Key Facts
- Word: 버스 (beoseu)
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword
- Register: Neutral, everyday word used in both spoken and written Korean.
- Senses: bus
Bus in Korean: Meaning and Register
버스 is the plain, ordinary word for a bus. It is a loanword, so the sound is a Korean version of the English word, and it fits both spoken and written Korean.
To say what kind of bus, add a word in front, as in 시내버스, a city bus. Nothing about the word needs switching for formal or casual situations.
Pronunciation
버스 has two syllables, and the RR is beoseu. Watch the second syllable: the final 스 is [seu], not 'su'. The ㅡ vowel is made with spread lips and the tongue held back, and it should not be skipped or turned into 'oo'.
Example Sentences
버스를 타요.
Beoseureul tayo.
I take the bus.
버스를 타요. (I take the bus.) 타요 comes from 타다, to ride, and the object particle 를 on 버스 marks the thing ridden. It is Korean's way of saying 'take the bus'.
버스가 와요.
Beoseuga wayo.
The bus is coming.
버스가 와요. (The bus is coming.) 와요 is the polite form of come. Because the particle 가 marks 버스 as the subject, the sentence announces a bus that is arriving.
저는 버스로 회사에 가요.
Jeoneun beoseuro hoesae gayo.
I go to work by bus.
저는 버스로 회사에 가요. (I go to work by bus.) 로 after 버스 means by means of, so 버스로 is 'by bus'. 회사에 uses 에 for the destination, with 가요 for go.
Collocations
- 버스를 타다: to take a bus
- 버스를 기다리다: to wait for a bus
- 시내버스: city bus
버스를 타다 is the verb phrase you need first; 버스를 기다리다 follows it when you are at the stop. 시내버스 is a city bus and shows that 버스 attaches directly to a front word without a space.
Common Mistake
Learners clip or change the final vowel.
Wrong: beos, with the ㅡ dropped, or beo-su, with an oo sound.
Correct: beo-seu, two full syllables with the unrounded ㅡ. The same slip affects other loanwords ending in ㅡ.
버스 vs 지하철
| Word | Meaning | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| 버스 | bus | this page's word |
| 지하철 | subway | 지하철 runs underground; 버스 is on the road. |
| 택시 | taxi | 택시 is hired individually. |
지하철 runs underground and is the subway; 버스 is on the road. 택시 is hired individually. When you plan a route, naming the right one of the three matters because the fares and the stop words differ.
Checking a Bus before Boarding
A passenger asks the driver whether the bus goes to the station. Asking before boarding avoids confusing the bus’s route with the name of the stop.
Passenger
이 버스 서울역에 가요?
I beoseu seoullyeoge gayo?
Does this bus go to Seoul Station?
Driver
네, 가요.
Ne, gayo.
Yes, it does.
Passenger
어디서 내려요?
Eodiseo naeryeoyo?
Where do I get off?
Driver
서울역 정류장에서 내리세요.
Seoullyeok jeongnyujangeseo naeriseyo.
Get off at the Seoul Station stop.
이 버스 means “this bus”. The destination takes 에, while the place where the passenger gets off takes 에서. The driver uses 내리세요, a polite instruction. The passenger does not need a formal announcement style to ask this ordinary travel question; the 요 endings fit the situation.
Bus Phrases beyond Getting On
버스에서 내리다 means “to get off a bus”. It pairs with 버스를 타다, “to take a bus”: Korean uses 를 for the vehicle you board and 에서 for the vehicle you leave. Learning the two phrases together helps you describe both ends of a journey.
버스를 놓치다 means “to miss a bus”. It is about failing to catch that departure, rather than losing an object you were carrying. 막차 means “the last service”, so 막차를 놓치다 describes missing the last bus or train. The word 막차 alone does not specify which kind of transport.
버스를 갈아타다 means “to change buses”. 갈아타다 describes switching vehicles during the trip. 환승 is the noun “transfer”, often seen in travel instructions. Neither expression by itself promises a free transfer; it tells you that the journey involves a change.
Words on Bus Information Displays
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 노선 | route | The path or service the bus follows. |
| 정류장 | stop | A place along the route where passengers board. |
| 첫차 | first service | The first departure of the day for the relevant service. |
| 막차 | last service | The final departure; check the direction as well. |
| 환승 | transfer | A change to another service or vehicle. |
The transportation vocabulary lesson teaches these beside other travel words. A bus number identifies a route, while a stop name identifies a place. To confirm a journey, combine the route information with the direction of travel; seeing the expected number alone may leave you on the opposite side of the road.
시내버스 is useful for city travel. 고속버스 names an express intercity bus, and 공항버스 names an airport bus. These labels describe service types. They do not tell you the fare, ticket method, or exact boarding point, so read the route information beside the label.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means “by bus”: 버스로 or 버스가?
- What does 버스를 놓치다 mean?
- Does a bus number identify a stop or a route?
Show answers
- 버스로. 버스가 marks the bus as the subject.
- To miss a bus departure.
- A route; the stop name tells you where to board or get off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'take the bus' in Korean?
Say 버스를 타요. 타다 is the verb ride, and 버스를 marks the vehicle. To say where you are going by bus, use 버스로 instead: 저는 버스로 회사에 가요.
Why do learners mispronounce 버스?
They drop or round the ㅡ vowel at the end. The final syllable is [seu], not 'su', so the word has two full syllables.
What is the difference between 버스 and 지하철?
지하철 is the subway and runs underground on fixed lines. 버스 runs on the road. Both take the verb 타다, and the same transit card usually works for both.
What does 시내버스 mean?
시내버스 means city bus, a bus that runs within a city. It is written as one word, with 시내 (downtown, within the city) before 버스.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: places transportation vocabulary puts 버스 next to its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every word page.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next word: Bus stop in Korean