Japanese
Korean
Location and floors
❃ Location and floors
-
일층에 있어요.
[ Ilcheunge isseoyo. ] -
It's on the first floor.
-
건물 안에 있어요?
[ Geonmul ane isseoyo? ] -
Is it inside the building?
-
밖으로 나가세요.
[ Bakkeuro nagaseyo. ] -
Go outside.
-
책상 위에 있어요.
[ Chaeksang wie isseoyo. ] -
It's on top of the desk.
-
의자 아래에 있어요.
[ Uija araee isseoyo. ] -
It's under the chair.
-
병원 앞에 있어요.
[ Byeongwon ape isseoyo. ] -
It's in front of the hospital.
-
은행 뒤에 있어요.
[ Eunhaeng dwie isseoyo. ] -
It's behind the bank.
-
약국하고 빵집 사이에 있어요.
[ Yakgukhago ppangjip saie isseoyo. ] -
It is between the pharmacy and the bakery.
-
계단으로 올라가세요.
[ Gyeodaneuro ollagaseyo. ] -
Go up the stairs.
-
엘리베이터를 타고 내려가세요.
[ Ellibeiteoreul tago naeryeogaseyo. ] -
Go down the elevator.
-
반대편에 있어요.
[ Bandaepyeone isseoyo. ] -
It's on the opposite side.
-
길을 건너세요.
[ Gireul geonneoseyo. ] -
Cross the street.
-
바로 옆에 있어요.
[ Baro yeope isseoyo. ] -
It's right next to it.
-
입구가 어디예요?
[ Ipguga eodiyeyo? ] -
Where is the entrance?
-
출구는 저기예요.
[ Chulguneun jeogiyeyo. ] -
The exit is over there.
Understanding spatial descriptions and building layouts in South Korea comes with a few crucial cultural adjustments, particularly for European travelers. In Korea, the floor numbering system follows the American model rather than the European one: the ground floor is considered the 1st floor (1층 - Il-cheung), and the floor directly above it is the 2nd floor (2층 - I-cheung). There is absolutely no concept of a "Level 0" or "Ground Floor" distinct from the first floor. When asking for a location, you might also hear that a restaurant or shop is 지하에 있어요 (Jihae isseoyo - "It is in the basement"). This brings up a massive, fascinating aspect of Korean urban culture: the underground world. Due to the harsh, freezing winters and incredibly humid summers, Korean cities have developed sprawling, climate-controlled underground shopping malls (지하상가 - Jiha-sangga) that connect major subway stations to office buildings and department stores. You can practically live, eat, and shop without ever stepping outside! Furthermore, because Korean cities like Seoul are incredibly dense and tend to build vertically, it is extremely common to find coffee shops, dental clinics, PC Bangs, or even top-rated restaurants on the 4th, 5th, or even 10th floors of a seemingly nondescript commercial building. Therefore, looking up at the neon signs is just as important as looking around at street level. You will need to get comfortable asking for the specific floor number (몇 층이에요? - Myeot cheungieyo?) and using elevators (엘리베이터 - Ellibeiteo) to reach your destination.
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