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Is This Seat Taken? What to Ask and Hear in Korean
Level
A1
Type
phrase
Theme
Travel
작성자
Y
작성시각
An empty chair has a bag beside it, and you can't tell whether someone is coming back. Ask 여기 앉아도 될까요?: "May I sit here?"
This is safer than asking only whether a "seat exists," because the answer tells you directly whether sitting is okay.
The clearest question
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
여기 앉아도 될까요? | yeo-gi an-ja-do doel-kka-yo? | May I sit here? |
여기 앉아도 돼요? | yeo-gi an-ja-do dwae-yo? | Can I sit here? |
이 자리 비었나요? | i ja-ri bi-eon-na-yo? | Is this seat empty? |
혹시 여기 자리 있나요? | hok-si yeo-gi ja-ri in-na-yo? | By any chance, is this seat taken? |
Use 여기 앉아도 될까요? with a stranger at a café, station, food court, or waiting area. It asks for permission without making you interpret who the seat belongs to.
여기 앉아도 돼요? is also polite enough for many everyday situations, but 될까요? sounds a little softer.
Why 자리 있어요 can confuse you
자리 means a seat, place, or spot. In this situation, 자리 있어요 can mean that someone already has the seat.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning in this situation |
자리 있어요. | ja-ri i-sseo-yo | This seat is taken. |
사람 있어요. | sa-ram i-sseo-yo | Someone is sitting here. |
친구가 올 거예요. | chin-gu-ga ol geo-ye-yo | My friend is coming. |
자리 없어요. | ja-ri eop-seo-yo | No one has this seat. |
If you ask 여기 자리 있나요?, a "yes" can mean you should not sit. That's why 여기 앉아도 될까요? produces a clearer answer.
Green-light answers
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
네, 앉으세요. | ne, an-jeu-se-yo | Yes, please sit. |
네, 괜찮아요. | ne, gwaen-cha-na-yo | Yes, it's okay. |
비었어요. | bi-eo-sseo-yo | It's empty. |
아무도 없어요. | a-mu-do eop-seo-yo | No one is sitting here. |
앉으세요 is the clearest invitation. 괜찮아요 also gives permission when it answers your question about sitting.
The seat is taken
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
죄송해요. 자리 있어요. | joe-song-hae-yo. ja-ri i-sseo-yo | Sorry, this seat is taken. |
사람 있어요. | sa-ram i-sseo-yo | Someone is sitting here. |
친구 자리예요. | chin-gu ja-ri-ye-yo | It's my friend's seat. |
일행이 올 거예요. | il-haeng-i ol geo-ye-yo | Someone in my group is coming. |
You don't need to reply with a full sentence. Say 아, 네. 알겠습니다: "Oh, okay. I understand," and look for another seat.
When an item is on the chair
Don't move a stranger's bag or coat before asking. Point to the chair and say:
죄송한데요. 여기 앉아도 될까요?
Excuse me. May I sit here?
Excuse me. May I sit here?
If the item belongs to the person, they may move it and say 네, 앉으세요. If they're saving the seat, you'll hear 사람 있어요 or 친구가 올 거예요.
You can also ask about the object itself:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
이거 주인 있으세요? | i-geo ju-in i-sseu-se-yo? | Does this belong to someone? |
이 가방 여기 분 거예요? | i ga-bang yeo-gi bun geo-ye-yo? | Does this bag belong to someone here? |
In most cases, the sitting question is enough. Use the object question only when no one seems connected to the seat.
At a shared table
The chair may be free even when the table is already in use. Ask whether sharing the table is okay.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
여기 같이 앉아도 될까요? | yeo-gi ga-chi an-ja-do doel-kka-yo? | May I sit here with you? |
이 자리만 써도 될까요? | i ja-ri-man sseo-do doel-kka-yo? | May I use just this seat? |
합석해도 될까요? | hap-seo-kae-do doel-kka-yo? | May I share the table? |
합석 means sharing a table with people outside your group. The longer permission question is easier for a beginner to use without sounding abrupt.
A complete seat exchange
You: 죄송한데요. 여기 앉아도 될까요?
Person: 네, 앉으세요.
You: 감사합니다.
Person: 네, 앉으세요.
You: 감사합니다.
If the answer changes:
You: 혹시 여기 앉아도 될까요?
Person: 죄송해요. 친구가 올 거예요.
You: 아, 네. 알겠습니다.
Person: 죄송해요. 친구가 올 거예요.
You: 아, 네. 알겠습니다.
Both exchanges end quickly because your first question is clear.
The reusable Korean pattern
앉아도 돼요? uses -아/어도 돼요?, a pattern for asking permission.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
앉아도 돼요? | an-ja-do dwae-yo? | Can I sit? |
들어가도 돼요? | deu-reo-ga-do dwae-yo? | Can I go in? |
사진 찍어도 돼요? | sa-jin jji-geo-do dwae-yo? | Can I take a photo? |
여기 둬도 돼요? | yeo-gi dwo-do dwae-yo? | Can I leave this here? |
A single seat question becomes a pattern you can use throughout your trip. Start with 여기 앉아도 될까요?, listen for 앉으세요 or 사람 있어요, and then carry -아/어도 돼요? into the next real situation.