Korean for Elementary Learners: Talking About an Upcoming Trip to Japan
Learn to say you are going to Japan next month, share a simple itinerary, and see why a big trip uses different Korean patterns than a weekend plan.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn how to talk about a bigger, longer trip in Korean, not just a weekend plan. The key pattern is -(으)ㄹ 거예요, which expresses a plan or intention: 저는 다음 달에 일본에 갈 거예요. You will also learn how to give dates with -에, list itinerary items with -고, and use verbs like 가다 (to go), 보다 (to see), and 먹다 (to eat). Because Korean does not use articles like 'a' or 'the', you simply say 일본 (Japan) or 다음 달 (next month) without extra words. Keep the polite -요 style, which is safe for most everyday conversations.
By the end, you can…
- say where and when I am going on a bigger trip using -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
- share a short itinerary with at least three activities using -고.
- ask and answer simple questions about an upcoming trip in polite Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저는 다음 달에 일본에 갈 거예요.
I'm going to Japan next month.
jeo-neun da-eum da-re il-bo-ne gal geo-ye-yo
Use this to state a future trip plan. 다음 달에 means 'next month'; the -에 marks the time.
삼 일 동안 도쿄에 있을 거예요.
I'll be in Tokyo for three days.
sam il dong-an do-kyo-e i-sseul geo-ye-yo
동안 means 'for/during' a length of time. Use it for longer trips, not short weekend plans.
첫째 날에 센소지를 볼 거예요.
On the first day, I'm going to see Sensoji Temple.
cheot-jjae na-re sen-so-ji-reul bol geo-ye-yo
첫째 날에 means 'on the first day'. -를 marks the object of 보다 (to see).
둘째 날에 스시를 먹고 쇼핑할 거예요.
On the second day, I'm going to eat sushi and go shopping.
dul-jjae na-re seu-si-reul meok-go syo-ping-hal geo-ye-yo
-고 connects two actions: 'eat and shop'. The final -(으)ㄹ 거예요 applies to both.
주말 계획보다 더 크고 길어요.
It's bigger and longer than a weekend plan.
ju-mal gye-hoek-bo-da deo keu-go gi-reo-yo
보다 means 'than' in comparisons. Use this to contrast a big trip with a small weekend plan.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for future plans and intentions. Attach it to a verb stem: 가다 becomes 갈 거예요, 보다 becomes 볼 거예요, 먹다 becomes 먹을 거예요. If the verb stem ends in a vowel, use -ㄹ 거예요; if it ends in a consonant, use -을 거예요. For example: 저는 일본에 갈 거예요 (I will go to Japan) and 저는 스시를 먹을 거예요 (I will eat sushi). This pattern is polite and common in everyday speech.
When to use it
Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 when you talk about a planned trip, especially a bigger or longer one. For a weekend plan, Koreans often use the same pattern, but a big trip usually includes a duration like 삼 일 동안 (for three days) and an itinerary with -고. For example: 다음 달에 일본에 갈 거예요. 삼 일 동안 도쿄에 있을 거예요. 첫째 날에 센소지를 보고 둘째 날에 스시를 먹을 거예요. This shows the trip is bigger and longer than a simple weekend plan.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
다음 달에 어디에 갈 거예요?
Where are you going next month?da-eum da-re eo-di-e gal geo-ye-yo저는 일본에 갈 거예요. 삼 일 동안 도쿄에 있을 거예요.
I'm going to Japan. I'll be in Tokyo for three days.jeo-neun il-bo-ne gal geo-ye-yo. sam il dong-an do-kyo-e i-sseul geo-ye-yo뭐 할 거예요?
What are you going to do?mwo hal geo-ye-yo첫째 날에 센소지를 보고 둘째 날에 스시를 먹고 쇼핑할 거예요.
On the first day I'm going to see Sensoji Temple, and on the second day I'm going to eat sushi and go shopping.cheot-jjae na-re sen-so-ji-reul bo-go dul-jjae na-re seu-si-reul meok-go syo-ping-hal geo-ye-yoA little context goes a long way
In Korean, polite speech with -요 is a safe default with strangers, acquaintances, and many people you meet while traveling. When talking to close friends, you may hear the same plan in casual speech, such as 일본에 갈 거야. For this lesson, keep the polite -요 form unless you know the listener well. Also, Korean often omits the subject when it is clear from context, so 저는 can be dropped after the first sentence.
One thing to watch for
저는 다음 달에 일본에 가요.
Try this instead: For a future plan, use -(으)ㄹ 거예요: 저는 다음 달에 일본에 갈 거예요. The plain present 가요 can sound like a routine or a scheduled fact, not a personal plan. If you want to sound natural about an upcoming trip, say 갈 거예요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'm going to Japan next month' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
저는 다음 달에 일본에 갈 거예요.
This uses 다음 달에 for 'next month' and 갈 거예요 for the future plan. You can also omit 저는 if the subject is clear.
2Change 먹다 into the future plan form in this sentence: 스시를 ___.
Show a sample answer
스시를 먹을 거예요.
The stem 먹- ends in a consonant, so it takes -을 거예요. If the stem ended in a vowel, you would use -ㄹ 거예요, as in 볼 거예요.
3What does 동안 mean in 삼 일 동안?
Show a sample answer
It means 'for' or 'during' a length of time, so 삼 일 동안 is 'for three days'.
동안 follows a time expression to show duration. It helps show that a trip is longer than a weekend plan.
Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for upcoming trip plans, add 동안 for duration, and connect itinerary items with -고. Keep the polite -요 style, and remember that a big trip often needs a date, a length of stay, and at least two activities.
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