How to Ask When a Bus or Train Arrives in Korean
Learn to ask 'What time does it arrive?' in Korean, use the arrival verb 도착하다, and talk about how long a trip takes using 걸리다.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you travel in Korea, knowing the departure time is only half the story. You often need to know when the bus or train actually arrives. In this lesson you will learn the key Korean question 몇 시에 도착해요? ('What time does it arrive?') and the verb 도착하다 ('to arrive'). You will also learn how to ask how long a trip takes with 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? These two patterns work for buses, trains, subways, and even planes, so you can use them right away at a station or in a taxi.
By the end, you can…
- ask what time a bus or train arrives using 몇 시에 도착해요?
- say when I arrive or when someone else arrives using 도착하다
- ask how long a trip takes using 시간이 얼마나 걸려요?
- understand a simple arrival announcement or answer about arrival time
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
몇 시에 도착해요?
What time does it arrive?
myeot si-e dochakaeyo?
The most common way to ask about the arrival time of a bus, train, or flight. 몇 시에 means 'at what time'.
버스가 몇 시에 도착해요?
What time does the bus arrive?
beoseu-ga myeot si-e dochakaeyo?
Add the subject 버스가 ('the bus') when you want to be clear about which vehicle you mean.
기차는 언제 도착해요?
When does the train arrive?
gicha-neun eonje dochakaeyo?
언제 ('when') is a little broader than 몇 시에 and is common in announcements and casual speech.
여기서 얼마나 걸려요?
How long does it take from here?
yeogiseo eolmana geollyeoyo?
Use this to ask about travel time. 여기서 means 'from here' and 걸려요 comes from 걸리다 ('to take time').
곧 도착해요.
It arrives soon.
got dochakaeyo.
A useful answer you may hear. 곧 means 'soon' and comes before the verb.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [time] + 에 + 도착해요. 몇 시에 도착해요? literally means 'At what time does it arrive?' You can replace 몇 시에 with a specific time: 3시에 도착해요 ('It arrives at 3 o'clock'). To talk about duration, use [place] + 에서 + 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? For example, 서울에서 부산까지 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? ('How long does it take from Seoul to Busan?'). The verb 걸리다 is used for time taken, not for arriving.
When to use it
Use 몇 시에 도착해요? when you know the vehicle and want a clock time. Use 언제 도착해요? when you are less sure and just want a general answer. At a station, you can ask 직원에게 몇 시에 도착해요? ('to the staff, what time does it arrive?'). If you are asking about your own arrival, say 저는 몇 시에 도착해요? ('What time do I arrive?'). For duration, ask 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? Remember that 도착하다 is a regular verb: 도착해요 is the polite present form.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 버스가 몇 시에 도착해요?
Excuse me, what time does the bus arrive?jeogiyo, beoseu-ga myeot si-e dochakaeyo?3시에 도착해요.
It arrives at 3 o'clock.se si-e dochakaeyo.여기서 얼마나 걸려요?
How long does it take from here?yeogiseo eolmana geollyeoyo?한 30분 걸려요.
It takes about 30 minutes.han samsip-bun geollyeoyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, arrival information is often announced over speakers at stations and on buses. The polite question 몇 시에 도착해요? is safe with strangers and staff. With close friends, you can drop 요 and say 몇 시에 도착해? but keep the polite form in public or with people you do not know well.
One thing to watch for
Using 도착하다 to ask how long a trip takes, as in 몇 시에 걸려요?
Try this instead: Use 걸리다 for duration and 도착하다 for arrival. Ask 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? for 'How long does it take?' and 몇 시에 도착해요? for 'What time does it arrive?' For example, 서울에서 부산까지 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? is correct for duration.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What time does the train arrive?' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
기차가 몇 시에 도착해요?
This uses the subject 기차가, the time question 몇 시에, and the polite verb 도착해요. 기차는 몇 시에 도착해요? is also acceptable.
2What does 여기서 얼마나 걸려요? mean?
Show a sample answer
How long does it take from here?
여기서 means 'from here', 얼마나 means 'how much/how long', and 걸려요 means 'it takes (time)'. This asks about duration, not arrival time.
3Fill in the blank: 버스가 3시에 ______.
Show a sample answer
도착해요
도착해요 is the polite present form of 도착하다 ('to arrive'). The sentence means 'The bus arrives at 3 o'clock.'
Use 몇 시에 도착해요? for arrival time and 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? for duration. Keep 도착하다 for arriving and 걸리다 for taking time.
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