Transportation, Travel, and Train Ticket Reservations

Expressions for Booking Train Tickets

In conversations about getting a train ticket, you need to know both the expressions for asking where tickets are sold and the expressions for describing the status of tickets. '~은 어디에서 살 수 있어요?' (Where can I buy ~?) is a question about the place of purchase, and the answer should also be a place, as in '매표소에서 살 수 있어요' (You can buy it at the ticket office). When saying whether tickets are still available, you must distinguish between '남아 있다' (to be still available) and '매진되다' (to be sold out). '남아 있다' means that tickets can still be bought, and '매진되다' means that all tickets have been sold so no more can be bought. Even if tickets for one time slot are sold out, tickets for another time slot may still be available, so you should check which time the speaker is referring to in the conversation. Useful expressions are as follows.

• 매진되다 — to be sold out; to have all tickets sold so that no more can be bought. Ex) 이번 주 토요일 표는 벌써 매진되었다 (The tickets for this Saturday have already sold out).
• 취소표 — a ticket that has been returned because the person who reserved it canceled the reservation. Since cancelled tickets may appear even after sold-out status, it is good to check the booking site often. Ex) 취소표가 나오면 바로 예매해 보세요 (If a cancelled ticket becomes available, book it right away).
• 예매하다와 사다 — '예매하다' means to reserve in advance by choosing a date and time, and '사다' means to purchase a ticket. Ex) 다음 주 기차표를 미리 예매해 두었다 (I reserved next week's train ticket in advance).
• 좌석 조건 말하기 — to state the seat you want as a condition, using '~ 자리가 있으면 좋겠다' (I would like it if there is a ~ seat). Ex) 통로 쪽 자리가 있으면 좋겠어요 (I would like an aisle seat if one is available).
• 시간 묻고 답하기 — when the clerk asks '몇 시 기차를 원하세요?' (Which train time would you like?), answer with a time, as in '오후 세 시 기차로 주세요' (Please give me the 3 p.m. train). Ex) 아침 여덟 시 기차로 두 장 주세요 (Two tickets for the 8 a.m. train, please).
• 시간표 상황 안내 — when tickets for the desired time are not available, state the possible times using the pattern '~ 시표는 없고 ~ 시표가 있습니다' (There are no tickets for ~ o'clock, but there are tickets for ~ o'clock). Ex) 오후 시간표는 없고 저녁 시간표가 있습니다 (There are no afternoon tickets, but there are evening tickets).
• 마지막 열차 — '마지막이에요' (It is the last one) means that this is the train that departs latest on that day. Ex) 이 열차가 오늘의 마지막 열차이다 (This train is today's last train).
• 장 단위 — train tickets are counted with '장' (a counter for sheets or tickets), and you state the number of tickets equal to the number of people. Ex) 어른 두 장 주세요 (Two adult tickets, please).
• 신분증 확인 — when buying a ticket, you may be asked to show identification. Ex) 신분증을 잠깐 보여 주시겠어요? (Could you show me your ID for a moment?)

Travel Planning and Transportation Preparation

In travel conversations, the reasons for choosing a means of transportation often come up together, so you need to grasp what the speaker prioritizes when choosing a means of transportation. If a decision or recommendation appears at the end of the conversation, that content is often the central idea. In questions about the central idea, the correct answer is the option that accurately restates the conclusion of the conversation. If the conversation is about choosing a car because freedom of movement at the travel destination is valued, the option that states this value becomes the central idea. Vocabulary related to travel preparation is as follows.

• 렌터카를 빌리다 — to rent a car by paying for it for a certain period. Ex) 공항에서 승용차를 빌리기로 예약했다 (I booked to rent a passenger car at the airport).
• 주차 공간 — a space where a car can be parked. Some tourist sites have insufficient parking space, so you should check parking hours in advance. Ex) 주차 공간이 없어서 근처를 한참 돌았다 (There was no parking space, so I drove around the area for a long time).
• 시간표에 맞추다 — to move according to a fixed time. Trains and buses must be used according to their timetables, which is why one may feel it is difficult to move freely. Ex) 버스 시간표에 맞춰 집을 나섰다 (I left home according to the bus timetable).
• 교통 상황을 확인하다 — to check in advance how congested roads or trains are. During busy periods such as holidays, when many travelers are on the move, you should check traffic conditions first so that you can move with some margin. Ex) 출발 전에 교통 상황을 확인했다 (I checked the traffic conditions before departure).
• 미리 예약하다 — to book transportation in advance. During busy seasons, tickets sell out quickly, so it is safer to reserve transportation early. Ex) 연휴 기차표는 일찍 예약해 두어야 한다 (Holiday train tickets should be booked early).
• 화제 묻기 유형 — a conversation in which the travel date, place, and departure time are decided has 'travel plans' as its topic. Ex) 이번 주말에 어디로 갈지 정했다 (I decided where to go this weekend).

Vocabulary Related to Bicycles

A bicycle is a vehicle that moves by two wheels and pedals. In conversations describing a bicycle, words that make up a bicycle or expressions of activity such as '두 바퀴' (two wheels), '페달' (pedal), and '타다' (to ride) appear, so you can identify the topic from these words. A bicycle is expressed with '타다' (to ride), while a vehicle operated with driving controls, such as a car, is expressed with '운전하다' (to drive). You should distinguish these two expressions so that you can choose the correct type of vehicle.

• 두 바퀴 — refers to a vehicle with two wheels, and is used to mean a bicycle. Ex) 두 바퀴 달린 것을 타고 공원을 한 바퀴 돌았다 (I rode a two-wheeled vehicle and went around the park once).
• 페달을 밟다 — to press the pedals with the feet to move a bicycle forward. Ex) 언덕길에서는 페달을 세게 밟아야 한다 (On a hill road, you have to pedal hard).
• 강변을 달리다 — to ride along a road that follows a riverbank. It is often described as an activity of riding a bicycle. Ex) 저녁에 강변을 달리면 기분이 상쾌하다 (Riding along the riverbank in the evening makes me feel refreshed).
• 타다와 운전하다의 구분 — '타다' is used for bicycles, and '운전하다' is used for cars. Ex) 동생은 자전거는 잘 타지만 차는 아직 운전하지 못한다 (My younger sibling rides a bicycle well, but cannot yet drive a car).

Airport and Travel Place Vocabulary

In dialogues set in an airport, you can identify the place from the objects and actions used in departure procedures. A scene of checking a passport and weighing luggage comes from departure processing at the airport, so it is the first clue to consider in place questions. The vocabulary related to departure is as follows.

• 여권(passport) — A document that proves your identity when you travel abroad. Ex) 출국 심사를 받으려면 여권을 먼저 꺼내 두어야 한다.
• 탑승권(boarding pass) — A ticket that proves you are qualified to board an airplane. Ex) 탑승권은 게이트 앞에서 다시 확인한다.
• 짐을 저울에 올리다(to put luggage on a scale) — The act of weighing baggage. Ex) 체크인 창구에서 가방을 저울에 올려 무게를 쟀다.
• 기내 반입 제한 물품(restricted items for carry-on) — Items that you cannot take into the airplane cabin. Knives and liquids are representative items whose carry-on is restricted, so they should be learned together with the guidance at the security checkpoint. Ex) 가방 안의 액체류는 따로 확인을 받았다.
• 터미널(terminal) — A large facility where passengers get on and off at an airport, ferry port, bus station, and so on. Ex) 국제선 터미널에서 친구를 기다렸다.
• 비행기로 가다(to go by airplane) — Refers to choosing an airplane as the means of transportation in order to reach a destination quickly. On busy times such as weekends, it is good to book flight tickets in advance. Ex) 빨리 가려면 비행기를 타는 것이 좋다.

Train Delay Announcements

A train delay announcement is a broadcast that informs passengers that a train will depart or arrive later than the scheduled time. The reason for the delay, such as track inspection, is presented, but since the reason is a detail of the broadcast, it must be distinguished from the purpose of the broadcast. The expressions that frequently appear in delay announcements are as follows.