Day 20: Giving Directions in Korean – How to Explain Locations and Paths

Welcome to Day 20 of your Korean language journey! Today, we’re going to learn how to give directions in Korean.

Being able to give directions is an essential skill when you’re traveling, guiding someone, or asking for help. Whether you need to ask for directions or give someone directions to a place, this lesson will equip you with the vocabulary and phrases you need.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to explain locations, give clear directions, and navigate Korean streets with ease.

1. Key Phrases for Giving Directions in Korean

In Korean, giving directions typically involves explaining the location of a place and the actions that need to be taken to get there. Here are some key phrases you can use:

[Place]에 가다 (gada) – To go to [place]
- 학교에 가다 (Hakgyoe gada) – To go to school
- 버스 정류장에 가다 (Beoseu jeongnyujange gada) – To go to the bus stop
[Place]에 있다 (itta) – To be at [place]
- 학교에 있어요 (Hakgyoe isseoyo) – I’m at school
- 도서관에 있어요 (Doseogwane isseoyo) – I’m at the library

2. Basic Directions Vocabulary

Here are some common words and phrases you’ll need to give directions:

왼쪽 (oenjjok) – Left
- 왼쪽으로 가세요. (Oenjjogeuro gaseyo.) – Go left.
오른쪽 (oreunjjok) – Right
- 오른쪽으로 가세요. (Oreunjjogeuro gaseyo.) – Go right.
직진 (jikjin) – Straight
- 직진하세요. (Jikjinhaseyo.) – Go straight.
돌다 (dolda) – To turn
- 왼쪽으로 돌다 (Oenjjogeuro dolda) – Turn left
- 오른쪽으로 돌다 (Oreunjjogeuro dolda) – Turn right
앞 (ap) – Front
- 앞으로 가세요. (Apeuro gaseyo.) – Go forward.
뒤 (dwi) – Back
- 뒤로 가세요. (Dwiro gaseyo.) – Go back.

3. Explaining Locations and Paths

When you’re giving someone directions, you’ll want to be clear and use the following structure:

[Direction/Action] + [Location/Place]

For example:

왼쪽으로 가세요, 그리고 직진하세요. (Oenjjogeuro gaseyo, geurigo jikjinhaseyo.)
Translation: Go left, and then go straight.
학교에 가려면 오른쪽으로 돌고, 직진하세요. (Hakgyoe garyeomyeon oreunjjogeuro dolgo, jikjinhaseyo.)
Translation: To go to school, turn right and then go straight.
여기서 오른쪽으로 가면 도서관이 있어요. (Yeogiseo oreunjjogeuro gamyeon doseogwani isseoyo.)
Translation: If you go right from here, there is a library.
버스 정류장은 앞에 있어요. (Beoseu jeongnyujangeun ape isseoyo.)
Translation: The bus stop is in front.

4. Asking for Directions in Korean

If you’re the one asking for directions, here are some useful questions you can use to get around:

[Place] 어디에 있어요? (Eodie isseoyo?) – Where is [place]?
- 도서관 어디에 있어요? (Doseogwan eodie isseoyo?) – Where is the library?
- 화장실 어디에 있어요? (Hwajangsil eodie isseoyo?) – Where is the bathroom?
[Place] 가는 길을 알려 주세요. (Ganeun gireul allyeo juseyo.) – Please tell me the way to [place].
- 학교 가는 길을 알려 주세요. (Hakgyo ganeun gireul allyeo juseyo.) – Please tell me the way to the school.
어떻게 가요? (Eotteoke gayo?) – How do I go (to [place])?
- 학교 어떻게 가요? (Hakgyo eotteoke gayo?) – How do I get to school?

5. Using Landmarks for Giving Directions

Sometimes, when giving directions, it’s helpful to refer to landmarks to make the directions clearer. Here are some common landmarks and how to use them in directions:

왼쪽에 (oenjjoge) – On the left
- 왼쪽에 은행이 있어요. (Oenjjoge eunhaengi isseoyo.) – There is a bank on the left.
오른쪽에 (oreunjjoge) – On the right
- 오른쪽에 커피숍이 있어요. (Oreunjjoge keopisyobi isseoyo.) – There is a coffee shop on the right.
앞에 (ape) – In front
- 앞에 공원이 있어요. (Ape gongwon-i isseoyo.) – There is a park in front.
뒤에 (dwie) – Behind
- 뒤에 큰 건물이 있어요. (Dwie keun geonmuri isseoyo.) – There is a big building behind.

6. Practice Giving Directions

Now, let’s practice giving directions using the phrases we’ve learned:

Go straight, then turn left.
직진하세요, 그리고 왼쪽으로 돌세요. (Jikjinhaseyo, geurigo oenjjogeuro dolseyo.)
The bookstore is on the left.
서점은 왼쪽에 있어요. (Seojeomeun oenjjoge isseoyo.)
The park is behind the hospital.
공원은 병원 뒤에 있어요. (Gongwoneun byeongwon dwie isseoyo.)
How do I get to the restaurant?
식당 어떻게 가요? (Sikdang eotteoke gayo?)
The bus stop is straight ahead.
버스 정류장은 직진하세요. (Beoseu jeongnyujangeun jikjinhaseyo.)

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing "가다 (gada)" with "오다 (oda)":
- 가다 (gada) means "to go," while 오다 (oda) means "to come." Be mindful of using the correct verb depending on the direction of movement.
Misplacing "에 (e)" and "에서 (eseo)":
- Use 에 (e) to indicate the destination (e.g., 학교에 가다 (hakgyoe gada) – to go to school), and 에서 (eseo) to indicate where an action is happening (e.g., 학교에서 공부하다 (hakgyoeseo gongbuhada) – to study at school).
Overusing "직진 (jikjin)":
- While 직진 (jikjin) means "straight," it’s important not to overuse it. If you give too many instructions to go straight, it might confuse the listener. Use it in moderation.

What’s Next? (다음은 무엇인가요?)

Tomorrow, in Day 21, we’ll learn about describing hobbies and interests in Korean. You’ll be able to talk about things you enjoy doing in your free time and share your hobbies with others!