How to Ask Where the Swimming Pool Is in Korean
Learn to ask where the public swimming pool is in Korean, understand opening hours, and use polite question forms at the front desk.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you visit a Korean city and want to swim, the first thing you need is the location of the nearest public pool. In Korean, this means using the question word eodi (where) with the polite present-tense question ending -eyo. This lesson teaches you to ask 'Where is the swimming pool?', understand the answer, and ask about opening and closing hours. You will also learn the difference between a public pool and a private one, and how to speak politely to staff at the entrance. All phrases use Hangul with Revised Romanization so you can read and say them confidently.
By the end, you can…
- ask where the swimming pool is in polite Korean.
- understand and ask about the pool's opening and closing hours.
- recognize the words for public pool, indoor pool, and swimming.
- use the question word eodi correctly in a full sentence.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
수영장이 어디에 있어요?
Where is the swimming pool?
su-yeong-jang-i eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?
The most common polite way to ask for the location of a swimming pool. Use it with a staff member or a passerby.
공공 수영장이 어디에 있어요?
Where is the public swimming pool?
gong-gong su-yeong-jang-i eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?
Adds gong-gong (public) to make clear you mean a government-run or community pool, not a private one.
실내 수영장이에요?
Is it an indoor swimming pool?
sil-lae su-yeong-jang-i-e-yo?
Use this to check whether the pool is indoors, which matters in winter or rainy weather.
몇 시에 문을 열어요?
What time does it open?
myeot si-e mun-eul yeo-reo-yo?
Literally 'What time does it open the door?' This is the standard way to ask about opening time.
몇 시에 문을 닫아요?
What time does it close?
myeot si-e mun-eul da-da-yo?
The opposite of the opening question. Use it to find out the closing time before you plan your swim.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [place] + 이/가 + 어디에 있어요? This means 'Where is [place]?' The particle 이 or 가 marks the subject, and 어디에 있어요 means 'exists at where.' For example: 수영장이 어디에 있어요? (Where is the swimming pool?) or 화장실이 어디에 있어요? (Where is the restroom?). If the place word ends in a consonant, use 이; if it ends in a vowel, use 가. 수영장 ends in ㅇ, so you say 수영장이. To ask about hours, use 몇 시에 (what time) plus a verb: 문을 열어요 (opens) or 문을 닫아요 (closes).
When to use it
Use these questions when you are at a bus stop, a hotel lobby, or the entrance of a sports center. If you are already inside the building, you can ask a staff member: 수영장이 어디에 있어요? If you want to know whether the pool is open right now, ask 지금 문을 열었어요? (Is it open now?). For hours, listen for native Korean numbers: 한 시 (1 o'clock), 두 시 (2 o'clock), and so on. Many public pools in Korea close for a lunch break or on Mondays, so asking 몇 시에 문을 닫아요? is practical.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
실례합니다, 공공 수영장이 어디에 있어요?
Excuse me, where is the public swimming pool?sil-lye-ham-ni-da, gong-gong su-yeong-jang-i eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?이 건물 3층에 있어요.
It is on the third floor of this building.i geon-mul sam-cheung-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 9시에 닫아요. 수영장은 6시에 열어요.
It closes at 9 p.m. The pool opens at 6.jeo-nyeok a-hop-si-e da-da-yo. su-yeong-jang-eun yeo-seot-si-e yeo-reo-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, public pools are often called 공공 수영장 or 구민 수영장 (district residents' pool). Many require a swim cap and may ask for a health check or a shower before entering. Staff at the front desk usually speak politely, so use -yo endings and say 감사합니다 when you leave. Some pools have separate hours for free swimming and lessons, so asking about the schedule is normal.
One thing to watch for
Saying 수영장 어디예요? without the subject particle and with a different verb.
Try this instead: The natural polite question is 수영장이 어디에 있어요? The word 어디예요 can mean 'Where is it?' but it sounds less complete for a place. Use 있어요 with 어디에 for locations: 수영장이 어디에 있어요? This is the standard form taught in most Korean classes.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Where is the swimming pool?' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
수영장이 어디에 있어요?
This uses the subject particle 이 after 수영장 and the location question 어디에 있어요. You could also say 수영장은 어디에 있어요? with the topic particle, which is also correct in conversation.
2What does 몇 시에 문을 닫아요? mean?
Show a sample answer
What time does it close?
몇 시에 means 'at what time,' 문을 means 'the door,' and 닫아요 means 'closes.' Together they ask about closing time. A valid alternative is 언제 닫아요? (When does it close?).
3If a pool is indoors, which phrase should you use to check?
Show a sample answer
실내 수영장이에요?
실내 means 'indoor,' and 수영장이에요 means 'is a swimming pool.' This asks 'Is it an indoor pool?' You could also ask 실내예요? (Is it indoors?) in a shorter form.
To find a pool in Korea, remember the pattern 수영장이 어디에 있어요? and ask 몇 시에 문을 열어요? or 몇 시에 문을 닫아요? for hours. Speak politely with -yo endings and you will get clear directions.
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