Finding an accessible route at a station | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 실례합니다. 해당 승강장으로 이동하기 편한 방법이 있나요?

   Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?

   실례합니다

   Excuse me

   해당

   relevant; correct

   승강장

   platform

   이동하기

   going; reaching

   편한

   convenient; easy

   방법

   way; method

   있나요?

   is there?

   More detail

   실례합니다 is a polite formula used to get someone’s attention or apologize for an interruption: “Excuse me.” It is suitable before asking a stranger for help. 해당 means “the relevant” or “the applicable” one. Here it identifies the platform intended in the situation, which the fixed translation presents as the correct platform. It is commonly placed before the noun it describes, as in 해당 승강장. 승강장 means “platform,” especially a public-transport platform. The following particle 으로 marks the destination or direction: 승강장으로 means “to/toward the platform.” 이동하기 comes from the verb 이동하다, “to move” or “to travel.” The ending -기 turns the verb into a noun-like form, so 이동하기 means “moving” or “getting there.” In 이동하기 편한, it forms the pattern “convenient/easy for moving or getting there.” 편한 is the form of 편하다 used before a noun. In this sentence it means “convenient” or “easy,” describing 방법, not 승강장. A useful pattern is -기 편하다: “be convenient/easy to do something.” For example, 사용하기 편해요 means “It is easy to use.” 방법 means “way” or “method.” Here it refers to a way of reaching the platform, rather than naming a specific route itself. 있나요? asks whether something exists or is available. 있다 means “to exist” or “to be available,” and -나요? makes a polite question. Combined with 방법, 방법이 있나요? means “Is there a way?” The subject-marking particle 이 follows 방법, which ends in a consonant. Together, 해당 승강장으로 means “to the relevant/correct platform,” and 이동하기 편한 방법 means “a convenient or accessible way to get there.” The final 방법이 있나요? asks whether such a way is available. Thus the whole utterance means: “Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?”

2. 가장 가까운 엘리베이터는 지금 점검 중이라 이용할 수 없습니다.

   The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.

   가장 가까운

   closest

   엘리베이터

   elevator

   지금

   now

   점검 중

   under maintenance

   이라

   because it is

   이용할

   use

   수 없습니다

   cannot

   More detail

   가장 가까운 means “the closest.” The adjective 가깝다 means “to be close”; 가장 marks the highest degree among relevant options, so 가장 가깝다 is “to be the closest.” Its noun-modifying form is 가까운, as in 가까운 출구 (“a nearby exit”). 엘리베이터 is the noun “elevator.” It is a loanword used for the facility being discussed here. 지금 means “now” or “at the moment.” It places the situation in the present: 지금 바빠요 means “I am busy now.” 점검 중 means “under inspection” or “under maintenance.” 점검 is “inspection/checking,” and 중 indicates that an activity or state is in progress. The pattern N 중이다 means “be in the middle of N”; for example, 회의 중이에요 means “The meeting is in progress.” 이라 connects the preceding noun phrase to a reason: “because it is …” Here, 점검 중이라 means “because it is under inspection.” It is the connective form of the copular expression after the consonant-ending noun 중; after a vowel-ending noun, the corresponding form is commonly 라. 이용할 comes from 이용하다, “to use” or “to make use of.” The ending -ㄹ makes an attributive form before 수 in the ability pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다. Thus, 이용할 수 없습니다 expresses that using the elevator is not possible; 이용하다 itself is not the word carrying the negation. 수 없습니다 is the formal-polite form of 수 없다, “cannot” or “be unable to.” In the pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 없습니다, it means “cannot V.” For example, 여기에서는 사진을 찍을 수 없습니다 means “You cannot take pictures here.” Together, 가장 가까운 엘리베이터 identifies the closest elevator, 지금 점검 중이라 gives the reason that it is currently under maintenance, and 이용할 수 없습니다 says that it cannot be used. The whole utterance means: “The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.”

3. 무거운 여행 가방을 가지고 있어서 어려울 수도 있겠네요.

   That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.

   무거운

   heavy

   여행

   travel

   가방

   bag

   가지고 있어서

   because [someone] has or carries it

   어려울

   difficult

   수도 있겠네요

   might be the case

   More detail

   무거운 means “heavy” here and describes 여행 가방 (“travel bag”). Its base form is 무겁다; before a noun, this adjective uses the attributive form 무거운. This is a ㅂ-irregular change: 무겁다 → 무거운. 여행 means “travel” or “trip.” In 여행 가방, it specifies the type or purpose of the bag: “travel bag” or “suitcase.” Example: 여행 계획 means “travel plans.” 가방 means “bag.” In 여행 가방, it is the head noun, while 여행 describes what kind of bag it is. Example: 작은 가방 means “a small bag.” 가지고 있어서 expresses the reason “because [someone] has or is carrying [something].” It comes from 가지고 있다 (“to have” or “to carry”) plus the connective ending -어서, which can express a reason or cause. The Korean subject is not stated in this phrase; here, the fixed translation identifies that implicit holder as the speaker, so the phrase means “because I have/carry it,” referring to the suitcase. Example: 우산을 가지고 있어서 안 젖었어요. means “Because I had an umbrella, I didn’t get wet.” 어려울 means “difficult” in the prospective form used before 수 in a possibility pattern. Its base form is 어렵다; 어려울 수 있다 means “can or may be difficult.” The ㅂ-irregular change gives 어렵다 → 어려울 before this ending. 수도 있겠네요 completes the possibility expression and conveys “might be the case.” The pattern -ㄹ 수도 있다 expresses a possible outcome, while -겠네요 adds the speaker’s tentative recognition or inference. Thus 어려울 수도 있겠네요 means “it might be difficult.” Example: 오늘은 늦을 수도 있겠네요. means “It might be late today.” Together, 무거운 여행 가방 means “heavy travel bag” or “heavy suitcase.” The possessive “my” in the fixed translation is supplied by the implicit speaker associated with 가지고 있어서, not by the noun phrase itself. That phrase gives the reason: “because I have/carry it.” The final possibility expression says that the situation may be difficult. The whole utterance means: “That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.”

4. 북쪽 출입구 옆 엘리베이터를 이용하세요. 조금 더 걸어야 합니다.

   Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.

   북쪽

   north

   출입구

   entrance

   옆

   beside; next to

   엘리베이터

   elevator

   이용하세요

   please use

   조금 더

   a little more

   걸어야 합니다

   must walk

   More detail

   북쪽 means “north” here and can come before a noun to describe its location or direction: 북쪽 출입구 means “the north entrance.” The related directional word 남쪽 means “south.” Example: 북쪽으로 가세요. — “Please go north.” 출입구 is an entrance or access point. It is a compound noun used for a place where people enter or leave. Example: 출입구가 어디예요? — “Where is the entrance?” 옆 means “beside” or “next to.” In 북쪽 출입구 옆, it locates the following noun next to the north entrance. A common reusable pattern is 명사 옆에 (“next to a noun”), as in 은행 옆에 있어요. — “It is next to the bank.” 엘리베이터 means “elevator.” In the full sentence, the location phrase 북쪽 출입구 옆 describes which elevator is meant. The object-marker form 엘리베이터를 marks it as the thing being used. 이용하세요 is a polite request meaning “please use.” Its base form is 이용하다 (“to use”); -세요 makes a respectful request or instruction. Example: 이 문을 이용하세요. — “Please use this door.” 조금 더 means “a little more.” Here it modifies the amount of walking understood from the following verb: the route requires a little more walking. 조금 means “a little,” while 더 adds the meaning “more.” 걸어야 합니다 means “must walk” or, in this context, “have to walk.” The base form is 걷다 (“to walk”). Before -어야 하다, its ㄷ changes to ㄹ, giving 걸어야 하다; the formal polite form here is 걸어야 합니다. This pattern expresses necessity. Example: 조금 걸어야 합니다. — “You have to walk a little.” Together, 북쪽 출입구 옆 identifies the elevator as the one next to the north entrance, and 엘리베이터를 이용하세요 gives the polite instruction to use it. The next sentence, 조금 더 걸어야 합니다, states that doing so requires a little more walking. Thus the fixed utterance means: “Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.”

5. 그쪽으로 가는 길을 가리켜 주실 수 있나요, 아니면 표지판을 따라가면 되나요?

   Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?

   그쪽으로

   toward that direction

   가는

   going

   길

   way; road

   가리켜

   point out; indicate

   주실 수 있나요

   could you do it?

   아니면

   or

   표지판

   sign(s)

   따라가면 되나요

   is it okay to follow?

   More detail

   그쪽으로 means “toward that direction” or “over there.” 그쪽 is a demonstrative direction/place expression, and -으로 marks the direction or route toward which something moves. The exact referent of “that” is supplied by the situation rather than by this word alone. 가는 comes from 가다, “to go.” Here it is the form that modifies the following noun: 가는 길 means “the way/route that goes” somewhere, naturally “the way to go” or “the route.” This is not a separate tense meaning “was going”; it connects 가다 to 길 as a noun-modifying form. 길 means “way,” “road,” or “route.” In this utterance it is the route toward the indicated destination. A useful contrast is 길 for a route or way and 도로 for a road considered more specifically as a roadway. 가리켜 comes from 가리키다, “to point to,” “indicate,” or “show.” The ending -어 links this verb to the following helping expression. In 길을 가리켜 주다, the speaker asks someone to indicate or show the route, rather than simply to point at an unspecified object. 주실 수 있나요 combines 주다 in a respectful form with the possibility pattern -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 and a question ending. In this combination, it politely asks whether the listener can do the action for the speaker: 가리켜 주실 수 있나요? means “Could you point it out?” The 시 element in 주실 marks respect toward the person whose action is being discussed; -ㄹ 수 있나요 asks about possibility or ability. The polite question does not by itself assert that the listener will perform the action. 아니면 means “or,” introducing the alternative in the question. It connects the request for directions with another possible way of reaching the destination. 표지판 means “sign” or “signpost.” Korean does not mark plural on this noun itself, so 표지판 can refer to one sign or to signs; the intended plural reading here is supported by the translation and the following context about blue signs. 따라가면 되나요 is built from 따라가다, “to follow” or “go along after,” plus -(으)면 되다, an expression meaning that doing something is sufficient or acceptable. As a question, it asks whether following the signs is the appropriate thing to do: “Is it enough to follow the signs?” or naturally, “Should I follow the signs?” The form 따라가면 is conditional in shape, but here it expresses the condition for what is acceptable, not a hypothetical unrelated event. Together, 그쪽으로 가는 길 means “the route toward there,” and 길을 가리켜 주실 수 있나요 politely asks whether the listener can indicate that route. The alternative 표지판을 따라가면 되나요 asks whether simply following the signs is sufficient. Thus the whole utterance means: “Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?”

6. 표 발매기를 지나서 파란 표지판을 따라가세요.

   Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.

   표

   ticket

   발매기

   vending machine

   지나서

   past

   파란

   blue

   표지판

   sign

   따라가세요

   follow

   More detail

   표 means “ticket” here. In Korean, a noun can directly modify another noun: 표 발매기 is literally “ticket vending machine,” meaning a machine that issues tickets. 표 can also mean other kinds of “ticket” in suitable contexts, but here the translation identifies the ticket-related sense. 발매기 means “vending machine” or, more specifically here, a machine for selling or issuing tickets. The word is a noun; 표 발매기 forms one noun phrase, with 표 specifying the type of machine. 지나서 comes from the verb 지나다, “to pass” or “go past.” The ending -아서 connects this action to the next one, giving the sequence “after passing …” or the directional meaning “past …, then ….” Thus 발매기를 지나서 means “past the ticket machines” in this direction instruction. 파란 is the noun-modifying form of 파랗다, “to be blue.” The adjective changes before a noun: 파랗다 → 파란, so 파란 표지판 means “blue sign.” This form is not the noun’s form; 파란 is the form of the adjective 파랗다. Example: 파란 문을 찾으세요. — “Find the blue door.” Here 파란 likewise modifies 문 (“door”). 표지판 means “sign” or “signboard.” In this sentence it is the object whose route the listener should follow. 파란 표지판 therefore means “the blue signs” in the fixed translation; the noun itself does not independently state a particular number. 따라가세요 comes from 따라가다, “to follow” or “go along after.” 따라가세요 is a polite directive: “follow” or “please follow.” The ending -세요 marks a polite request or command; it does not itself add a separate lexical meaning such as “you.” Example: 이 길을 따라가세요. — “Follow this road.” The same verb describes continuing along a route or following something ahead. Together, 발매기를 지나서 sets the first route step, “past the ticket machines,” and 파란 표지판을 따라가세요 gives the next step, “follow the blue signs.” The complete utterance is: “Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.”

7. 기차가 출발하기 전에 그래도 도착할 수 있을까요?

   Will I still reach the train before it leaves?

   기차

   train

   출발하기 전에

   before departing

   그래도

   still

   도착할

   arrive; reach

   수 있을까요?

   can ...?

   More detail

   기차 means “train.” In this sentence, the following 가 marks 기차 as the subject of 출발하다, so the train is the thing that leaves. The noun itself does not show number. Example: 기차가 늦게 왔어요. — “The train arrived late.” 출발하기 전에 means “before departing.” 출발하다 is “to depart,” and -기 turns the verb into a form that can be followed by 전에, “before.” Thus V-기 전에 is a reusable pattern meaning “before doing V.” Example: 비가 오기 전에 출발하세요. — “Leave before it rains.” 그래도 means “still” or “nevertheless.” It presents the following possibility as remaining true despite an unfavorable situation, such as the limited time suggested here. Example: 늦었지만 그래도 갑니다. — “It’s late, but I’m still going.” 도착할 comes from 도착하다, “to arrive” or “to reach a destination.” The ending -ㄹ changes the verb into a form that modifies the following 수 in the pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다, “can/be able to” or “it is possible to V.” Here, 도착할 is not a separate base verb; its base is 도착하다. Example: 8시에 도착해요. — “I arrive at 8 o’clock.” 수 있을까요? contains 수 있다, the possibility or ability pattern, with the polite question ending -을까요?. Together with 도착할, 도착할 수 있을까요? asks politely whether arriving will be possible. The subject is omitted in Korean; the fixed translation identifies that subject as “I.” Example: 여기 앉을 수 있을까요? — “Could I sit here?” Together, 기차가 출발하기 전에 sets the deadline: before the train departs. 그래도 adds the meaning “still,” and 도착할 수 있을까요? asks whether arriving will be possible. The whole utterance therefore means, “Will I still reach the train before it leaves?”

8. 지금 출발하시면 여유 있게 도착하실 수 있을 거예요.

   If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.

   지금

   now

   출발하시면

   if you leave

   여유 있게

   with time to spare

   도착하실

   arrive

   수 있을 거예요

   should be able to

   More detail

   지금 means “now” and places the action at the present time. Example: 지금 가요. — “I’m going now.” 출발하시면 comes from 출발하다 (“to leave/depart”) with the honorific conditional pattern -시- + -면: 출발하시- + -면. Here it means “if you leave,” with respectful reference to the person leaving. The same pattern can attach to other verbs, as in 가시면 — “if you go.” 여유 있게 means “with time to spare” or “without rushing.” It is built from 여유 있다 (“to have spare time/room”) with -게, which turns the descriptive expression into an adverbial form: 여유 있- + -게. Example: 여유 있게 준비하세요. — “Please prepare without rushing.” 도착하실 comes from 도착하다 (“to arrive”). The honorific marker -시- gives 도착하시-, and -ㄹ makes this form modify the following 수 in the ability construction 도착하실 수 있다: “to be able to arrive.” The destination is understood from the situation; this form itself does not name one. 수 있을 거예요 expresses an expected possibility. In 도착하실 수 있을 거예요, 도착하실 수 있다 means “to be able to arrive,” and 있을 거예요 presents that ability as an expectation or prediction. Thus the phrase means “should be able to arrive,” rather than stating absolute certainty. Example: 오늘 끝낼 수 있을 거예요. — “You should be able to finish today.” Together, 지금 출발하시면 sets the condition—“if you leave now.” 여유 있게 describes arriving with spare time, and 도착하실 수 있을 거예요 predicts that the listener will be able to arrive that way. The complete meaning is: “If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.”

9. 그럼 지금 그쪽으로 갈게요.

   I'll head that way now.

   그럼

   then / in that case

   지금

   now

   그쪽으로

   that way / in that direction

   갈게요

   I’ll go / I’ll head there

   More detail

   그럼 means “then” or “in that case.” It links the speaker’s response to the preceding situation: leaving now is expected to allow enough time, so the speaker says what they will do next. A reusable pattern is 그럼 + statement: “Then, …” 지금 means “now,” referring to the present time. It can come before the action it specifies, as here. Example: 지금 가요. — “I’m going now.” 그쪽으로 indicates movement in the direction of “that way” or “that side.” 그쪽 is a demonstrative expression for a direction or area, while -으로 marks the direction toward which movement proceeds. The directional form is -으로 after most consonant-final nouns and -로 after vowel-final nouns or nouns ending in ㄹ. The exact place indicated by 그쪽 is understood from the situation rather than named in this sentence. 갈게요 is the polite form of 가다 (“to go”) combined with -(으)ㄹ게요. 가다 becomes 갈- before this ending because its stem ends in a vowel. -(으)ㄹ게요 commonly presents the speaker’s intention or commitment concerning a future action, often as a response relevant to the listener. It is not simply a neutral future marker. Example: 제가 먼저 갈게요. — “I’ll go first.” Together, 그럼 sets up the response, 지금 places the action in the present, 그쪽으로 gives its direction, and 갈게요 presents the speaker’s intention to go. The whole utterance means: “Then, I’ll head that way now.”

10. 가는 길에 도움이 필요하면 개찰구 직원에게 물어보세요.

    Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.

    가는

    going

    길

    way

    도움

    help

    필요하면

    if needed

    개찰구

    ticket gate

    직원

    staff member

    물어보세요

    please ask

    More detail

    가는 comes from 가다, “to go.” Its -는 form places the verb before a noun and describes an ongoing or characteristic action: 가는 길 means “the way/route one is going” and naturally becomes “on the way.” Example: 집에 가는 사람 = “a person who is going home.” 길 means “way,” “route,” or “road.” In this sentence, 가는 길에 means “on the way,” with -에 marking the relevant place or time. Reusable pattern: 동사-는 길에 = “on the way to do something.” Example: 오는 길에 빵을 샀어요. = “I bought bread on the way here.” 도움 is the noun “help” or “assistance.” In the full sentence it appears as 도움이, with -이 marking it as the subject of 필요하다 (“to be needed”). Example: 도움이 필요해요. = “I need help.” Korean presents this literally as “help is needed,” while the natural English perspective is usually “I need help.” 필요하면 is the conditional form of 필요하다, “to be needed” or “to be necessary”: 필요하다 + -면 gives 필요하면, “if it is needed.” Together, 도움이 필요하면 means “if you need help.” The condition is expressed with -면; for example, 시간이 있으면 오세요. = “If you have time, come.” 개찰구 means “ticket gate” or “fare gate,” the gate used for ticket or access checking. It is a noun and is followed here by 직원에게, meaning “to the staff member.” The particle -에게 marks the person being addressed or asked. Example: 직원에게 물어보세요. = “Please ask a staff member.” 직원 means “staff member” or “employee.” In this sentence, 개찰구 직원 is a noun-noun combination meaning “ticket-gate staff” or “a staff member at the ticket gate.” 직원에게 marks that staff member as the person to whom the question should be directed. 물어보세요 is the polite request form of 물어보다, “to ask” or “to inquire.” The ending -세요 makes a polite request or instruction, so this form means “please ask.” It is not the same as simply stating that someone asks. Example: 모르면 선생님께 물어보세요. = “If you do not know, please ask the teacher.” Putting the parts together: 가는 길에 = “on the way,” 도움이 필요하면 = “if you need help,” 개찰구 직원에게 = “the ticket-gate staff,” and 물어보세요 = “please ask.” The whole utterance means: “Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.”