Subway

General Terms

• 역(驛) - Station. For example: 서울역 is Seoul Station.
• 전철(電鐵) - An electric railroad.
• 열차(列車) - A train.
• 지하철(地下鐵) - The subway.
• 지하철역 - Subway station.
• 갈아타다 - To transfer.
• 갈아타는 곳 - The place to transfer.
• 환승 - Transfer.
• 행 (行) - Destination for the train. For example "사당행" means the train is bound for 사당. Some trains don't travel the entire line, so paying attention to the destination is important.
• 선 - Line.
• 출입문 -
• 출구 (出口) - Exit.
• 출입구(出入口) - Entrance.
• 입구(入口) - Entrance.
• (Sino Korean number) + 번출구 - Exit number ~. For example 육번출구 is exit number 6.
• 나가는 곳 - Exit (literally place to get out).
• 자리 - seat
• 문 - door
• 내리다 - to get off (the subway).
• 승객 - Passenger
• 손님 - Passenger
• 안전선 - Safety line
• 승차하다 0 to get on board
• 출입문 - The subway doors (literally the doors that open and close)
• 스크린 도 - Platform screen door

Seoul Subway Lines

For lines 1-9 use the Sino Korean numbers.

• 분당선 - Bundang line
• 일호선 - Line 1
• 이호선 - Line 2
• 삼호선 - Line 3
• 사호선 - Line 4
• 오호선 - Line 5
• 육호선 - Line 6
• 칠호선 - Line 7
• 팔호선 - Line 8
• 구호선 - Line 9

Note due to consonant assimilation rules, some of the line names are pronounced differently than spelled. Proper pronunciation:

• 일호선 → "이로선"
• 육호선 → "유코선"
• 칠호선 → "치로선"
• 팔호선 → "파로선"

Announcements and Messages

Messages and announcements heard in the subway.

• 조심하시기 발압니다 - Please be careful
• 지금 열차가 들어고있습니다
• 곧 출발하겠습니다 - (The train) will depart shortly.

express train

Train Status

Sign at 신도림 station showing the status of other trains.

There is usually a sign in the subway station indicating the status of a train.

• 출발 - Departing
• 대기 - Standing by
• 접근 - Approaching

Other related terms

• 양보하다 - to give up, to compromise. "자리를 양보한다" means to give up your seat.
• 노약자(老弱者) - Old and weak (people). Usually used in the context of giving up your seat for them.