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Can You Wait Here? Korean Taxi Phrases for a Short Stop
Level
A1
Type
phrase
Theme
casual
작성자
Y
작성시각
If you need a taxi driver to wait while a friend comes outside, ask 잠깐 기다려 주실 수 있을까요?: "Could you wait for a moment?" Then say how long and where the person will meet you.
The driver may need to know 몇 분 ("how many minutes") or may say that waiting at that spot is difficult. This guide focuses on that short exchange, not the full taxi ride.
Ask the driver to wait
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
잠깐 기다려 주실 수 있을까요? | jam-kkan gi-da-ryeo ju-sil su i-sseul-kka-yo? | Could you wait for a moment? |
여기서 잠깐 기다려 주세요. | yeo-gi-seo jam-kkan gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo | Please wait here for a moment. |
5분 정도 기다려 주실 수 있을까요? | o-bun jeong-do gi-da-ryeo ju-sil su i-sseul-kka-yo? | Could you wait about five minutes? |
친구가 지금 내려오고 있어요. | chin-gu-ga ji-geum nae-ryeo-o-go i-sseo-yo | My friend is coming down now. |
금방 올게요. | geum-bang ol-ge-yo | I'll be right back. |
Use 주실 수 있을까요? when asking for a favor. 기다려 주세요 is polite, but the question form gives the driver room to say whether waiting is possible.
Avoid saying only 잠깐만요 and getting out. It means "one moment," but it does not clearly ask the driver to stay.
Say how long you need
잠깐 is vague. Add a realistic time when you can.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
1분만요. | il-bun-man-yo | Just one minute. |
3분 정도 걸려요. | sam-bun jeong-do geol-lyeo-yo | It will take about three minutes. |
5분 안에 올 거예요. | o-bun a-ne ol geo-ye-yo | They will come within five minutes. |
얼마나 기다릴 수 있어요? | eol-ma-na gi-da-ril su i-sseo-yo? | How long can you wait? |
정도 means "about," and 안에 means "within." If you do not know the time, call or message your friend before asking the driver to wait.
What the driver may ask
Korean | Pronunciation | What the driver means |
얼마나 걸리세요? | eol-ma-na geol-li-se-yo? | How long will it take? |
몇 분 정도요? | myeot bun jeong-do-yo? | About how many minutes? |
어디에서 기다리면 돼요? | eo-di-e-seo gi-da-ri-myeon dwae-yo? | Where should I wait? |
친구분은 어디에서 타세요? | chin-gu-bu-neun eo-di-e-seo ta-se-yo? | Where will your friend get in? |
여기서 기다리면 돼요? | yeo-gi-seo gi-da-ri-myeon dwae-yo? | Should I wait here? |
The most important listening word is 몇 분. Answer with a number even if the rest of the sentence is too fast:
3분 정도요.
About three minutes.
About three minutes.
When waiting here is difficult
A driver may not be able to remain at the exact spot. Listen for these phrases:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
여기서는 기다리기 어려워요. | yeo-gi-seo-neun gi-da-ri-gi eo-ryeo-wo-yo | It's difficult to wait here. |
여기 주차하면 안 돼요. | yeo-gi ju-cha-ha-myeon an dwae-yo | Parking is not allowed here. |
저 앞에서 기다릴게요. | jeo a-pe-seo gi-da-ril-ge-yo | I'll wait up ahead. |
다른 곳에서 기다려야 해요. | da-reun go-seo gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo | We need to wait somewhere else. |
If another spot is fine, say:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
네, 저 앞에서 기다려 주세요. | ne, jeo a-pe-seo gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo | Yes, please wait up ahead. |
네, 여기 괜찮아요. | ne, yeo-gi gwaen-cha-na-yo | Yes, here is fine. |
그럼 여기서 내릴게요. | geu-reom yeo-gi-seo nae-ril-ge-yo | Then I'll get out here. |
괜찮아요. 다시 부를게요. | gwaen-cha-na-yo. da-si bu-reul-ge-yo | That's okay. I'll call another taxi later. |
The goal is not to argue about the spot. Confirm the new location or end the ride clearly.
Ask about the fare instead of guessing
If you are unsure what happens while the taxi waits, ask the driver directly.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
기다리는 동안 요금이 계속 올라가나요? | gi-da-ri-neun dong-an yo-geu-mi gye-sok ol-la-ga-na-yo? | Does the fare keep increasing while we wait? |
지금 요금이 얼마예요? | ji-geum yo-geu-mi eol-ma-ye-yo? | How much is the fare now? |
먼저 계산할까요? | meon-jeo gye-san-hal-kka-yo? | Shall I pay first? |
Fare systems and local conditions can differ, so a direct question is safer than assuming. For the general Seoul taxi process, payment methods, and official help information, see the Seoul Metropolitan Government taxi guide.
Picking up a friend on the way
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
가는 길에 친구 한 명 더 탈 거예요. | ga-neun gi-re chin-gu han myeong deo tal geo-ye-yo | One more friend will get in on the way. |
이 건물 앞에서 친구를 태울게요. | i geon-mul a-pe-seo chin-gu-reul tae-ul-ge-yo | We'll pick up my friend in front of this building. |
친구 태우고 바로 갈게요. | chin-gu tae-u-go ba-ro gal-ge-yo | We'll pick up my friend and leave right away. |
타다 means to ride or get in. 태우다 means to let or help someone ride, so it is used when picking someone up.
A complete waiting exchange
You: 죄송한데요, 여기서 잠깐 기다려 주실 수 있을까요?
Driver: 몇 분 정도요?
You: 3분 정도요. 친구가 지금 내려오고 있어요.
Driver: 여기서는 기다리기 어려워요. 저 앞에서 기다릴게요.
You: 네, 저 앞에서 기다려 주세요. 감사합니다.
Driver: 몇 분 정도요?
You: 3분 정도요. 친구가 지금 내려오고 있어요.
Driver: 여기서는 기다리기 어려워요. 저 앞에서 기다릴게요.
You: 네, 저 앞에서 기다려 주세요. 감사합니다.
If the driver cannot wait:
Driver: 오래 기다리기는 어려워요.
You: 아, 네. 괜찮아요. 그럼 여기서 내릴게요.
You: 아, 네. 괜찮아요. 그럼 여기서 내릴게요.
You understood the practical answer and chose the next action without needing a long conversation.
Reuse the favor pattern
-아/어 주실 수 있을까요? is useful whenever you ask a stranger or service worker for help.
Korean | Meaning |
기다려 주실 수 있을까요? | Could you wait? |
다시 말해 주실 수 있을까요? | Could you say that again? |
여기 세워 주실 수 있을까요? | Could you stop here? |
For a short taxi stop, remember three parts: ask 기다려 주실 수 있을까요?, give the time with 몇 분, and listen for whether the driver will wait 여기서 or 저 앞에서. That turns a vague "one moment" into a complete, manageable exchange.