As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular worldwide, knowing how to talk about them in Korean is essential, especially if you plan to travel or live in Korea, a country rapidly adopting EV technology. This guide covers the fundamental Korean term for “electric car” and related vocabulary and phrases you’ll need to discuss, rent, or inquire about EVs in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 전기차
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha
Meaning: Electric car (literally “electric vehicle”)
Basic Vocabulary
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Expression: 충전소
Pronunciation: chung-jeon-so
Meaning: Charging station -
Expression: 충전기
Pronunciation: chung-jeon-gi
Meaning: Charger -
Expression: 배터리
Pronunciation: bae-teo-ri
Meaning: Battery -
Expression: 주행 거리
Pronunciation: ju-haeng geo-ri
Meaning: Driving range -
Expression: 충전하다
Pronunciation: chung-jeon-ha-da
Meaning: To charge -
Expression: 완속 충전
Pronunciation: wan-sok chung-jeon
Meaning: Slow charging (Level 2) -
Expression: 급속 충전
Pronunciation: geup-sok chung-jeon
Meaning: Fast charging (DC fast charging) -
Expression: 하이브리드차
Pronunciation: ha-i-beu-ri-deu-cha
Meaning: Hybrid car -
Expression: 수소차
Pronunciation: su-so-cha
Meaning: Hydrogen car -
Expression: 친환경차
Pronunciation: chin-hwan-gyeong-cha
Meaning: Eco-friendly car -
Expression: 보조금
Pronunciation: bo-jo-geum
Meaning: Subsidy -
Expression: 연비
Pronunciation: yeon-bi
Meaning: Fuel efficiency (or energy efficiency for EVs)
Useful Phrases
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Expression: 가장 가까운 전기차 충전소는 어디에 있나요?
Pronunciation: ga-jang ga-kka-un jeon-gi-cha chung-jeon-so-neun eo-di-e it-na-yo?
Meaning: Where is the nearest electric car charging station? -
Expression: 이 전기차의 주행 거리는 얼마나 되나요?
Pronunciation: i jeon-gi-cha-ui ju-haeng geo-ri-neun eol-ma-na doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the driving range of this electric car? -
Expression: 충전 시간은 얼마나 걸리나요?
Pronunciation: chung-jeon si-gan-eun eol-ma-na geol-li-na-yo?
Meaning: How long does it take to charge? -
Expression: 급속 충전이 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: geup-sok chung-jeon-i ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is fast charging available? -
Expression: 전기차 충전 카드가 필요해요.
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha chung-jeon ka-deu-ga pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need an electric car charging card. -
Expression: 여기서 충전할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo chung-jeon-hal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I charge here? -
Expression: 배터리가 거의 다 됐어요.
Pronunciation: bae-teo-ri-ga geo-ui da dwaet-seo-yo.
Meaning: The battery is almost empty. -
Expression: 전기차는 환경에 좋아요.
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha-neun hwan-gyeong-e jo-a-yo.
Meaning: Electric cars are good for the environment. -
Expression: 충전 비용은 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: chung-jeon bi-yong-eun eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much does charging cost? -
Expression: 이 충전기는 제 차와 호환되나요?
Pronunciation: i chung-jeon-gi-neun je cha-wa ho-hwan-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is this charger compatible with my car? -
Expression: 충전이 완료되면 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: chung-jeon-i wan-ryo-doe-myeon al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please let me know when charging is complete. -
Expression: 공용 충전소를 이용해야 해요.
Pronunciation: gong-yong chung-jeon-so-reul i-yong-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: I need to use a public charging station.
Renting or Buying an Electric Car
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Expression: 전기차를 렌트하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha-reul ren-teu-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to rent an electric car. -
Expression: 전기차 구매 시 정부 보조금이 있나요?
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha gu-mae si jeong-bu bo-jo-geum-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there government subsidies when buying an electric car? -
Expression: 전기차 유지비는 얼마나 드나요?
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha yu-ji-bi-neun eol-ma-na deu-na-yo?
Meaning: How much are the maintenance costs for an electric car? -
Expression: 어떤 전기차 모델을 추천하시나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jeon-gi-cha mo-del-eul chu-cheon-ha-si-na-yo?
Meaning: Which electric car model do you recommend? -
Expression: 집에서 충전할 수 있는 설비가 필요해요.
Pronunciation: jib-e-seo chung-jeon-hal su it-neun seol-bi-ga pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need equipment to charge at home. -
Expression: 배터리 보증 기간은 얼마나 되나요?
Pronunciation: bae-teo-ri bo-jeung gi-gan-eun eol-ma-na doe-na-yo?
Meaning: How long is the battery warranty period? -
Expression: 전기차 보험료는 비싼가요?
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-cha bo-heom-ryo-neun bi-ssan-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is electric car insurance expensive? -
Expression: 시승해 볼 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: si-seung-hae bol su it-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I take it for a test drive? -
Expression: 충전 인프라는 잘 되어 있나요?
Pronunciation: chung-jeon in-peu-ra-neun jal doe-eo it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is the charging infrastructure well-developed? -
Expression: 렌트 비용에 충전 비용이 포함되어 있나요?
Pronunciation: ren-teu bi-yong-e chung-jeon bi-yong-i po-ham-doe-eo it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is the charging cost included in the rental fee? -
Expression: 반납하기 전에 충전해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: ban-nap-ha-gi jeon-e chung-jeon-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to charge it before returning it? -
Expression: 이 지역의 충전소 위치를 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: i ji-yeog-ui chung-jeon-so wi-chi-reul al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the locations of charging stations in this area.
Korean Culture Notes
South Korea is actively promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (전기차 – jeon-gi-cha). The government offers significant subsidies (보조금 – bo-jo-geum) for both purchasing EVs and installing home chargers, making them increasingly affordable for consumers.
You’ll find a rapidly expanding network of charging stations (충전소 – chung-jeon-so) across the country, especially in cities and along major highways. Public chargers often require a specific membership card or app, so it’s wise for visitors renting EVs to confirm the payment method beforehand.
Korean automotive giants like Hyundai and Kia are major players in the global EV market, offering popular models like the Ioniq 5 and EV6. There’s a growing public interest in eco-friendly transportation (친환경 교통 – chin-hwan-gyeong gyo-tong), and EVs are seen as a key part of this shift.
When renting an EV in popular tourist destinations like Jeju Island, you’ll find the charging infrastructure is particularly well-developed. Many rental companies provide charging cards or instructions on how to use public chargers.
While range anxiety was a concern initially, newer EV models boast significant driving ranges (주행 거리 – ju-haeng geo-ri), and the improving infrastructure means it’s becoming less of an issue for daily use and travel within Korea.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) is at a car rental counter asking about renting an electric car from the agent (B).
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Expression: A: 안녕하세요, 전기차를 렌트하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, jeon-gi-cha-reul ren-teu-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Hello, I would like to rent an electric car. -
Expression: B: 네, 어떤 종류의 전기차를 원하시나요? 주행 거리가 긴 모델도 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, eo-tteon jong-ryu-ui jeon-gi-cha-reul won-ha-si-na-yo? ju-haeng geo-ri-ga gin mo-del-do it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, what type of electric car would you like? We also have models with a long driving range. -
Expression: A: 주행 거리가 가장 긴 모델로 부탁드립니다. 그리고 충전은 어떻게 하나요? 충전 카드가 필요한가요?
Pronunciation: ju-haeng geo-ri-ga ga-jang gin mo-del-lo bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da. geu-ri-go chung-jeon-eun eo-tteo-ke ha-na-yo? chung-jeon ka-deu-ga pil-yo-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Please give me the model with the longest driving range. And how do I charge it? Do I need a charging card? -
Expression: B: 네, 이 카드를 사용하시면 됩니다. 주요 충전소 위치가 표시된 지도도 드릴게요. 급속 충전소도 많이 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, i ka-deu-reul sa-yong-ha-si-myeon doem-ni-da. ju-yo chung-jeon-so wi-chi-ga pyo-si-doen ji-do-do deu-ril-ge-yo. geup-sok chung-jeon-so-do ma-ni it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, you can use this card. I’ll also give you a map showing the locations of major charging stations. There are many fast charging stations too. -
Expression: A: 감사합니다. 반납할 때 배터리를 완전히 충전해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da. ban-nap-hal ttae bae-teo-ri-reul wan-jeon-hi chung-jeon-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Thank you. Do I need to fully charge the battery when I return it? -
Expression: B: 아니요, 받으셨을 때와 비슷한 수준으로만 충전해 오시면 됩니다.
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, ba-deu-syeot-eul ttae-wa bi-seut-han su-jun-eu-ro-man chung-jeon-hae o-si-myeon doem-ni-da.
Meaning: No, you just need to bring it back charged to a similar level as when you received it.
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with 전기차 (jeon-gi-cha) and related terms is becoming increasingly useful in Korea! Try using these phrases when discussing cars or looking up information online. Pay attention to signs at charging stations (충전소 – chung-jeon-so) – you’ll see terms like 급속 충전 (geup-sok chung-jeon) and 완속 충전 (wan-sok chung-jeon).
If you get a chance to rent an EV in Korea, especially in Jeju, practice asking questions about charging and range. Listening to how rental agents or locals talk about EVs will also boost your understanding~ Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be discussing electric cars like a pro!
