How to Ask Where the Nearest Pharmacy Is in Korean
Learn to ask 약국이 어디예요? (Where is the pharmacy?), name the nearest one, understand opening hours, and say thank you politely in Korean.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you feel unwell in Korea, the first thing you need is a pharmacy, called 약국 (yakguk). In this lesson you will learn one core question, 약국이 어디예요? (Where is the pharmacy?), plus how to add 가장 가까운 (the nearest), how to ask about opening hours, and how to thank the person who helps you. The phrases are short, polite, and usable in real streets, stations, and hotels. Korean word order puts the question word before the verb, so 어디예요? (where is it?) comes at the end. You do not need to change the sentence for a formal situation; adding the polite ending -요 (-yo) is enough for most everyday conversations.
By the end, you can…
- ask where the nearest pharmacy is in polite Korean.
- understand and answer a simple question about pharmacy opening hours.
- thank a staff member and say goodbye politely after getting help.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
약국이 어디예요?
Where is the pharmacy?
yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?
The most useful general question. 약국이 (yak-gu-gi) is 'pharmacy' with the subject marker -이 (-i). Use it when you just need any pharmacy.
가장 가까운 약국이 어디예요?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
ga-jang ga-kka-un yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?
Adds 가장 (ga-jang, 'most') and 가까운 (ga-kka-un, 'near') before 약국. Use this when you want the closest one, not just any pharmacy.
몇 시에 문을 열어요?
What time does it open?
myeot si-e mun-eul yeo-reo-yo?
몇 시에 (myeot si-e) means 'at what time'. 문을 열어요 (mun-eul yeo-reo-yo) means 'open the door', used for opening hours.
몇 시에 문을 닫아요?
What time does it close?
myeot si-e mun-eul da-da-yo?
The opposite of 열어요 (yeo-reo-yo). 닫아요 (da-da-yo) means 'close'. Useful when you are checking whether you can still go.
지금 문을 열었어요?
Is it open now?
ji-geum mun-eul yeo-reo-sseo-yo?
The past form 열었어요 (yeo-reo-sseo-yo) here asks whether it has already opened, so it works as 'Is it open now?'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern [place]이/가 어디예요? ([place]-i/ga eo-di-ye-yo?) means 'Where is [place]?' The noun before 어디예요? takes the subject marker 이 (i) after a consonant or 가 (ga) after a vowel. 약국 ends in a consonant, so it becomes 약국이 어디예요? (yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?). 화장실 (hwa-jang-sil, 'restroom') also ends in a consonant: 화장실이 어디예요? (hwa-jang-si-ri eo-di-ye-yo?). If the place ends in a vowel, use 가: 은행이 어디예요? (eun-haeng-i eo-di-ye-yo?, 'Where is the bank?'). To ask for the nearest one, put 가장 가까운 (ga-jang ga-kka-un) before the place noun.
When to use it
Use 약국이 어디예요? (yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?) with a stranger, a hotel receptionist, or a convenience store worker. It is polite and neutral, so it works in both casual and service situations. If you are speaking to a close friend, you can drop 요 (yo) and say 약국이 어디야? (yak-gu-gi eo-di-ya?), but learners should keep -요 (-yo) until they are confident. When you ask about hours, use 몇 시에 (myeot si-e, 'at what time') with 열어요 (yeo-reo-yo) or 닫아요 (da-da-yo). If you need to confirm that it is open right now, ask 지금 문을 열었어요? (ji-geum mun-eul yeo-reo-sseo-yo?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
실례합니다, 가장 가까운 약국이 어디예요?
Excuse me, where is the nearest pharmacy?sil-lye-ham-ni-da, ga-jang ga-kka-un yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?저기 편의점 옆에 있어요.
It is over there next to the convenience store.jeo-gi pyeon-ui-jeom yeop-e i-sseo-yo.아, 감사합니다. 몇 시에 문을 닫아요?
Ah, thank you. What time does it close?a, gam-sa-ham-ni-da. myeot si-e mun-eul da-da-yo?저녁 아홉 시에 닫아요.
It closes at nine in the evening.jeo-nyeok a-hop si-e da-da-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, pharmacies are often marked with a large 약 (yak) sign and are frequently found near hospitals or subway exits. Many are closed on Sundays or public holidays, and some open only on weekday daytime hours, so asking 몇 시에 문을 닫아요? (myeot si-e mun-eul da-da-yo?) is genuinely useful. Staff may answer quickly with a location such as 옆에 (yeop-e, 'next to') or 건너편에 (geon-neo-pyeon-e, 'across the street'), so listen for those short direction words.
One thing to watch for
Saying 약국 어디예요? (yak-guk eo-di-ye-yo?) and leaving out the subject marker -이 (-i).
Try this instead: Although Koreans often understand it, the complete polite sentence is 약국이 어디예요? (yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?). The marker -이 (-i) attaches after the consonant ending of 약국, and the sound naturally links: yak-gu-gi. Use the full form while learning so your sentence sounds complete and clear.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Where is the nearest pharmacy?' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
가장 가까운 약국이 어디예요? (ga-jang ga-kka-un yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?)
This uses 가장 (most), 가까운 (near), 약국이 (pharmacy + subject marker), and 어디예요? (where is it?). You can also say 가장 가까운 약국은 어디예요? with the topic marker -은 (-eun); both are acceptable.
2You want to know what time a pharmacy closes. Which question do you ask?
Show a sample answer
몇 시에 문을 닫아요? (myeot si-e mun-eul da-da-yo?)
몇 시에 (myeot si-e) asks 'at what time', and 닫아요 (da-da-yo) means 'close'. If you want the opening time instead, use 열어요 (yeo-reo-yo) in the same pattern.
3A staff member tells you the pharmacy is next to the convenience store. What Korean phrase did they likely use for 'next to'?
Show a sample answer
옆에 (yeop-e)
옆에 (yeop-e) means 'next to' or 'beside'. You may also hear 건너편에 (geon-neo-pyeon-e, 'across the street') or 근처에 (geun-cheo-e, 'nearby'); all are common in short directions.
Memorize 약국이 어디예요? (yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?) as your core question, add 가장 가까운 (ga-jang ga-kka-un) for 'nearest', and use 몇 시에 문을 닫아요? (myeot si-e mun-eul da-da-yo?) to check closing time before you go.
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