Losing your phone, especially while traveling or living abroad, can be incredibly stressful. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and information needed to report a lost mobile phone (휴대폰 – hyu-dae-pon) in Korea. Learn how to communicate the situation, describe your phone, and navigate the reporting process effectively.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 휴대폰 분실 신고하기
Pronunciation: hyu-dae-pon bun-sil sin-go-ha-gi
Meaning: Reporting a lost mobile phone
Basic Reporting Phrases
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Expression: 휴대폰을 잃어버렸어요.
Pronunciation: hyu-dae-pon-eul il-heo-beo-ryeoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I lost my mobile phone. -
Expression: 핸드폰을 분실했어요.
Pronunciation: haen-deu-pon-eul bun-sil-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I lost my cell phone. (핸드폰 is a common alternative) -
Expression: 분실물 센터가 어디예요?
Pronunciation: bun-sil-mul sen-teo-ga eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is the lost and found center? -
Expression: 분실 신고를 하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: bun-sil sin-go-reul ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to file a lost item report. -
Expression: 언제 잃어버리셨어요?
Pronunciation: eon-je il-heo-beo-ri-syeoss-eo-yo?
Meaning: When did you lose it? (Question you might be asked) -
Expression: 어디서 잃어버리셨어요?
Pronunciation: eo-di-seo il-heo-beo-ri-syeoss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Where did you lose it? (Question you might be asked) -
Expression: 오늘 아침에 잃어버린 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: o-neul a-chim-e il-heo-beo-rin geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: I think I lost it this morning. -
Expression: 지하철에서 잃어버린 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: ji-ha-cheol-e-seo il-heo-beo-rin geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: I think I lost it on the subway. -
Expression: 제 연락처를 남길게요.
Pronunciation: je yeon-lak-cheo-reul nam-gil-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll leave my contact information. -
Expression: 찾으면 연락 주세요.
Pronunciation: chaj-eu-myeon yeon-lak ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please contact me if you find it. -
Expression: 경찰서에 신고해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: gyeong-chal-seo-e sin-go-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Should I report it to the police station? -
Expression: 분실 신고서 좀 주세요.
Pronunciation: bun-sil sin-go-seo jom ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me a lost item report form.
Describing Your Lost Phone
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Expression: 제 휴대폰은 [브랜드] [모델명]이에요.
Pronunciation: je hyu-dae-pon-eun [beu-raen-deu] [mo-del-myeong]-i-e-yo.
Meaning: My phone is a [Brand] [Model Name]. (e.g., 삼성 갤럭시 – sam-seong gael-leok-si, 아이폰 – a-i-pon) -
Expression: 색깔은 [색깔]이에요.
Pronunciation: saek-kkal-eun [saek-kkal]-i-e-yo.
Meaning: The color is [Color]. (e.g., 검은색 – geom-eun-saek (black), 흰색 – huin-saek (white), 파란색 – pa-ran-saek (blue)) -
Expression: 케이스가 [색깔/특징]이에요.
Pronunciation: ke-i-seu-ga [saek-kkal/teuk-jing]-i-e-yo.
Meaning: The case is [Color/Feature]. (e.g., 투명해요 – tu-myeong-hae-yo (transparent), 빨간색이에요 – ppal-gan-saek-i-e-yo (red)) -
Expression: 배경화면은 [사진 설명]이에요.
Pronunciation: bae-gyeong-hwa-myeon-eun [sa-jin seol-myeong]-i-e-yo.
Meaning: The wallpaper is [Description of photo]. (e.g., 제 강아지 사진이에요 – je gang-a-ji sa-jin-i-e-yo (a photo of my dog)) -
Expression: 마지막으로 본 곳은 [장소]예요.
Pronunciation: ma-ji-mak-eu-ro bon gos-eun [jang-so]-ye-yo.
Meaning: The last place I saw it was [Place]. (e.g., 카페 – ka-pe (cafe), 택시 안 – taek-si an (inside the taxi)) -
Expression: 어제 저녁 8시쯤이었어요.
Pronunciation: eo-je jeo-nyeok yeo-deol-si-jjeum-i-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: It was around 8 PM last night. -
Expression: 특별한 스티커가 붙어 있어요.
Pronunciation: teuk-byeol-han seu-ti-keo-ga but-eo iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: It has a special sticker on it. -
Expression: 화면에 금이 가 있어요.
Pronunciation: hwa-myeon-e geum-i ga iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: The screen is cracked. -
Expression: 배터리가 거의 없었어요.
Pronunciation: bae-teo-ri-ga geo-ui eops-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: The battery was almost dead. -
Expression: 제 전화번호는 [전화번호]예요.
Pronunciation: je jeon-hwa-beon-ho-neun [jeon-hwa-beon-ho]-ye-yo.
Meaning: My phone number is [Phone Number]. (Provide if asked, but be cautious) -
Expression: 혹시 습득된 휴대폰이 있나요?
Pronunciation: hok-si seup-deuk-doen hyu-dae-pon-i iss-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any phones that have been turned in? -
Expression: 제 이름은 [이름]입니다.
Pronunciation: je i-reum-eun [i-reum]-im-ni-da.
Meaning: My name is [Name].
Asking for Help and Next Steps
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Expression: 도와주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: do-wa-ju-sil su iss-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you help me? -
Expression: 어떻게 해야 할까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke hae-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: What should I do? -
Expression: 분실 신고 절차를 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: bun-sil sin-go jeol-cha-reul al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the procedure for reporting a lost item. -
Expression: 경찰에 신고하는 것이 좋을까요?
Pronunciation: gyeong-chal-e sin-go-ha-neun geos-i jo-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would it be better to report it to the police? -
Expression: 근처에 경찰서가 어디에 있나요?
Pronunciation: geun-cheo-e gyeong-chal-seo-ga eo-di-e iss-na-yo?
Meaning: Where is the nearest police station? -
Expression: 제 휴대폰으로 전화해 볼 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: je hyu-dae-pon-eu-ro jeon-hwa-hae bol su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could you try calling my phone? -
Expression: 통신사에 연락해서 정지해야 해요.
Pronunciation: tong-sin-sa-e yeon-lak-hae-seo jeong-ji-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: I need to contact my mobile carrier to suspend the service. -
Expression: 신고 접수증을 받을 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: sin-go jeop-su-jeung-eul bad-eul su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I get a receipt for the report? -
Expression: 얼마나 기다려야 할까요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-na gi-da-ryeo-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: How long should I wait? (Regarding finding the phone) -
Expression: 찾게 되면 어떻게 연락 주시나요?
Pronunciation: chat-ge doe-myeon eo-tteo-ke yeon-lak ju-si-na-yo?
Meaning: How will you contact me if it’s found? -
Expression: 다른 연락 가능한 번호는 [번호]입니다.
Pronunciation: da-reun yeon-lak ga-neung-han beon-ho-neun [beon-ho]-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Another contact number is [Number]. -
Expression: 정말 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you very much.
Korean Culture Notes
Lost and Found Systems: Korea has well-organized lost and found systems, especially in public transportation hubs (subway stations, bus terminals, airports) and police stations. Don’t hesitate to inquire at information desks or designated lost and found centers (분실물 센터 – bun-sil-mul sen-teo).
Reporting to Police: While you can report lost items at local police boxes (파출소 – pa-chul-so) or larger police stations (경찰서 – gyeong-chal-seo), they primarily handle items found and turned in. For items lost on public transport, contacting the respective transport authority’s lost and found is often more direct.
Honesty Culture: Generally, Koreans have a strong culture of returning lost items. Many lost phones and wallets are turned into authorities or lost and found centers. Filing a report increases your chances of recovery.
Contacting Carrier: It’s crucial to contact your mobile service provider (통신사 – tong-sin-sa) quickly to suspend your service (서비스 정지 – seo-bi-seu jeong-ji) to prevent unauthorized use.
Using Online Resources: Check the national police agency’s lost and found website (Lost112 – www.lost112.go.kr) where found items are often registered. Major subway operators (like Seoul Metro) also have online lost and found portals.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A person (A) goes to a subway station’s lost and found center (유실물 센터 – yu-sil-mul sen-teo) to report a lost phone.
Roles: A: Person who lost the phone, B: Lost and Found Center Staff
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Expression: A: 저기요, 휴대폰을 잃어버려서 왔는데요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, hyu-dae-pon-eul il-heo-beo-ryeo-seo wass-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me, I came here because I lost my mobile phone. -
Expression: B: 아, 네. 언제 어디서 잃어버리신 것 같으세요?
Pronunciation: a, ne. eon-je eo-di-seo il-heo-beo-ri-sin geot gat-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: B: Oh, okay. When and where do you think you lost it? -
Expression: A: 오늘 오후 2시쯤 3호선 열차 안에서 잃어버린 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: o-neul o-hu du-si-jjeum sam-ho-seon yeol-cha an-e-seo il-heo-beo-rin geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: A: I think I lost it inside the Line 3 train around 2 PM today. -
Expression: B: 휴대폰 기종이랑 색깔 좀 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: hyu-dae-pon gi-jong-i-rang saek-kkal jom mal-sseum-hae ju-si-gess-eo-yo?
Meaning: B: Could you please tell me the phone model and color? -
Expression: A: 아이폰 14이고, 색깔은 검은색이에요. 투명 케이스를 씌웠어요.
Pronunciation: a-i-pon sil-sa-i-go, saek-kkal-eun geom-eun-saek-i-e-yo. tu-myeong ke-i-seu-reul ssui-woss-eo-yo.
Meaning: A: It’s an iPhone 14, and the color is black. It has a transparent case on it. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 아직 접수된 것은 없는데, 분실 신고서를 작성해 주시겠어요? 연락처도 남겨주시고요.
Pronunciation: ne, al-gess-seum-ni-da. a-jik jeop-su-doen geos-eun eops-neun-de, bun-sil sin-go-seo-reul jak-seong-hae ju-si-gess-eo-yo? yeon-lak-cheo-do nam-gyeo-ju-si-go-yo.
Meaning: B: Okay, I understand. Nothing matching that description has been turned in yet, but could you please fill out a lost item report form? Please leave your contact information as well. -
Expression: A: 네. 여기요. 찾으면 꼭 연락 주세요.
Pronunciation: ne. yeo-gi-yo. chaj-eu-myeon kkok yeon-lak ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Yes. Here you go. Please be sure to contact me if you find it. -
Expression: B: 네, 확인되는 대로 바로 연락드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, hwa-gin-doe-neun dae-ro ba-ro yeon-lak-deu-ri-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, we will contact you immediately as soon as we confirm anything.
Practice Tips
Losing a phone is stressful, but knowing these phrases can make the reporting process much smoother! Try practicing the pronunciation of the core phrases like 휴대폰을 잃어버렸어요 (hyu-dae-pon-eul il-heo-beo-ryeoss-eo-yo) and 분실 신고를 하고 싶어요 (bun-sil sin-go-reul ha-go sip-eo-yo).
Role-play the conversation example with a friend or practice describing your own phone in Korean (color, model, case). Familiarity with these expressions will give you confidence if you ever face this unfortunate situation. Remember to also know your phone brand (삼성, 아이폰, etc.) and color (검은색, 흰색, etc.) in Korean. Good luck, and hopefully, you’ll never need to use these phrases for real!~
