Keeping your transportation card topped up is essential for navigating Korea’s efficient public transit system. This guide provides the key Korean phrases you need to charge your T-money or Cashbee card at convenience stores or subway station machines, ensuring smooth travels around Korean cities.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 교통 카드 충전하기
Pronunciation: gyo-tong ka-deu chung-jeon-ha-gi
Meaning: Charging a transportation card (The act of charging)
Asking to Charge Your Card
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Expression: 교통 카드 충전해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gyo-tong ka-deu chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please charge my transportation card. -
Expression: 이거 충전 좀 해 주세요.
Pronunciation: i-geo chung-jeon jom hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please charge this (card). -
Expression: 티머니 충전 돼요?
Pronunciation: ti-meo-ni chung-jeon dwae-yo?
Meaning: Can I charge a T-money card here? -
Expression: 캐시비 충전 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: kae-shi-bi chung-jeon ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it possible to charge a Cashbee card? -
Expression: 카드 충전 어디서 해요?
Pronunciation: ka-deu chung-jeon eo-di-seo hae-yo?
Meaning: Where can I charge my card? -
Expression: 교통 카드 충전하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: gyo-tong ka-deu chung-jeon-ha-go ship-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to charge my transportation card. -
Expression: 충전 금액은 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: chung-jeon geum-ae-geun eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is the charging amount? (Asking about fees or minimums) -
Expression: 최소 충전 금액이 얼마인가요?
Pronunciation: choe-so chung-jeon geum-ae-gi eol-ma-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the minimum charging amount? -
Expression: 현금으로 충전할게요.
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum-eu-ro chung-jeon-hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I will charge it with cash. -
Expression: 카드로 충전할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: ka-deu-ro chung-jeon-hal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I charge it with a (credit/debit) card? (Note: Often only cash is accepted, especially at machines)
Specifying the Amount
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Expression: 만 원 충전해 주세요.
Pronunciation: man won chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please charge 10,000 won. -
Expression: 오천 원이요.
Pronunciation: o-cheon won-i-yo.
Meaning: 5,000 won, please. -
Expression: 이만 원 충전해 주세요.
Pronunciation: i-man won chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please charge 20,000 won. -
Expression: 삼만 원 넣어주세요.
Pronunciation: sam-man won neo-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please put in 30,000 won. -
Expression: 얼마 충전해 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma chung-jeon-hae deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: How much would you like to charge? (Asked by staff) -
Expression: 만 원 단위로 충전 가능해요.
Pronunciation: man won dan-wi-ro chung-jeon ga-neung-hae-yo.
Meaning: Charging is possible in units of 10,000 won. -
Expression: 천 원 단위로 충전해 주세요.
Pronunciation: cheon won dan-wi-ro chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please charge it in units of 1,000 won. (If possible) -
Expression: 최대로 충전해 주세요.
Pronunciation: choe-dae-ro chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please charge the maximum amount. (Referring to card limit, usually 500,000 KRW) -
Expression: 잔액 확인해 주세요.
Pronunciation: jan-aek hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please check the balance. -
Expression: 영수증 주세요.
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me the receipt.
At the Charging Machine
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Expression: 교통카드 충전
Pronunciation: gyo-tong-ka-deu chung-jeon
Meaning: Transportation Card Charging (Button label) -
Expression: 카드 올려놓는 곳
Pronunciation: ka-deu ol-lyeo-non-neun got
Meaning: Place to put the card -
Expression: 금액 선택
Pronunciation: geum-aek seon-taek
Meaning: Amount Selection -
Expression: 현금 투입
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum tu-ip
Meaning: Insert Cash -
Expression: 충전 중
Pronunciation: chung-jeon jung
Meaning: Charging in progress -
Expression: 충전 완료
Pronunciation: chung-jeon wan-lyo
Meaning: Charging Complete -
Expression: 카드를 회수하십시오.
Pronunciation: ka-deu-reul hoe-su-ha-ship-shi-o.
Meaning: Please retrieve your card. -
Expression: 잔액 확인
Pronunciation: jan-aek hwa-gin
Meaning: Check Balance (Button label) -
Expression: 오류
Pronunciation: o-ryu
Meaning: Error -
Expression: 취소
Pronunciation: chwi-so
Meaning: Cancel -
Expression: 확인
Pronunciation: hwa-gin
Meaning: Confirm / OK -
Expression: 처음으로
Pronunciation: cheo-eum-eu-ro
Meaning: Back to Start / Main Menu
Related Vocabulary
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Expression: 교통 카드
Pronunciation: gyo-tong ka-deu
Meaning: Transportation card -
Expression: 티머니 (T-money)
Pronunciation: ti-meo-ni
Meaning: T-money (Popular transportation card brand) -
Expression: 캐시비 (Cashbee)
Pronunciation: kae-shi-bi
Meaning: Cashbee (Another transportation card brand) -
Expression: 충전
Pronunciation: chung-jeon
Meaning: Charge, Top-up -
Expression: 금액
Pronunciation: geum-aek
Meaning: Amount (of money) -
Expression: 현금
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum
Meaning: Cash -
Expression: 잔액
Pronunciation: jan-aek
Meaning: Balance (remaining amount) -
Expression: 편의점
Pronunciation: pyeon-ui-jeom
Meaning: Convenience store -
Expression: 지하철역
Pronunciation: ji-ha-cheol-yeok
Meaning: Subway station -
Expression: 충전 기계
Pronunciation: chung-jeon gi-gye
Meaning: Charging machine -
Expression: 영수증
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung
Meaning: Receipt -
Expression: 수수료
Pronunciation: su-su-ryo
Meaning: Fee, Commission (Usually no fee for charging)
Korean Culture Notes
Cash is King for Charging: While Korea is very card-friendly, charging transportation cards, especially at subway machines, almost always requires cash (bills and sometimes coins). Convenience stores might allow card payments for charging, but it’s less common. Always have some cash ready!
Convenience Stores are Your Friend: Major convenience store chains (like GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) are primary spots for buying and charging T-money or Cashbee cards. Just look for the T-money or Cashbee logo at the counter.
Charging Units: You typically charge cards in specific increments, often starting from 1,000 won up to 90,000 won at a time at machines, usually in 1,000 or 5,000 won steps. The total balance on a card cannot exceed 500,000 won.
One Card, Many Uses: T-money and Cashbee aren’t just for subways and buses! You can often use them to pay for taxis, purchases at convenience stores, vending machines, and even some lockers.
Check Your Balance Regularly: Keep an eye on your card balance. You can check it at charging machines, convenience store counters when charging, or often on the card reader screen when you tap out of the subway or bus.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) wants to charge their T-money card at a convenience store.
Roles: A: Tourist, B: Convenience Store Clerk
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Expression: A: 저기요, 티머니 카드 충전해 주세요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, ti-meo-ni ka-deu chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me, please charge my T-money card. -
Expression: B: 네, 얼마 충전해 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, eol-ma chung-jeon-hae deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, how much would you like to charge? -
Expression: A: 만 원이요. 현금으로 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: man won-i-yo. hyeon-geum-eu-ro deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: A: 10,000 won, please. I’ll pay with cash. -
Expression: B: 네, 카드 이쪽에 올려주세요. (삑) 만 원 충전됐습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, ka-deu i-jjok-e ol-lyeo-ju-se-yo. (ppik) man won chung-jeon-dwaet-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Okay, please place your card here. (Beep) 10,000 won has been charged. -
Expression: A: 감사합니다. 잔액 확인도 될까요?
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jan-aek hwa-gin-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: Thank you. Can you check the balance too? -
Expression: B: 네, 잠시만요… 현재 잔액은 이만오천 원입니다.
Pronunciation: ne, jam-shi-man-yo… hyeon-jae jan-ae-geun i-man-o-cheon won-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, just a moment… The current balance is 25,000 won. -
Expression: A: 알겠습니다. 고맙습니다!
Pronunciation: al-get-seum-ni-da. go-map-seum-ni-da!
Meaning: A: I understand. Thank you!
Practice Tips
Now you have the essential phrases for charging your transportation card in Korea! The best way to master these is through practice~ Try role-playing the conversation example or practice saying the amounts you usually charge.
Next time you’re near a subway station or convenience store in Korea, try charging your card using these expressions! Even starting with a simple “교통 카드 충전해 주세요” (gyo-tong ka-deu chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo) will make your interaction smoother. Don’t be afraid to use the phrases you’ve learned! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – You can do it!)
