Korean for Beginners: Ask Which Bus Goes to the Beach
Learn to ask 'Which bus goes to the beach?' in Korean, understand bus numbers, and use the pattern for any destination.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need to get somewhere by bus in Korea, the key question is 'Which bus goes to [place]?' In Korean, this uses the verb 가다 (gada, 'to go') and the question word 어느 (eoneu, 'which'). This lesson teaches you to ask that question, understand the answer with bus numbers, and use the pattern for other destinations. You will also learn how to say 'bus' and 'beach' and how to confirm the bus number. By the end, you can approach a bus stop or ask a local and get the information you need.
By the end, you can…
- ask which bus goes to the beach in Korean.
- understand and say bus numbers in Korean.
- ask about buses to other destinations using the same pattern.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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어느 버스가 해변에 가요?
Which bus goes to the beach?
eo-neu beo-seu-ga hae-byeon-e ga-yo?
Standard polite question. Use with strangers or staff. 어느 means 'which', 버스가 is 'bus' with the subject marker, 해변에 is 'to the beach', 가요 is the polite present form of 가다 ('to go').
해변에 가는 버스는 몇 번이에요?
What number is the bus that goes to the beach?
hae-byeon-e ga-neun beo-seu-neun myeot beon-i-e-yo?
Asks specifically for the bus number. 몇 번 means 'what number', 이에요 is the polite copula ('is'). Use when you expect a number answer.
몇 번 버스를 타요?
Which number bus do I take?
myeot beon beo-seu-reul ta-yo?
Literally 'I ride which number bus?' Use to ask which bus to board. 타요 is the polite present form of 타다 ('to ride/take').
100번 버스
Bus number 100
baek-beon beo-seu
Bus numbers are said as number + 번 + 버스. 100 is 백 (baek). In speech, 100번 often sounds like 'baek-beon'.
네, 맞아요. 감사합니다.
Yes, that's right. Thank you.
ne, ma-ja-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Use to confirm the bus number you heard. 맞아요 means 'that's right'. 감사합니다 is a polite thank you.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [어느 버스가] + [place] + [에 가요?]. 어느 버스가 means 'which bus' and is the subject. The destination takes 에 (e), the particle for 'to'. Then 가요? asks 'goes?'. For example: 어느 버스가 해변에 가요? (Which bus goes to the beach?) You can replace 해변 with any place: 어느 버스가 공항에 가요? (Which bus goes to the airport?) 어느 버스가 시내에 가요? (Which bus goes to downtown?) If you want the bus number, use the pattern [place] + 에 가는 버스는 몇 번이에요? For example: 해변에 가는 버스는 몇 번이에요? (What number is the bus that goes to the beach?)
When to use it
Use these questions at a bus stop, information desk, or when asking a local. The polite -요 ending is safe for most situations. If you are asking a friend, you can drop -요: 어느 버스가 해변에 가? (Which bus goes to the beach?) But with strangers, keep -요. When you hear the answer, it will often be a number like '100번' or '100번 버스'. To confirm, repeat the number and ask: 100번이요? (Number 100?) or 100번 버스요? (Bus 100?) The person may say 네 (ne, yes) or 아니요 (a-ni-yo, no). If they give a different number, listen for the number and ask again. You can also ask 몇 번 버스를 타요? (Which number bus do I take?) to get the number directly.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
어느 버스가 해변에 가요?
Which bus goes to the beach?eo-neu beo-seu-ga hae-byeon-e ga-yo?100번 버스가 가요.
Bus number 100 goes.baek-beon beo-seu-ga ga-yo.100번이요? 감사합니다.
Number 100? Thank you.baek-beon-i-yo? gam-sa-ham-ni-da.네, 맞아요. 버스 정류장은 저쪽이에요.
Yes, that's right. The bus stop is over there.ne, ma-ja-yo. beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-eun jeo-jjok-i-e-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, bus numbers are often three digits (e.g., 100, 200) or two digits (e.g., 11, 45). The number is usually said with 번 (beon), meaning 'number'. When asking, using the polite -요 form is standard with strangers. If someone answers with just the number, you can confirm with [number]번이요? Thanking the person with 감사합니다 is polite. At bus stops, you may also see route maps; the destination is often written in Korean and English.
One thing to watch for
Saying '어느 버스가 해변에 가요?' but using the wrong particle, like '해변을 가요?' or '해변가 가요?'
Try this instead: The destination takes 에, not 을/를. Say 해변에 가요 (goes to the beach). 을/를 marks the object, but 가다 (go) does not take a direct object. So '어느 버스가 해변에 가요?' is correct. Also, do not add 가 after 해변; 해변가 means 'beachside' and is not needed here.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Which bus goes to the airport?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
어느 버스가 공항에 가요?
This uses the same pattern: 어느 버스가 (which bus) + 공항에 (to the airport) + 가요? (goes?). You can replace 공항 with any place. A valid alternative is 어느 버스가 공항에 가나요? but 가요 is more common in polite speech.
2You hear '50번 버스'. What does it mean, and how do you confirm it?
Show a sample answer
It means 'Bus number 50'. To confirm, say '50번이요?' (o-sip-beon-i-yo?).
50번 means number 50. 50 is 오십 (o-sip). Adding 이요 makes it a polite confirmation question. You could also say '50번 버스요?' (o-sip-beon beo-seu-yo?). Both are correct.
3What is the difference between '어느 버스가 해변에 가요?' and '해변에 가는 버스는 몇 번이에요?'
Show a sample answer
The first asks which bus goes to the beach; the second asks what number the bus that goes to the beach is.
The first is a general question about which bus. The second specifically asks for the bus number using 몇 번 (what number). Both are useful; the second is more direct if you need the number. Other variations like '몇 번 버스를 타요?' are also correct.
To ask which bus goes to a place, use 어느 버스가 [place]에 가요? For the bus number, use [place]에 가는 버스는 몇 번이에요? Remember to use 에 for the destination and confirm the number with [number]번이요?
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