Korean for Public Transport: Polite Requests for a Seat and Space
Learn to ask politely in Korean on buses and subways: request a seat, ask someone to move, and respond to common requests with the right level of politeness.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
On Korean buses and subways, a few polite phrases go a long way. This lesson teaches you how to ask 'May I sit here?', request that someone move a bag, and respond when someone asks you for space. You will use the honorific polite style (해요체, haeyo-che) and the formal polite style (합니다체, hamnida-che) appropriately. We focus only on public transport, so you can use these phrases immediately on your commute. Pay attention to the particles and verb endings; Korean does not use articles or plural endings the way English does, and politeness is built into verb forms.
By the end, you can…
- ask politely whether I may sit in an empty seat on a bus or subway.
- ask someone to move a bag or give me space in a crowded car.
- respond politely when someone asks me to move or offers me a seat.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
여기 앉아도 돼요?
May I sit here?
yeo-gi an-ja-do dwae-yo?
Use this when pointing to an empty seat next to someone. It is polite and common among strangers of similar age or when you are younger. The literal meaning is 'Is it okay if I sit here?'
여기 앉아도 될까요?
Would it be all right if I sat here?
yeo-gi an-ja-do doel-kka-yo?
Slightly more polite and softer than 앉아도 돼요? Use it with older people, in formal situations, or when you want to be extra courteous.
가방 좀 치워 주시겠어요?
Could you please move your bag?
ga-bang jom chi-wo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Use on a crowded bus or subway when a bag is blocking a seat or space. 좀 (jom) softens the request. 주시겠어요? is a polite request form.
죄송하지만, 좀 비켜 주시겠어요?
Excuse me, but could you please step aside?
joe-song-ha-ji-man, jom bi-kyeo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Use when you need to get past someone or exit a crowded car. 죄송하지만 (excuse me, but) signals a polite interruption.
네, 앉으세요.
Yes, please sit down.
ne, an-jeu-se-yo.
Use when offering your seat or granting permission. 앉으세요 is the polite imperative of 앉다 (to sit). It is also used by drivers announcing 'please take a seat'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -아/어도 돼요? means 'May I...?' or 'Is it okay if I...?' Attach it to a verb stem: 앉다 (to sit) becomes 앉아도 돼요? (May I sit?). For a more polite version, use -아/어도 될까요? as in 앉아도 될까요? (Would it be all right if I sat?). To ask someone to do something for you, use -아/어 주시겠어요? as in 치워 주시겠어요? (Could you please move it?). Note that the ㅅ in 겠 is pronounced tense, so 주시겠어요? sounds like ju-si-ge-sseo-yo. These patterns are essential for polite requests on public transport.
When to use it
Use 여기 앉아도 돼요? with people your age or younger, and 여기 앉아도 될까요? with older adults or in formal settings. When someone is blocking a seat with a bag, say 가방 좀 치워 주시겠어요? rather than just 가방 치워 주세요, which can sound blunt. If you need to get off a crowded train, say 죄송하지만, 좀 비켜 주시겠어요? or simply 죄송합니다, 내릴게요 (Excuse me, I'll get off). Always add 죄송하지만 or 실례지만 (excuse me) before interrupting a stranger.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 여기 앉아도 될까요?
Excuse me, would it be all right if I sat here?jeo-gi-yo, yeo-gi an-ja-do doel-kka-yo?네, 앉으세요. 가방은 제가 들게요.
Yes, please sit down. I'll hold my bag.ne, an-jeu-se-yo. ga-bang-eun je-ga deul-ge-yo.감사합니다. 그런데 제가 내릴 때 좀 비켜 주시겠어요?
Thank you. By the way, could you please step aside when I get off?gam-sa-ham-ni-da. geu-reon-de je-ga nae-ril ttae jom bi-kyeo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?그럼요, 당연하죠. 내리실 때 말씀해 주세요.
Of course, naturally. Please tell me when you get off.geu-reom-yo, dang-yeon-ha-jyo. nae-ri-sil ttae mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
On Korean public transport, unsolicited physical contact is avoided; always ask verbally before sitting or moving someone's belongings. The honorific polite style (해요체) is safe for most strangers, but using 합니다체 (e.g., 앉아도 됩니까?) can sound overly formal on a bus. Elderly passengers are often given seats without asking, and younger people typically stand. If someone offers you a seat, a simple 감사합니다 (thank you) is enough; no need to refuse repeatedly.
One thing to watch for
Using 앉아도 돼요? with an older person or in a very formal situation, which can sound too casual.
Try this instead: Use 앉아도 될까요? or the formal 앉아도 됩니까? instead. For example, to an elderly passenger: 여기 앉아도 될까요? (Would it be all right if I sat here?) is more respectful.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are on a crowded subway and want to sit in an empty seat next to an older woman. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
여기 앉아도 될까요?
This uses the more polite -아/어도 될까요? pattern, which is appropriate for older strangers. 여기 앉아도 돼요? is also correct but slightly less formal.
2A passenger's bag is on the seat you want. Ask them politely to move it.
Show a sample answer
가방 좀 치워 주시겠어요?
This uses 좀 to soften the request and 주시겠어요? for politeness. You could also say 가방 좀 옮겨 주시겠어요? (Could you please move your bag?), which is equally polite.
3Someone asks you 여기 앉아도 돼요? and you want to say yes. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
네, 앉으세요.
This grants permission politely. You can also say 네, 앉아도 돼요. (Yes, you may sit.) Both are correct; 앉으세요 is more natural when offering a seat.
On Korean public transport, use 여기 앉아도 돼요? with peers and 여기 앉아도 될까요? with older people. Add 죄송하지만 or 실례지만 before asking someone to move, and use -아/어 주시겠어요? for polite requests. A little politeness makes shared spaces comfortable for everyone.
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