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Where Do I Get Off? Korean Bus Phrases and Stop Announcements

Level
A2
Type
phrase
Theme
casual
작성자
Y
Yanghwa
작성시각
You're on a Korean bus, the map says your destination is close, and the next stop name disappears before you finish reading it. Show the destination and ask 여기 가려면 어디서 내려요?: "Where should I get off to go here?"
Ask early enough to hear the answer. Then listen for 이번 정류장 (this stop) and 다음 정류장 (next stop) in the announcement.

The five phrases to learn first

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
여기 가려면 어디서 내려요?
yeo-gi ga-ryeo-myeon eo-di-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
Where should I get off to go here?
다음 정류장이에요?
da-eum jeong-nyu-jang-i-e-yo?
Is it the next stop?
여기서 내려요?
yeo-gi-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
Do I get off here?
이번 정류장 맞아요?
i-beon jeong-nyu-jang ma-ja-yo?
Is this the correct stop?
잠시만요. 내릴게요.
jam-si-man-yo. nae-ril-ge-yo
One moment. I'm getting off.
Keep the destination open in Korean. If the name is difficult, point to the screen and use 여기: "here."

Check the bus before you board

If you're still at the stop, confirm the route before getting on.
Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
이 버스 홍대 가요?
i beo-seu Hong-dae ga-yo?
Does this bus go to Hongdae?
서울역 가려면 이 버스 타면 돼요?
Seo-ul-lyeok ga-ryeo-myeon i beo-seu ta-myeon dwae-yo?
Can I take this bus to Seoul Station?
이 버스 맞아요?
i beo-seu ma-ja-yo?
Is this the correct bus?
몇 정거장 가요?
myeot jeong-geo-jang ga-yo?
How many stops is it?
타면 돼요? means "Can I take it?" or "Is taking it the right thing to do?" You'll reuse that pattern for trains and subway lines.
If the driver is handling boarding and payment, keep the question short and show the map. A long route explanation is harder to answer while other passengers are getting on.

Ask another passenger during the ride

Start with 죄송한데요 to get someone's attention politely.
죄송한데요. 여기 가려면 어디서 내려요?
Excuse me. Where should I get off to go here?
You can also use a place name:
Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
경복궁 가려면 어디서 내려요?
Gyeong-bok-gung ga-ryeo-myeon eo-di-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
Where should I get off for Gyeongbokgung?
강남역은 다음이에요?
Gang-nam-yeo-geun da-eu-mi-e-yo?
Is Gangnam Station next?
이 정류장 맞아요?
i jeong-nyu-jang ma-ja-yo?
Is this the right stop?
The listener may answer with a stop count instead of a stop name. Catch the number and 정거장.

Answers you may hear

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
다음에 내리세요.
da-eu-me nae-ri-se-yo
Get off at the next stop.
여기서 내리세요.
yeo-gi-seo nae-ri-se-yo
Get off here.
두 정거장 더 가세요.
du jeong-geo-jang deo ga-se-yo
Go two more stops.
아직 멀었어요.
a-jik meo-reo-sseo-yo
It's still far.
방금 지났어요.
bang-geum ji-na-sseo-yo
We just passed it.
반대편에서 타야 돼요.
ban-dae-pyeo-ne-seo ta-ya dwae-yo
You need to take it from the opposite side.
다음에 내리세요 is the answer you hope to hear. 두 정거장 더 가세요 gives you two more stops.
If you catch only a number, repeat it:
두 정거장이요?
Two stops?
The person can confirm with 네 or correct you.

Understand the stop announcement

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
이번 정류장은 ___입니다
i-beon jeong-nyu-jang-eun ___ im-ni-da
This stop is ___.
다음 정류장은 ___입니다
da-eum jeong-nyu-jang-eun ___ im-ni-da
The next stop is ___.
곧 도착합니다
got do-cha-kam-ni-da
We will arrive soon.
하차
ha-cha
getting off
환승
hwan-seung
transfer
Don't chase every word in the announcement. Listen for 이번 or 다음, then check the stop name on the screen or map.
You may hear a transfer message after the stop name. 환승 means transfer; it doesn't mean everyone must get off.

정류장 and 정거장 are related but different here

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
정류장
jeong-nyu-jang
a bus stop / the physical stop
정거장
jeong-geo-jang
a stop counted along the route
Use 정류장 when asking about a specific stop: 다음 정류장이에요?
Use 정거장 when counting: 두 정거장 더 가세요.
You don't need to produce that distinction perfectly, but recognizing it makes the answer easier to follow.

When you're ready to get off

Press the stop-request button before the bus reaches your stop when the local bus system requires it. The Seoul Metropolitan Government's public transportation guide also reminds transportation-card users to tap their card when getting off a city bus.
If people are blocking the aisle, say:
Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
잠시만요.
jam-si-man-yo
One moment, please.
내릴게요.
nae-ril-ge-yo
I'm getting off.
지나갈게요.
ji-na-gal-ge-yo
I'll pass through.
감사합니다.
gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Thank you.
내릴게요 tells the people around you why you need to move past them.

A complete bus exchange

You: 죄송한데요. 여기 가려면 어디서 내려요?
Passenger: 두 정거장 더 가세요.
You: 두 정거장이요?
Passenger: 네. 다음 다음에 내리세요.
You: 감사합니다.
You near the door: 잠시만요. 내릴게요.
You asked with a map, confirmed the number, and told people you were getting off.
Before your trip, practice one destination inside ___ 가려면 어디서 내려요? During the ride, listen for 다음 정류장 before checking the map. After you've used it once, the pattern -(으)려면 becomes useful far beyond buses: it means "if you want to" or "in order to."