How to Say "You" in Korean (Traveler's Edition)

Hi!

In the first issue of the “You” series, I set up a fictional musical club and explained how each member would address one another. (Here’s the link if you haven’t read it.) This time, let’s get more practical and learn the titles you would need to know when traveling in Korea.

After arriving at Incheon Airport, chances are you’ll take a bus or a taxi (or maybe the subway). What would you address the drivers if you need help? The word is 기사님.

In Korean, bus driver is 버스 기사, and taxi driver is 택시 기사, so we say 기사님 when addressing them, and also in places you would say “you” in English.

If 기사님 is calling someone by their profession, 아저씨 is used to casually address middle-aged men. For example you could use it for a male driver instead of 기사님.

You can use 아저씨 in other places too. When asking directions from the street, calling out to a market owner, etc. It’s widely used in many contexts.

Then what’s the counterpart for women? It’s 아줌마 or 아주머니. Either is fine but if you want your choices narrowed down, go with 아주머니.

아줌마 and 아주머니 are commonly used when addressing middle-aged women, in restaurants, markets, and small shops, etc. If you want a lady’s attention in the subway, you can address her 아주머니.

어르신 is another one not tied to a profession. Also it isn’t tied to gender either. It’s a respectful way to address elderly people. You can think of it as 아저씨 or 아주머니 but with an extra layer of respect for age.

As for “how old,” there’s no strict rule. Let’s say 70 or older.

Now let’s say you want to ask for directions, and you see someone walking by in a school uniform, or looks like they’re in their teens, or even in the 20s. In that case you can call them 학생, which is “student.”

학생 is a common way to address young people politely, especially when you don’t know their name. Koreans often use it on the street, in shops, or in casual encounters. Even if the person isn’t actually a student, they will take it as a light, respectful way to get their attention.

In shops, cafes, and restaurants, especially smaller ones, you’ll often hear people call the owner or staff 사장님. Literally, it means “boss of the company” or “owner,” but in everyday speech it’s also broadly used to address someone.

Even if the person you’re talking to isn’t the actual owner, 사장님 is accepted. Some prefer it over 아저씨 or 아줌마, since it carries a slighter formal nuance.

Literally, 선생님 means “a person who was born earlier.” The word carries the sense of someone with more experience and wisdom, and traditionally it was used to show respect to such figures.

These days, however, the meaning has broadened a lot. Koreans often use 선생님 not only for teachers but also for service staff or simply older people. (Personally, I think calling everyone 선생님 is a bit “lazy,” but as a traveller you don’t need to worry about these subtleties.) 선생님 can be used as a safe, widely accepted, and respectful title.

Finally, the most versatile expression of all: 저기요. It literally means “over there,” but in everyday conversation it works just like “excuse me.”

Unlike the others, 저기요 isn’t a word you can drop into the sentence where you’d normally say “you.” It’s used only to get someone’s attention, for example in a restaurant or in a shop.

In this issue, we looked at eight essential addressing words you can use when traveling Korea: 기사님, 아저씨, 아주머니, 어르신, 학생, 사장님, 선생님, and 저기요. With these you’ll be able to navigate most everyday situations without worrying of being rude.

Also, in Korean, people often skip saying “you” altogether. Many sentences can be understood without directly addressing the other person, so even if you don’t use a title, most of the time it won’t cause any problems.

I’ll see you in the next one!