Korean for Travelers: Ask 'What Do You Recommend to See?'
Learn to ask for local recommendations in Korean. Practice 'What do you recommend to see?' and understand suggestions. Distinct from asking for directions.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you travel in Korea, asking for local recommendations can lead to memorable experiences. This lesson teaches you how to ask 'What do you recommend to see?' in Korean and how to understand the suggestions you receive. You will learn key phrases, the grammar pattern for recommendations, and how to respond politely. Unlike asking for directions, which focuses on finding a specific place, this skill is about soliciting opinions and ideas. By the end, you'll be able to start a conversation about sightseeing and make sense of the answers.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What do you recommend to see?' in Korean.
- understand and respond to recommendations about places to visit.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 주세요.
Please recommend a place worth seeing.
mwo bol manhan got chucheonhae juseyo
Polite and common way to ask for sightseeing recommendations. Use with strangers or acquaintances.
어디를 보면 좋을까요?
Where would be a good place to see?
eodireul bomyeon joeulkkayo?
Softer, more open-ended question. Literally 'If I see where, would it be good?'
여기서 꼭 가봐야 할 곳이 있어요?
Are there any places I must visit around here?
yeogiseo kkok gabwaya hal gosi isseoyo?
Asks for must-see places. '꼭' means 'definitely' or 'must'.
추천해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Thank you for the recommendation.
chucheonhae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida
Polite thank you after receiving a recommendation. Use with anyone.
그곳은 어떤 곳이에요?
What kind of place is that?
geugoseun eotteon gosieyo?
Ask for more details about a recommended place. '그곳' means 'that place'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for a recommendation, use the verb 추천하다 (chucheonhada, 'to recommend') in the request form 추천해 주세요 (chucheonhae juseyo, 'please recommend'). Combine it with a noun phrase like 볼 만한 곳 (bol manhan got, 'a place worth seeing'). For example: 뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 주세요. (mwo bol manhan got chucheonhae juseyo.) You can replace 볼 만한 곳 with other nouns: 맛집 (matjip, 'good restaurant'), 볼거리 (bolgeori, 'things to see'), or 가볼 곳 (gabol got, 'places to visit'). The pattern is [noun] + 추천해 주세요. To be more polite, you can say 추천해 주시겠어요? (chucheonhae jusigesseoyo?), which is slightly more formal.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you want personal suggestions, not directions. For example, if you are at a tourist information center, you can ask: 여기서 꼭 가봐야 할 곳이 있어요? (yeogiseo kkok gabwaya hal gosi isseoyo?) If you are chatting with a local, a softer question like 어디를 보면 좋을까요? (eodireul bomyeon joeulkkayo?) works well. Avoid using these when you need to find a specific address; for that, ask 길을 물어보세요 (gireul mureoboseyo, 'ask for directions'). After receiving a recommendation, you can show interest by asking 그곳은 어떤 곳이에요? (geugoseun eotteon gosieyo?)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요, 서울에서 뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 주세요.
Hello, please recommend a place worth seeing in Seoul.annyeonghaseyo, seouleseo mwo bol manhan got chucheonhae juseyo.경복궁이 좋아요. 한국의 역사를 느낄 수 있어요.
Gyeongbokgung is good. You can feel Korean history.gyeongbokgungi joayo. hangugui yeoksareul neukkil su isseoyo.그곳은 어떤 곳이에요?
What kind of place is that?geugoseun eotteon gosieyo?조선 시대 왕궁이에요. 아름다운 건축물을 볼 수 있어요.
It's a royal palace from the Joseon Dynasty. You can see beautiful architecture.joseon sidae wanggungieyo. areumdaun geonchukmureul bol su isseoyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, when asking for recommendations, it's polite to use respectful language with strangers or elders. The verb 추천하다 is neutral, but adding 주세요 makes it a polite request. If you're with friends, you can use 반말 (banmal, casual speech) like 뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 줘 (mwo bol manhan got chucheonhae jwo). Also, Koreans often recommend places based on personal experience, so showing appreciation with a smile and saying 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is customary. Avoid demanding recommendations; a friendly tone goes a long way.
One thing to watch for
Using '뭐 추천해요?' (mwo chucheonhaeyo?) as a direct translation of 'What do you recommend?' without specifying the category.
Try this instead: While 뭐 추천해요? is understandable, it's vague. It's better to specify what you want recommended, such as 뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 주세요 (mwo bol manhan got chucheonhae juseyo) for places to see, or 뭐 먹을 만한 곳 추천해 주세요 (mwo meogeul manhan got chucheonhae juseyo) for places to eat. This helps the listener give a useful answer.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'Please recommend a place worth seeing' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 주세요.
This uses the pattern [noun] + 추천해 주세요. 볼 만한 곳 means 'a place worth seeing'. Alternative: 뭐 볼 만한 데 추천해 주세요 (mwo bol manhan de chucheonhae juseyo) is also acceptable.
2What does '어디를 보면 좋을까요?' mean?
Show a sample answer
Where would be a good place to see?
It's a polite, open-ended question asking for suggestions on where to go. It literally means 'If I see where, would it be good?'
3How would you ask for more details about a recommended place?
Show a sample answer
그곳은 어떤 곳이에요?
This asks 'What kind of place is that?' You can also say 거기는 어때요? (geogineun eottaeyo?) meaning 'How is that place?' but it's less specific.
To ask for local recommendations in Korean, use 뭐 볼 만한 곳 추천해 주세요. Listen for suggestions and ask 그곳은 어떤 곳이에요? for details. Always thank the person with 감사합니다. This skill is about getting personal tips, not finding directions.
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