Korean Emergency Phrases Vocabulary비상 표현

Help me, please!

도와주세요! 길을 잃었어요.Help me, please! I'm lost.

💡 Memory tip: dowa-ju-se-yo — "Do what you say, yo!" — help me out!

Pronunciation: Composed of 돕다 (to help) + -아 주세요 (please do for me). The ㅂ irregular changes 돕 → 도와.

dangerous

여기는 위험해요!It's dangerous here!

💡 Memory tip: 위험 (danger) + 하다 (to be). The opposite is 안전하다 (to be safe).

Pronunciation: 위험 is a Sino-Korean word (from Chinese 危險). Conjugates as 위험해요.

police

경찰에 전화해 주세요.Please call the police.

💡 Memory tip: The police station is 경찰서 (경찰 + 서, office). Their emergency number in Korea is 112.

Pronunciation: ㄹ final consonant is clearly pronounced. Emergency number: 112.

fire station

소방서에 신고했어요.I reported it to the fire station.

💡 Memory tip: 소방 (fire-fighting) + 서 (office) — the same 서 as in 경찰서. Fire/ambulance number: 119.

Pronunciation: 소방 (fire fighting) + 서 (station/office). Emergency number: 119.

hospital

병원에 가야 해요.I need to go to the hospital.

💡 Memory tip: 병(病, illness) + 원(院, institution) — the "illness institution." The 원 also appears in 학원 (academy).

Pronunciation: ㅂ + ㅕ — make sure to pronounce the ㅂ clearly as "by" not just "y".

sick / hurting / painful

배가 아파요.My stomach hurts.

💡 Memory tip: The all-purpose "it hurts / I'm sick." Body part + 가 아파요: 머리가 아파요 (head hurts).

Pronunciation: ㅡ irregular: 아프 + 아요 → 아파요 (ㅡ drops before 아/어).

passport

여권을 잃어버렸어요.I lost my passport.

💡 Memory tip: 여(旅, travel) + 권(券, ticket/pass) — your "travel pass." The 여 also appears in 여행 (travel).

to lose (something)

핸드폰을 잃어버렸어요.I lost my cell phone.

💡 Memory tip: 잃다 (to lose) + 버리다 (to end up / completely) — "to end up having lost." The 버리다 adds a sense of finality/regret.

Pronunciation: Compound verb: 잃다 (to lose) + 버리다 (completely). The ㅎ in 잃 is silent before ㅇ: 잃어 → [이러].

thief

도둑이야! 잡아 주세요!It's a thief! Please catch them!

💡 Memory tip: To shout an alarm, add -이야: 도둑이야! (Thief!), just like 불이야! (Fire!).

fire

불이야! 나가세요!Fire! Get out!

💡 Memory tip: One short word for both "fire" and "light." 불 켜다 = turn on the light; 불이 나다 = a fire breaks out.

Pronunciation: 불 also means "light" in other contexts (불 켜다 = turn on the light).

accident

교통사고가 났어요.There was a traffic accident.

💡 Memory tip: An accident "happens" with 나다: 사고가 났어요. Add 교통 (traffic) for 교통사고 (car crash).

Pronunciation: 교통사고 (gyotongsago) = traffic accident. 사고 alone can mean any type of accident.

to not know

길을 몰라요. 도와주세요.I don't know the way. Please help me.

💡 Memory tip: The opposite of 알다 (to know). It's 르-irregular: 모르다 → 몰라요. A traveler's lifesaver phrase.

Pronunciation: ㄹ irregular: 모르 + 아요 → 몰라요 (르 becomes ㄹㄹ before 아/어). The opposite is 알다 (alda, to know).