Emergency

1. 도와주세요!

   Do-wa-ju-se-yo!

   Help me, please!

   Usage

   Used to call for help in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "돕다" (to help) has irregular conjugation "도와". Emergency: "살려주세요" (save my life) is also used.

2. 경찰을 불러 주세요

   Gyeong-chal-eul bul-leo ju-se-yo

   Please call the police

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to call the police

   Grammar Note

   Korean emergency numbers: police "112", ambulance/fire "119". Swap "경찰" with "구급대" (ambulance).

3. 병원에 데려다 주세요

   Byeong-won-e de-ryeo-da ju-se-yo

   Please take me to the hospital

   Usage

   Used when ill or injured to request transport to hospital

   Grammar Note

   "데리다" (to take along) + "-어다" (do and go) = "데려다". Combined with "주세요" it makes a polite request: "please take me (there)".

4. 여권을 잃어버렸어요

   Yeo-gwon-eul il-leo-beo-ryeo-sseo-yo

   I have lost my passport

   Usage

   Used to report a lost passport to the police or embassy

   Grammar Note

   "잃어버리다" is a compound verb meaning "to lose by accident". Swap "여권" with "지갑" (wallet) or "가방" (bag).

5. 한국어를 못해요

   Han-gu-geo-reul mot-hae-yo

   I cannot speak Korean

   Usage

   Used to communicate a language barrier in an emergency situation

   Grammar Note

   "못" expresses inability. Follow with "일본어 할 수 있는 분 있어요?" (Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?).

6. 112에 전화해 주세요

   Il-il-i-e jeon-hwa-hae ju-se-yo

   Please call 112

   Usage

   Ask someone to call 112, the Korean police emergency number

   Grammar Note

   Korean emergency numbers: police "112", ambulance/fire "119". "전화하다" = to call by phone.

7. 지갑을 도둑맞았어요

   Ji-ga-beul do-dung-ma-ja-sseo-yo

   My wallet was stolen

   Usage

   Report a theft to the police

   Grammar Note

   "도둑맞다" = "도둑" (thief) + "맞다" (to receive) — meaning "to be robbed". Swap "지갑" with "가방" (bag) etc.

8. 가슴이 아파요

   Ga-seum-i a-pa-yo

   I have chest pain

   Usage

   Describe serious symptoms like chest pain to medical staff

   Grammar Note

   "아프다" (to hurt) → polite "아파요". Swap "가슴" with "머리" (head), "배" (stomach), "다리" (leg).

9. 페니실린 알레르기가 있어요

   Pe-ni-sil-lin al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo

   I have a penicillin allergy

   Usage

   Communicate a drug allergy to medical personnel

   Grammar Note

   "알레르기" is a loanword from German. Apply to food allergies: "견과류 알레르기" (nut allergy).

10. 통역사가 필요해요

    Tong-yeok-sa-ga pil-lyo-hae-yo

    I need an interpreter

    Usage

    Request an interpreter at a police station or hospital

    Grammar Note

    "필요하다" (to need/be necessary) in polite form. Add a language: "일본어 통역사" (Japanese interpreter).

11. 그만하세요

    Geu-man-ha-se-yo

    Stop it

    Usage

    Show this to firmly tell someone to stop — a persistent tout, harassment — without having to speak

12. 만지지 마세요

    Man-ji-ji ma-se-yo

    Don't touch me

    Usage

    Use it to firmly refuse unwanted contact with your body or belongings

13. 도둑맞았어요

    Do-dung-ma-ja-sseo-yo

    It was stolen

    Usage

    Reports a theft to police or hotel staff; point at whatever was taken

14. 길을 잃었어요

    Gi-reul i-reo-sseo-yo

    I'm lost

    Usage

    Tells a passer-by or shop staff that you are lost; show it with a map

15. 화재

    Hwa-jae

    Fire

    Usage

    The word for a fire as a disaster; point at it when reporting or evacuating

16. 도둑

    Do-duk

    Thief

    Usage

    The word for a person who steals; point at it when reporting a theft

17. 강도

    Gang-do

    Robbery

    Usage

    Robbery by force or threat, and also the robber; the offence named in Article 333 of the Korean Criminal Act

18. 날치기

    Nal-chi-gi

    Snatching

    Usage

    Grabbing a bag in plain view and running off; it also has a figurative political sense, but not when you are reporting a crime

19. 소매치기

    So-mae-chi-gi

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    Stealing unnoticed from a person in a crowd, and also the person who does it

20. 납치

    Nap-chi

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Carrying a person off by force; the everyday and news term, while the Criminal Act uses "약취/유인"

21. 살인

    Sa-rin

    Murder

    Usage

    The act of killing a person; also the offence named in Article 250 of the Korean Criminal Act

22. 폭동

    Pok-dong

    Riot

    Usage

    A crowd disturbing public order by violence; stronger than "소요", the offence name used in the Criminal Act

23. 폭탄

    Pok-tan

    Bomb

    Usage

    A weapon that destroys by explosion; point at it when reporting a suspicious object

24. 불이야! 대피하세요!

    Bu-ri-ya! Dae-pi-ha-se-yo!

    Fire! Evacuate!

    Usage

    Used to alert people to a fire and tell them to get out. "불이야!" is what Koreans actually shout when a fire breaks out, as against the "화재" of a public-address announcement

    Grammar Note

    The cry is "불" (fire) plus the predicative "-이야". It is the same shout-plus-request build as "도둑이야! 잡아 주세요!". The second half uses the "-hase-yo" directive of "직진하세요" (go straight), filled with "대피" (evacuation). The romanization follows the liaison: 불이야 becomes Bu-ri-ya

25. 도둑이야! 잡아 주세요!

    Do-du-gi-ya! Ja-ba ju-se-yo!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Shout it at the scene of a theft to ask bystanders to stop the thief

    Grammar Note

    "도둑" (thief) plus the exclamatory "-이야"; Korean uses the set phrase "도둑이야!를 외치다" (to cry "Thief!"). "잡다" (to catch) takes "주세요" to form the polite request.

26. 소방차를 불러 주세요

    So-bang-cha-reul bul-leo ju-se-yo

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to call the fire brigade

    Grammar Note

    Same request pattern as "경찰을 불러 주세요" (call the police) and "구급차를 불러 주세요" (call an ambulance), with "소방차" substituted. Fire and ambulance in Korea: "119".

27. 경찰서가 어디예요?

    Gyeong-chal-seo-ga eo-di-ye-yo?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask where the police station is, for example to file a report

    Grammar Note

    The same "X-ga eo-di-ye-yo?" pattern as "약국이 어디예요?" (where is the pharmacy?). Uses "경찰서" (the station building), not "경찰" (the institution).

28. 도난 증명서를 작성해 주세요

    Do-nan jeung-myeong-seo-reul jak-seong-hae ju-se-yo

    Please make a theft report

    Usage

    Ask the police to issue a theft report, which insurers usually require

    Grammar Note

    Combines the "…서를 작성" wording of "세관 신고서를 작성해야 해요" (I must fill in the customs form) with the "…해 주세요" request of "예약을 확인해 주세요". "도난" names the theft itself, as in "저는 도난을 당했습니다" (I have been robbed).

29. 일본어 할 수 있는 분 있어요?

    Il-bo-neo hal su in-neun bun i-sseo-yo?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Used to look for a Japanese speaker when you cannot make yourself understood

    Grammar Note

    The same "…할 수 있는 … 있어요?" frame as "기도할 수 있는 곳이 있어요?" (is there a place to pray?). "분" is the honorific counterpart of "사람" (person), which suits asking strangers for help.

30. 의식이 없어요

    Ui-si-gi eop-sseo-yo

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or bystanders that a collapsed person is unresponsive

    Grammar Note

    Built on "없어요" (there is none) with "의식" (consciousness) as subject. "의식" is a homograph that also means "ritual, ceremony", but the medical reading is unambiguous here.

31. 물에 빠졌어요

    Mu-re ppa-jeo-sseo-yo

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Raise the alarm that someone has fallen into the water

    Grammar Note

    Same "-jeo-sseo-yo" past form as "넘어졌어요" (I fell over). "빠지다" is "to fall in"; "물에 빠지다" describes drowning.

32. 맞았어요

    Ma-ja-sseo-yo

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report to police or medical staff that you were assaulted

    Grammar Note

    The same past form of "맞다" seen in "도둑맞았어요" (I was robbed). A separate homophonous "맞다" means "to be correct", so point at the injury while showing this card.

33. 칼에 찔렸어요

    Ka-re jjil-lyeo-sseo-yo

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or police that you were stabbed with a blade

    Grammar Note

    Same "-ryeo-sseo-yo" past form as "잃어버렸어요" (I lost it). "찔리다" is the passive of "찌르다" (to pierce), as in "해파리에 찔리다" (to be stung by a jellyfish).

34. 빈집털이를 당했어요

    Bin-jip-teo-ri-reul dang-hae-sseo-yo

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Report to police or hotel staff that your room was burgled while you were out

    Grammar Note

    Same "-hae-sseo-yo" past form as "실망했어요" (I was disappointed). "빈집" (empty house) plus "털이", the noun of "털다" (to rob); "빈집털이 당하다" is the established collocation.

35. 저 사람이 범인이에요

    Jeo sa-ra-mi beo-mi-ni-e-yo

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police

    Grammar Note

    Same "-i-e-yo" copula as "다행이에요" (that's a relief). "범인" is a homograph that can also mean "ordinary people", but that sense is archaic and will not be read here.

36. 속았어요

    So-ga-sseo-yo

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Report to police or bystanders that you have been swindled

    Grammar Note

    Same "-a-sseo-yo" past form as "도둑맞았어요" (I was robbed). "속다" itself means "to be deceived", as in "사기꾼이 하는 말에 속다" (to be taken in by a swindler's words).

37. 비상구로 대피해 주세요

    Bi-sang-gu-ro dae-pi-hae ju-se-yo

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Direct people to leave through the emergency exit in a fire or similar

    Grammar Note

    The "…해 주세요" request of "예약을 확인해 주세요" (please confirm the booking), combined with the sign word "비상구" (emergency exit) and "대피" (evacuation). "-로" marks the route taken.

38. 위험해요!

    Wi-heom-hae-yo!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Warn someone of immediate danger

    Grammar Note

    Same exclamatory "…해요!" as "대단해요!" (amazing!). "위험" (danger) already appears in its adjectival form in "위험한 해양 동물" (dangerous sea creatures).

39. 서둘러 주세요

    Seo-dul-leo ju-se-yo

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Ask someone to hurry when time is critical

    Grammar Note

    Same "…러 주세요" request as "불러 주세요" in "경찰을 불러 주세요". "서두르다" (to hurry) is a 르-irregular verb whose connective form is "서둘러".

40. 지금 바로 와 주세요

    Ji-geum ba-ro wa ju-se-yo

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Ask someone on the phone or in person to come immediately

    Grammar Note

    Takes "지금 바로" (right now) and adds the "주세요" request pattern of "이거 주세요" to "와", the connective form of "오다" (to come).

41. 긴급 상황이에요

    Gin-geup sang-hwang-i-e-yo

    It's an emergency

    Usage

    State that this is an emergency when you are being kept waiting

    Grammar Note

    Same "-i-e-yo" copula as "다행이에요" (that's a relief). "긴급" (emergency) plus "상황" (situation); Korean normally uses the compound rather than "긴급" on its own.

42. 물건을 두고 내렸어요

    Mul-geo-neul du-go nae-ryeo-sseo-yo

    I left it behind

    Usage

    Tell staff that you left your belongings on a train or in a taxi

    Grammar Note

    Same "-ryeo-sseo-yo" past form as "잃어버렸어요" (I lost it). "두고" (connective of 두다, to leave) plus "내리다" (to get off) gives "left it behind on board", which Korean distinguishes from "잃어버리다" (to lose).

43. 차에 부딪혔어요

    Cha-e bu-di-chyeo-sseo-yo

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tell police or paramedics that you were in a collision with a car

    Grammar Note

    "부딪히다" is the passive of "부딪다" (to bump), used when the car struck you. It is pronounced "-chyeo-sseo-yo", like "발목을 다쳤어요" (I hurt my ankle). If you ran into the car yourself, use the active "부딪쳤어요".

44. 교통사고가 났어요

    Gyo-tong-sa-go-ga na-sseo-yo

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Tell the police, paramedics or bystanders that a traffic accident has happened

    Grammar Note

    The "…-ga nasseoyo" frame of "사고가 났어요" (an accident happened), with the compound "교통사고" (Hanja 交通事故) as the subject. The romanization writes "났어요" as "na-sseo-yo", reflecting liaison

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