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Excuse me. Where is the restroom? -
Expression: 저기요, 화장실 어디 있는지 아세요?
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, hwa-jang-sil eo-di it-neun-ji a-se-yo?
Meaning: Excuse me, do you know where the restroom is? -
Expression: 화장실이 어디에 있습니까?
Pronunciation: hwa-jang-sil-i eo-di-e it-sseum-ni-kka?
Meaning: Where is the restroom? (More formal) -
Expression: 화장실 어디야?
Pronunciation: hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ya?
Meaning: Where’s the restroom? (Casual, used with close friends) -
Expression: 이 근처에 화장실 있어요?
Pronunciation: i geun-cheo-e hwa-jang-sil iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Is there a restroom near here? -
Expression: 가장 가까운 화장실이 어디예요?
Pronunciation: ga-jang ga-kka-un hwa-jang-sil-i eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is the nearest restroom? -
Expression: 남자 화장실은 어디예요?
Pronunciation: nam-ja hwa-jang-sil-eun eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is the men’s restroom? -
Expression: 여자 화장실은 어디예요?
Pronunciation: yeo-ja hwa-jang-sil-eun eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is the women’s restroom? -
Expression: 화장실 좀 써도 될까요?
Pronunciation: hwa-jang-sil jom sseo-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: May I use the restroom? (Asking for permission, e.g., in a small shop) -
Expression: 화장실 비밀번호 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: hwa-jang-sil bi-mil-beon-ho mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the restroom passcode? -
Expression: 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Meaning: Thank you. (Essential after getting directions) -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, da-si han-beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-get-sseo-yo?
Meaning: I’m sorry, but could you please say that again?
Understanding Directions
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Expression: 오른쪽
Pronunciation: o-reun-jjok
Meaning: Right side -
Expression: 왼쪽
Pronunciation: oen-jjok
Meaning: Left side -
Expression: 직진
Pronunciation: jik-jin
Meaning: Straight ahead -
Expression: 쭉 가세요.
Pronunciation: jjuk ga-se-yo
Meaning: Go straight. -
Expression: 오른쪽으로 가세요.
Pronunciation: o-reun-jjok-eu-ro ga-se-yo
Meaning: Go to the right. -
Expression: 왼쪽으로 도세요.
Pronunciation: oen-jjok-eu-ro do-se-yo
Meaning: Turn to the left. -
Expression: 저쪽에 있어요.
Pronunciation: jeo-jjok-e iss-eo-yo
Meaning: It’s over there. -
Expression: 계단 올라가세요 / 내려가세요.
Pronunciation: gye-dan ol-la-ga-se-yo / nae-ryeo-ga-se-yo
Meaning: Go up / Go down the stairs. -
Expression: 엘리베이터 타세요.
Pronunciation: el-li-be-i-teo ta-se-yo
Meaning: Take the elevator. -
Expression: 2층에 있어요.
Pronunciation: i-cheung-e iss-eo-yo
Meaning: It’s on the 2nd floor. -
Expression: 지하 1층에 있어요.
Pronunciation: ji-ha il-cheung-e iss-eo-yo
Meaning: It’s on the basement level 1 (B1). -
Expression: 복도 끝에 있어요.
Pronunciation: bok-do kkeut-e iss-eo-yo
Meaning: It’s at the end of the hallway.
Korean Culture Notes
Public restrooms (공중 화장실 – gong-jung hwa-jang-sil) are widely available and generally well-maintained in Korea, especially in subway stations, shopping malls, parks, and highway rest areas. You can usually find them easily.
While most modern facilities have Western-style toilets, you might occasionally encounter traditional squat toilets (쪼그려 앉는 변기 – jjo-geu-ryeo an-neun byeon-gi), particularly in older buildings or rural areas. Be prepared for both types.
Restroom signs typically use universal symbols, but knowing the Korean words 남자 (nam-ja – man) and 여자 (yeo-ja – woman) can be helpful confirmation. Sometimes signs might use English or pictograms.
In some cafes, smaller restaurants, or buildings, the restroom might be locked and require a passcode (비밀번호 – bi-mil-beon-ho). You usually get this from the staff or it might be printed on your receipt. You can ask: 화장실 비밀번호 뭐예요? (hwa-jang-sil bi-mil-beon-ho mwo-ye-yo?).
Using the term 화장실 (hwa-jang-sil) is the standard and polite way to refer to a restroom. Avoid older terms like 변소 (byeon-so), which sounds outdated.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) asks a cafe employee (B) for the restroom.
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Expression: A: 저기요, 실례합니다. 화장실 어디예요?
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, sil-lye-ham-ni-da. hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: A: Excuse me. Where is the restroom? -
Expression: B: 네, 화장실은 저쪽 복도 끝에 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, hwa-jang-sil-eun jeo-jjok bok-do kkeut-e it-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, the restroom is at the end of that hallway over there. -
Expression: A: 아, 네. 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: a, ne. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: A: Ah, okay. Thank you. -
Expression: B: 비밀번호는 1234 누르시면 됩니다.
Pronunciation: bi-mil-beon-ho-neun il-i-sam-sa nu-reu-si-myeon doem-ni-da.
Meaning: B: The passcode is 1234, just press that. -
Expression: A: 네, 알겠습니다. 정말 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: ne, al-get-sseum-ni-da. jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: A: Okay, I understand. Thank you very much!
Practice Tips
Knowing how to ask for the restroom is super useful! Try practicing the core phrase 화장실 어디예요? (hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?) whenever you can~ Even practicing saying it aloud to yourself helps build confidence!
Pay attention to how people respond. Listen for direction words like 오른쪽 (o-reun-jjok), 왼쪽 (oen-jjok), and 직진 (jik-jin). Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything at first; gestures often help too!
Remember to always say 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) after someone helps you. Being polite goes a long way! Good luck, you can do it! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
