Sabai TranslateKorean phrases for taking a taxi
Korean taxis are safe and fairly cheap, but most drivers speak little English. The trick is to show the address in Korean and know a handful of phrases for the ride itself. Tap ▶ to hear the phrase; the romanized line shows how to say it.
Phrase · Pronunciation · Meaning · ▶ Listen
Getting in
On the way
Stopping and paying
If something goes wrong
Tips that save the situation
- Show the destination in Korean (Hangul) on your phone — drivers recognise Korean addresses much faster than English ones, and many use their own navigation.
- Kakao T is the main taxi app in Korea; it works with foreign cards in many cases and avoids explaining the address at all.
- Regular taxis are orange, white or silver; black 'deluxe' (모범) taxis cost more. International taxis with English-speaking drivers can be booked in advance.
- Late-night surcharges apply roughly from 22:00 to 04:00 in Seoul.
- Most taxis accept bank cards and T-money transport cards; small change for cash is good to have.
When the phrasebook runs out
A phrasebook covers the first sentence. Then the other person answers — fast, with words that are not on the list. Sabai translates the whole conversation live: you speak, the phone says it in Korean, the other person replies into the same phone, and you read the answer in your language with a short explanation of what they meant.
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Questions
Why do all the phrases end with 'juseyo'?
주세요 (juseyo) is the polite 'please' ending for requests. It is the right level of politeness for a taxi driver.
Is the romanization exact?
It follows the official Revised Romanization. Some sounds (like ㄹ, between r and l) don't exist in English, so listen to the audio too.
What if the driver asks me something?
Usually it's the exact address or the entrance. Sabai lets the driver speak into your phone and shows you the translation, so you can answer.
More phrasebooks
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- Mandarin phrases for train stations and high-speed rail
- Indonesian phrases for renting a scooter
- Japanese phrases for restaurants
- Spanish phrases for the doctor
- Turkish phrases for the pharmacy
- Vietnamese phrases for markets and bargaining
Updated: 2026-10-12