At the airport
공항
airport
공항에 도착했어요.
I arrived at the airport.
Use 에 with 공항 to say you arrive at or go to the airport.
KOREAN FOR YOUR FIRST DAY
Useful Korean words.
One small step at a time.
Start with 12 everyday words for airports, transport, cafes and your stay. Each word has an English meaning, a polite example sentence and a short note to help you use it.
Latest additions: .
How do I practise a new Korean word?
- Read the word and its English meaning. If the letters are unfamiliar, use our Hangul chart and syllable builder.
- Read the example as a complete sentence. Particles after a noun, such as 이 and 가, help show its role in the sentence.
- Recall the meaning without looking, then find a moment to use it. A few words that you remember are more useful than a long list you rush through.
These are original written practice examples. For recorded conversations, visit the airport, transport, hotel and directions lessons. A word can sound different in a connected sentence; the pronunciation guide explains common changes.
LATEST ADDITIONS
October 6, 2026
Getting around
지하철
subway
지하철을 타고 가요.
I am going by subway.
지하철역 is a subway station; 지하철 is the subway itself.
At your stay
예약
reservation
예약했어요.
I have a reservation.
예약하다 means to make a reservation; 예약했어요 is a useful check-in phrase.
At a cafe
커피
coffee
커피 한 잔 주세요.
One cup of coffee, please.
잔 is a counter commonly used for cups or glasses of a drink.
Finding your way
화장실
restroom
화장실이 어디예요?
Where is the restroom?
화장실 is used for a toilet, bathroom, or restroom, depending on the setting.
Everyday essentials
물
water
물 주세요.
Water, please.
물 주세요 is a simple polite request for water.
Food and meals
밥
cooked rice
밥 조금 더 주세요.
A little more rice, please.
밥 can mean cooked rice or, more broadly, a meal; uncooked rice is 쌀.
Shopping
카드
payment card
카드로 결제할 수 있어요?
Can I pay by card?
카드 is a broad word for card; in a payment context it means a payment card.
Time and plans
오늘
today
오늘 시간이 있어요?
Do you have time today?
오늘 refers to today and can appear directly before an action or state.
Asking for help
약국
pharmacy
약국이 어디예요?
Where is the pharmacy?
약국 means pharmacy; 병원 means a hospital or clinic.
Getting around
버스
bus
이 버스는 어디로 가요?
Where does this bus go?
이 버스 means this bus; 어디로 asks toward which place.
Food and meals
메뉴
menu
메뉴 좀 보여 주세요.
Please show me the menu.
메뉴 can mean the menu or an individual item offered on it.
Put the words into a real situation.
Practise a short hotel check-in conversation, or plan what to do when you arrive with our first-day Korea travel guide (opens in a new tab).
For additional definitions and usage, explore the National Institute of Korean Language’s Korean–English Learners’ Dictionary (opens in a new tab). These examples are prepared for Day1Korean and are not dictionary quotations or endorsements.