A2 Expression رسمي

왼쪽으로 가세요.

Oenjjogeuro gaseyo.

Go left.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite, essential way to tell someone to move or turn toward the left side.

  • Means: Please go to the left / turn left.
  • Used in: Giving directions, driving, or guiding someone through a building.
  • Don't confuse: '왼쪽' (left) with '오른쪽' (right) — they sound very similar to beginners.
⬅️ (Left) + 🚶 (Go) + 🙏 (Polite ending) = 왼쪽으로 가세요

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple way to tell someone where to go. '왼쪽' means 'left'. '으로' means 'to'. '가세요' means 'please go'. You use it when you are traveling or helping a friend. It is very polite. You can use it with anyone you don't know well.
At the A2 level, you use '왼쪽으로 가세요' to give basic directions. It combines the noun '왼쪽' with the directional particle '-으로'. Because '쪽' ends in a consonant, we use '-으로' instead of '-로'. The verb '가세요' is the polite command form. It is perfect for use in a taxi or on the street.
This expression is the standard polite imperative for navigation. While A1 learners just memorize the phrase, B1 learners should understand the honorific infix '-시-' hidden inside '가세요' (가 + 시 + 어요). You can expand this by adding conditions, like '사거리에서 왼쪽으로 가세요' (Go left at the intersection). It is the most versatile form for consultative register.
In B2 contexts, you distinguish between '왼쪽으로 가세요' and its more technical or formal counterparts. You might choose '좌측으로 {左側|좌측} 이동해 주십시오' in a professional announcement or '좌회전 {左回轉|좌회전} 하세요' when giving precise driving instructions. You also understand that '-으로' can imply a general direction rather than a specific destination, providing a nuanced 'towards the left' feel.
Advanced learners analyze the pragmatic implications of the '-세요' ending, which balances authority and politeness. You recognize that '왼쪽으로 가세요' functions as a directive speech act. You can also compare the native '왼쪽' with the Sino-Korean '좌측' {左側|좌측}, noting that the latter is preferred in written documents, formal briefings, and legal or technical navigation contexts to provide a more objective, clinical tone.
At this level of mastery, you appreciate the historical etymology of '왼-' and its evolution from '외다' (to be wrong), contrasting it with the sociolinguistic shift toward neutral directional markers. You can manipulate the register perfectly, choosing between the 'haeyo-che' of '가세요', the 'hasipsio-che' of '가십시오', and the 'haera-che' of '가라' based on subtle power dynamics and the 'nunchi' (social intuition) required in complex Korean interpersonal relationships.

المعنى

An instruction to turn or proceed to the left.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

In Korea, it is common to use hand gestures when saying '왼쪽으로 가세요'. Using your whole hand (palm up) to point is more polite than using a single index finger. Due to the density of cities like Seoul, directions often involve subway exits. You might hear '5번 출구로 나가서 왼쪽으로 가세요' (Go out exit 5 and go left). When giving directions to an elder, it is polite to slightly bow your head while saying the phrase to show extra respect. In a car, '좌회전' {左回轉|좌회전} is the technical term for a left turn, but '왼쪽으로 가세요' is what you'd say to a friend driving you.

💡

Use your hands

In Korea, directions are almost always accompanied by pointing. It helps bridge any language gaps!

⚠️

Don't forget the 'eu'

Saying 'oen-jjok-ro' is a common beginner mistake. Always include the 'eu' sound: 'oen-jjok-EU-ro'.

المعنى

An instruction to turn or proceed to the left.

💡

Use your hands

In Korea, directions are almost always accompanied by pointing. It helps bridge any language gaps!

⚠️

Don't forget the 'eu'

Saying 'oen-jjok-ro' is a common beginner mistake. Always include the 'eu' sound: 'oen-jjok-EU-ro'.

🎯

The 'Sino' Switch

If you see '좌' {左|좌} on a sign, it means left. If you see '우' {右|우}, it means right. This is helpful for parking lots and elevators!

💬

Politeness matters

Even if you are in a hurry, using '가세요' instead of just '가' will make people much more willing to help you.

اختبر نفسك

Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: '왼쪽___ 가세요.'

왼쪽___ 가세요.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 으로

Since '쪽' ends in a consonant (받침), you must use '-으로' to indicate direction.

Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.

A: 실례합니다, 은행이 어디예요? B: 저기 사거리에서 ________.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 왼쪽으로 가세요

When giving directions to a stranger, the polite imperative '-세요' is the most natural and respectful choice.

Match the Korean phrase with its English meaning.

1. 왼쪽으로 가세요. 2. 오른쪽으로 가세요. 3. 앞으로 가세요. 4. 뒤로 가세요.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C

왼쪽 (left), 오른쪽 (right), 앞 (front), 뒤 (back).

Which phrase is best for a formal GPS voice announcement?

GPS Voice: 200미터 앞 ________.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 좌측으로 가십시오

Formal announcements and GPS systems typically use the Sino-Korean '좌측' and the formal imperative '가십시오'.

🎉 النتيجة: /4

وسائل تعلم بصرية

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

In an emergency, yes, but it sounds like you're just shouting the word 'Left!'. Adding '으로 가세요' makes it a proper sentence.

'왼쪽' is native Korean and used in daily speech. '좌측' is Sino-Korean and used in formal, written, or technical contexts.

Yes, but it's a 'polite command' or instruction. It's not rude; it's the standard way to give directions.

You can say '왼쪽으로 꺾으세요' or '좌회전하세요'.

'-으로' indicates direction or a path, while '-에' usually indicates a static location or a final destination.

Yes, '가세요' is polite enough for a boss in a casual direction-giving context, though '가십시오' is safer in very formal companies.

Add '조금' (a little): '왼쪽으로 조금 가세요'.

Yes, '왼편' {왼便|왼편} means 'the left side' and is a slightly more formal/literary synonym.

In some old contexts, it meant 'wrong', but in modern Korean, it only means 'left'.

왼쪽으로 가서 오른쪽으로 가세요.

عبارات ذات صلة

🔗

오른쪽으로 가세요

contrast

Please go to the right.

🔗

똑바로 가세요

similar

Please go straight.

🔗

좌측으로 가십시오

specialized form

Please proceed to the left side.

🔗

왼쪽으로 꺾으세요

similar

Please turn left.

🔗

왼쪽으로 오세요

similar

Please come to the left.

أين تستخدمها

🚕

In a Taxi

Driver: 어디로 갈까요?

Passenger: 저기 사거리에서 왼쪽으로 가세요.

formal
🗺️

Helping a Tourist

Tourist: 남산타워 어떻게 가요?

You: 이 길로 쭉 가서 왼쪽으로 가세요.

formal
🏬

In a Department Store

Customer: 화장실이 어디예요?

Staff: 엘리베이터 옆 왼쪽으로 가세요.

formal
🛵

Giving Directions to a Delivery Rider

Rider: 입구를 못 찾겠어요.

You: 놀이터 지나서 바로 왼쪽으로 가세요.

formal
💼

Walking with a Colleague

Colleague: 식당이 어디였죠?

You: 저 건물 뒤 왼쪽으로 가세요.

formal
✈️

At the Airport

Traveler: 체크인 카운터가 어디예요?

Staff: G구역은 왼쪽으로 가세요.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Win' (왼) - you 'Win' when you turn 'Left' to find your way!

Visual Association

Imagine a giant blue arrow pointing left with a smiling Korean person bowing slightly and saying 'Gaseyo' (Please go).

Rhyme

왼쪽(Oen-jjok) is the way to go, follow the arrow, don't be slow!

Story

You are lost in Seoul. You see a friendly 'Oen' (a magical bird). The bird points its 'jjok' (beak) to the left. You follow it and say 'Gaseyo' to thank the path for opening up.

Word Web

왼쪽 (left)오른쪽 (right)가다 (to go)방향 (direction)길 (road/path)지도 (map)운전 (driving)도착 (arrival)

تحدٍّ

Spend 5 minutes walking around your room. Every time you turn left, say '왼쪽으로 가세요' out loud.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Vaya a la izquierda.

Korean requires different honorific levels based on the listener's status.

French high

Allez à gauche.

French uses a definite article 'la gauche', whereas Korean uses the noun '왼쪽' directly with a particle.

German moderate

Gehen Sie nach links.

German word order puts the verb first in a command, while Korean puts the direction first.

Japanese high

左へ行ってください。

Japanese often uses 'kudasai' (please give me the favor of), while Korean uses the honorific imperative '-세요'.

Arabic moderate

اذهب إلى اليسار

Arabic verbs change based on the gender of the person being addressed, which Korean does not do.

Chinese moderate

请向左走

Chinese is SVO, but directional phrases often place the direction before the verb, similar to Korean.

Portuguese high

Vá para a esquerda.

Like other Romance languages, it uses articles ('a esquerda') which Korean lacks.

English high

Please go to the left.

English uses a preposition 'to' before the noun, while Korean uses a particle '-으로' after the noun.

Easily Confused

왼쪽으로 가세요. مقابل 오른쪽으로 가세요

The words 'oen' (left) and 'oreun' (right) both start with 'o' sounds and can be easily swapped by tired learners.

Remember 'Oen' is shorter (1 syllable) like 'Left' (4 letters), and 'Oreun' is longer (2 syllables) like 'Right' (5 letters - okay, this is a stretch, but it helps!).

왼쪽으로 가세요. مقابل 왼쪽으로 가요

Learners often think '가요' (I go/let's go) is the same as '가세요' (please go).

Use '-세요' when you want the OTHER person to do the action.

الأسئلة الشائعة (10)

In an emergency, yes, but it sounds like you're just shouting the word 'Left!'. Adding '으로 가세요' makes it a proper sentence.

'왼쪽' is native Korean and used in daily speech. '좌측' is Sino-Korean and used in formal, written, or technical contexts.

Yes, but it's a 'polite command' or instruction. It's not rude; it's the standard way to give directions.

You can say '왼쪽으로 꺾으세요' or '좌회전하세요'.

'-으로' indicates direction or a path, while '-에' usually indicates a static location or a final destination.

Yes, '가세요' is polite enough for a boss in a casual direction-giving context, though '가십시오' is safer in very formal companies.

Add '조금' (a little): '왼쪽으로 조금 가세요'.

Yes, '왼편' {왼便|왼편} means 'the left side' and is a slightly more formal/literary synonym.

In some old contexts, it meant 'wrong', but in modern Korean, it only means 'left'.

왼쪽으로 가서 오른쪽으로 가세요.

هل كان هذا مفيداً؟

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