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.
Explicación a tu nivel:
Significado
An instruction to turn or proceed to the left.
Contexto cultural
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'.
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.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: '왼쪽___ 가세요.'
왼쪽___ 가세요.
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 ________.
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.
왼쪽 (left), 오른쪽 (right), 앞 (front), 뒤 (back).
Which phrase is best for a formal GPS voice announcement?
GPS Voice: 200미터 앞 ________.
Formal announcements and GPS systems typically use the Sino-Korean '좌측' and the formal imperative '가십시오'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejercicios왼쪽___ 가세요.
Since '쪽' ends in a consonant (받침), you must use '-으로' to indicate direction.
A: 실례합니다, 은행이 어디예요? B: 저기 사거리에서 ________.
When giving directions to a stranger, the polite imperative '-세요' is the most natural and respectful choice.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
왼쪽 (left), 오른쪽 (right), 앞 (front), 뒤 (back).
GPS Voice: 200미터 앞 ________.
Formal announcements and GPS systems typically use the Sino-Korean '좌측' and the formal imperative '가십시오'.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIn 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.
Frases relacionadas
오른쪽으로 가세요
contrastPlease go to the right.
똑바로 가세요
similarPlease go straight.
좌측으로 가십시오
specialized formPlease proceed to the left side.
왼쪽으로 꺾으세요
similarPlease turn left.
왼쪽으로 오세요
similarPlease come to the left.
Dónde usarla
In a Taxi
Driver: 어디로 갈까요?
Passenger: 저기 사거리에서 왼쪽으로 가세요.
Helping a Tourist
Tourist: 남산타워 어떻게 가요?
You: 이 길로 쭉 가서 왼쪽으로 가세요.
In a Department Store
Customer: 화장실이 어디예요?
Staff: 엘리베이터 옆 왼쪽으로 가세요.
Giving Directions to a Delivery Rider
Rider: 입구를 못 찾겠어요.
You: 놀이터 지나서 바로 왼쪽으로 가세요.
Walking with a Colleague
Colleague: 식당이 어디였죠?
You: 저 건물 뒤 왼쪽으로 가세요.
At the Airport
Traveler: 체크인 카운터가 어디예요?
Staff: G구역은 왼쪽으로 가세요.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'Win' (왼) - you 'Win' when you turn 'Left' to find your way!
Asociación visual
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.
In Other Languages
In Japanese, 'Hidari' (left) is used similarly with 'itte kudasai'. In English, we often add 'please' to make the command a polite instruction, just like '-세요'.
Word Web
Desafío
Spend 5 minutes walking around your room. Every time you turn left, say '왼쪽으로 가세요' out loud.
Review this phrase every time you use a GPS or look at a map today.
Pronunciación
The 'o' and 'e' combine into a 'we' sound. The 'jj' is a tensed 'j'.
The 'eu' is a flat vowel, like the 'u' in 'pull' but with unrounded lips.
Simple, clear syllables.
Espectro de formalidad
왼쪽으로 가십시오. (General navigation)
왼쪽으로 가세요. (General navigation)
왼쪽으로 가. (General navigation)
왼쪽으로 고고! (Go go!) (General navigation)
The phrase is a combination of native Korean directional terms and honorific verb endings that have existed for centuries.
Dato curioso
The word '쪽' originally meant 'a piece' or 'a slice', but evolved to mean 'side' or 'direction'.
Notas culturales
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.
“(Gesturing with an open palm) 저쪽 왼쪽으로 가세요.”
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).
“5번 출구에서 왼쪽으로 가세요.”
When giving directions to an elder, it is polite to slightly bow your head while saying the phrase to show extra respect.
“(Bowing slightly) 어르신, 왼쪽으로 가세요.”
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.
“여기서 왼쪽으로 가세요.”
Inicios de conversación
길을 잃었을 때 어떻게 물어봐요?
택시 기사님에게 방향을 알려주세요.
친구에게 보물 찾기 힌트를 주세요.
Errores comunes
왼쪽로 가세요
왼쪽으로 가세요
L1 Interference
왼쪽 가세요
왼쪽으로 가세요
L1 Interference
왼쪽으로 가요
왼쪽으로 가세요
L1 Interference
오른쪽으로 가세요 (when meaning left)
왼쪽으로 가세요
L1 Interference
왼쪽으로 가십시오 (to a friend)
왼쪽으로 가
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Vaya a la izquierda.
Korean requires different honorific levels based on the listener's status.
Allez à gauche.
French uses a definite article 'la gauche', whereas Korean uses the noun '왼쪽' directly with a particle.
Gehen Sie nach links.
German word order puts the verb first in a command, while Korean puts the direction first.
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'.
اذهب إلى اليسار
Arabic verbs change based on the gender of the person being addressed, which Korean does not do.
请向左走
Chinese is SVO, but directional phrases often place the direction before the verb, similar to Korean.
Vá para a esquerda.
Like other Romance languages, it uses articles ('a esquerda') which Korean lacks.
Please go to the left.
English uses a preposition 'to' before the noun, while Korean uses a particle '-으로' after the noun.
Spotted in the Real World
“거기서 왼쪽으로 가세요.”
While driving the wealthy family, providing directions through the city.
“왼쪽으로 가! 왼쪽!”
During a mission where members are blindfolded and being directed.
“잠시 후 왼쪽으로 가세요.”
Automated voice guidance for drivers.
Fácil de confundir
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!).
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.
Preguntas frecuentes (10)
In an emergency, yes, but it sounds like you're just shouting the word 'Left!'. Adding '으로 가세요' makes it a proper sentence.
basic understanding'왼쪽' is native Korean and used in daily speech. '좌측' is Sino-Korean and used in formal, written, or technical contexts.
comparisonsYes, but it's a 'polite command' or instruction. It's not rude; it's the standard way to give directions.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '왼쪽으로 꺾으세요' or '좌회전하세요'.
practical tips'-으로' indicates direction or a path, while '-에' usually indicates a static location or a final destination.
grammar mechanicsYes, '가세요' is polite enough for a boss in a casual direction-giving context, though '가십시오' is safer in very formal companies.
cultural usageAdd '조금' (a little): '왼쪽으로 조금 가세요'.
practical tipsYes, '왼편' {왼便|왼편} means 'the left side' and is a slightly more formal/literary synonym.
basic understandingIn some old contexts, it meant 'wrong', but in modern Korean, it only means 'left'.
cultural usage왼쪽으로 가서 오른쪽으로 가세요.
practical tips
