You have just arrived in a Korean city and need to get around by bus or train. You can already recognise some hangul and know a few greetings, but at the ticket counter you freeze when the staff asks a follow-up question. This page gives you a concrete speaking plan built around three real ticket-buying situations: a one-way ticket to the city centre, a round-trip ticket with a return time, and a price check when you did not catch the number. You will practise saying the phrases aloud, responding to a follow-up turn, and checking whether you communicated the destination, the number of tickets, and the timing.
Prepare the core ticket phrases before you speak
Before you approach a ticket window, decide exactly what you need: destination, one-way or round-trip, number of tickets, and return time if relevant. For a one-way ticket, the lesson phrase is 시내 중심가 가는 표 한 장 주세요 (One ticket to the city centre, please). If the destination is already clear, you can shorten it to 편도 표 한 장 주세요 (One one-way ticket, please). For two tickets, change the counter: 두 장 주세요 (Two tickets, please). For a round-trip ticket, use 왕복 표 한 장 주세요 (One round-trip ticket, please), and add the return time with a phrase like 내일 오전 일곱 시에 돌아오는 표로 주세요 (A ticket returning tomorrow at seven in the morning, please). Practise each phrase aloud three times, focusing on the ending 주세요 and the counter 장. Then practise substituting the destination: 공항까지 왕복 표 주세요 (A round-trip ticket to the airport, please). This preparation means you only need to retrieve one or two chunks at the counter, not build a sentence from scratch.
Handle the harder turn: when staff ask for missing details
The hardest moment is not your first sentence but the staff's follow-up. They may ask 돌아오는 날짜와 시간이 어떻게 되세요? (What are your return date and time?) or 가는 표는 언제예요? (When is the departing ticket?). If you have not prepared the return time, you can stall politely with 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요 (Please say that one more time) or 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (Please speak slowly). Then give the time in a simple frame: [time]에 돌아오는 표로 주세요. For example, 내일 오전 일곱 시에 돌아오는 표로 주세요. If you are not sure of the exact time, you can ask 돌아오는 표는 몇 시예요? (What time is the return ticket?) to get help. Another common follow-up is the price: 표는 얼마예요? (How much is the ticket?). If you miss the number, ask 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요 and listen for the amount plus 이에요, such as 만 원이에요 (It is ten thousand won). Practise this recovery turn aloud so that a missed number does not end the conversation.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
시내 중심가 가는 표 한 장 주세요.
One ticket to the city center, please.
si-nae jung-sim-ga ga-neun pyo han jang ju-se-yo.
편도 표 한 장 주세요.
One one-way ticket, please.
pyeon-do pyo han jang ju-se-yo.
표는 얼마예요?
How much is the ticket?
pyo-neun eol-ma-ye-yo?
두 장 주세요.
Two tickets, please.
du jang ju-se-yo.
왕복 표 한 장 주세요.
One round-trip ticket, please.
wangbok pyo han jang juseyo
공항까지 왕복 표 주세요.
A round-trip ticket to the airport, please.
gonghang-kkaji wangbok pyo juseyo
내일 오전 일곱 시에 돌아오는 표로 주세요.
A ticket returning tomorrow at seven in the morning, please.
naeil ojeon ilgop si-e doraoneun pyo-ro juseyo
가는 표는 언제예요?
When is the departing ticket?
ganeun pyo-neun eonjeyeyo?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
안녕하세요. 시내 중심가 가는 표 한 장 주세요.
Hello. One ticket to the city center, please.네, 편도 한 장이요. 천 원이에요.
Yes, one one-way ticket. It is 1,000 won.여기요. 몇 번 승강장이에요?
Here you are. Which platform is it?2번 승강장이에요. 저쪽으로 가세요.
It is platform 2. Please go that way.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
One-way ticket to the city centre
You are at a staffed ticket window in a Korean city. You need one one-way ticket to the city centre. The staff member looks at you and waits for your request. You have your payment ready but have not said anything yet.
Your task: Say aloud: 안녕하세요. 시내 중심가 가는 표 한 장 주세요. Then wait for the staff response. If they confirm the ticket and price, say 네, 감사합니다. If they ask a follow-up, answer with the information you have. Your goal is to communicate the destination, the number of tickets (one), and that it is one-way.
Round-trip ticket with a return time
You are at a train station ticket counter. You want a round-trip ticket to the airport. You plan to return tomorrow at seven in the morning. The staff member asks for your return date and time.
Your task: Say aloud: 안녕하세요. 공항까지 왕복 표 주세요. When the staff asks 돌아오는 날짜와 시간이 어떻게 되세요?, answer with 내일 오전 일곱 시에 돌아오는 표로 주세요. Make sure you say 왕복 (round-trip), not 편도 (one-way). Your goal is to communicate the destination, the round-trip choice, and the return time.
Price check and repeating the number
You are at a bus terminal. You want to know the price to Busan before you buy. You ask the staff, but the number they say is unclear. You need to ask again and confirm the amount.
Your task: Say aloud: 저기요, 부산까지 표가 얼마예요? Listen to the answer. If you do not catch it, say 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요. When they repeat, try to repeat the amount back: 만 원이에요? Your goal is to ask the price, ask for repetition politely, and confirm the number you heard.
Common questions
What is the difference between 편도 and 왕복 when buying tickets?
편도 means one-way and 왕복 means round-trip. Use 편도 표 한 장 주세요 for a single journey and 왕복 표 한 장 주세요 when you plan to return. If you need a return time, add a phrase like 내일 오전 일곱 시에 돌아오는 표로 주세요.
How do I ask for the price if I only see a fare chart?
Point at the chart and say 표는 얼마예요? or add the destination: 서울까지 표가 얼마예요? If you miss the answer, say 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요. The staff will usually repeat the amount slowly.
Sources and further reading
- korean: buy a single ticketChecked September 2026
- korean: buy a return ticketChecked September 2026
- korean: ask for the price of a ticketChecked September 2026
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