Korean for Transport Access: Asking 'Is There a Metro Station Nearby?'
Learn to ask if a metro station is near an apartment in Korean, understand distance words, and follow simple directions. Includes phrases, a dialogue, and practice for real situations.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you're looking at an apartment in Korea, one of the first practical questions is whether public transport is close. In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask 'Is there a metro station nearby?' in Korean, understand the answer, and talk about distance. You'll use the pattern '근처에 ...이/가 있어요?' (geuncheo-e ...i/ga isseoyo?) and common location words like '가까워요' (gakkawoyo, it's close) and '멀어요' (meoreoyo, it's far). By the end, you'll be able to check transport access around any apartment.
By the end, you can…
- ask if a metro station is nearby using '근처에 지하철역이 있어요?'
- understand and use distance words like '가까워요' and '멀어요'.
- ask how far a station is and understand a simple answer in minutes or meters.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
근처에 지하철역이 있어요?
Is there a metro station nearby?
geun-cheo-e ji-ha-cheol-yeok-i is-seo-yo?
Use this when you want to know if a subway station is in the area. '근처에' means 'nearby' and '지하철역' means 'metro station'.
가까워요?
Is it close?
ga-kka-wo-yo?
Ask this after someone mentions a station or bus stop. It means 'Is it close?' and is a quick way to check distance.
여기서 얼마나 걸려요?
How long does it take from here?
yeo-gi-seo eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?
Use this to ask about travel time on foot or by transport. '여기서' means 'from here' and '얼마나 걸려요?' means 'how long does it take?'
걸어서 5분 걸려요.
It takes 5 minutes on foot.
geo-reo-seo o-bun geol-lyeo-yo.
A typical answer. '걸어서' means 'on foot' and '5분' means '5 minutes'. You can replace the number with other times.
버스 정류장은 어디에 있어요?
Where is the bus stop?
beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-eun eo-di-e is-seo-yo?
Use this to ask for the location of a bus stop. '버스 정류장' means 'bus stop' and '어디에 있어요?' means 'where is it?'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '근처에 [place]이/가 있어요?' means 'Is there a [place] nearby?' The particle '이' is used after a consonant-ending noun, and '가' after a vowel-ending noun. For example, '지하철역이 있어요?' (ji-ha-cheol-yeok-i is-seo-yo?) uses '이' because '역' ends in a consonant. '버스 정류장이 있어요?' (beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-i is-seo-yo?) also uses '이' because '장' ends in a consonant. A vowel-ending example is '학교' (hak-gyo, school): '근처에 학교가 있어요?' (geun-cheo-e hak-gyo-ga is-seo-yo?). So the choice depends on the final sound of the noun.
When to use it
Use these questions when you are checking a neighborhood, talking to a real estate agent, or asking a friend. For example, when viewing an apartment, you can ask: '근처에 지하철역이 있어요?' (Is there a metro station nearby?). If the answer is yes, follow up with '걸어서 얼마나 걸려요?' (How long does it take on foot?). If you want to know about buses, ask '버스 정류장은 어디에 있어요?' (Where is the bus stop?). These are polite and standard in everyday conversation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이 아파트 근처에 지하철역이 있어요?
Is there a metro station near this apartment?i a-pa-teu geun-cheo-e ji-ha-cheol-yeok-i is-seo-yo?네, 걸어서 5분 걸려요.
Yes, it takes 5 minutes on foot.ne, geo-reo-seo o-bun geol-lyeo-yo.가까워요? 버스 정류장도 있어요?
Is it close? Is there a bus stop too?ga-kka-wo-yo? beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-do is-seo-yo?네, 버스 정류장은 아파트 앞에 있어요.
Yes, the bus stop is in front of the apartment.ne, beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-eun a-pa-teu ap-e is-seo-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, it's common to ask about transport access when considering an apartment. Real estate agents often mention '역세권' (yeok-se-gwon), meaning 'station area', to highlight proximity to a subway station. When asking, use polite language with '-요' endings. If you're talking to a friend, you can drop '-요' for a casual tone, but with strangers or agents, keep it polite.
One thing to watch for
Using '은/는' instead of '이/가' in '근처에 지하철역은 있어요?'
Try this instead: While '은/는' can be used for contrast or topic, the standard question for existence uses '이/가': '근처에 지하철역이 있어요?' (Is there a metro station nearby?). Use '은/는' when you want to contrast, e.g., '지하철역은 있어요, 하지만 버스 정류장은 없어요' (There is a metro station, but there is no bus stop).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'Is there a bus stop nearby?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
근처에 버스 정류장이 있어요?
This uses the pattern '근처에 [noun]이 있어요?' with '버스 정류장' (bus stop). '이' is used because '정류장' ends in a consonant. You could also say '근처에 버스 정류장 있어요?' in casual speech, dropping '이'.
2What does '걸어서 10분 걸려요' mean?
Show a sample answer
It takes 10 minutes on foot.
'걸어서' means 'on foot', '10분' means '10 minutes', and '걸려요' means 'it takes'. So the whole phrase means 'It takes 10 minutes on foot.'
3How would you ask 'Is it far?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
멀어요?
'멀어요?' means 'Is it far?' It's the opposite of '가까워요?' (Is it close?). Use it to check distance after someone mentions a location.
To check transport access near an apartment, ask '근처에 지하철역이 있어요?' and follow up with '가까워요?' or '얼마나 걸려요?'. Remember to use '이/가' for existence questions and listen for distance words like '가까워요' and '멀어요'.
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