Meaning
To ride on a bus as a form of transportation.
Cultural Background
The 'Transfer System' (환승) allows you to switch between buses and subways for free or a small fee within 30 minutes. You MUST tap your card when getting off the bus to get this discount. In Korean gaming (like LoL), 'riding the bus' is a common term. If you are the one carrying, you are the 'Bus Driver' (버스 기사). Buses have designated seats for the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled. Even if the bus is crowded, young people often leave these seats empty. The bus stop is a frequent location for 'confession' scenes or 'longing' scenes. Riding the bus together is often a sign of a developing relationship.
The 'T-Money' Rule
Always have your card ready before the bus arrives. Korean bus drivers move fast!
Don't forget to tap off
If you don't tap your card when getting off, you'll be charged the maximum fare on your next ride.
Meaning
To ride on a bus as a form of transportation.
The 'T-Money' Rule
Always have your card ready before the bus arrives. Korean bus drivers move fast!
Don't forget to tap off
If you don't tap your card when getting off, you'll be charged the maximum fare on your next ride.
The 'Thank You' Culture
It's common to say '감사합니다' (Thank you) to the driver when getting off through the front door, though most people use the back door.
Bus Colors
Blue buses are for long distances, Green for short local hops. Know your colors!
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct object marker and verb form (polite present).
저는 매일 학교에 가려고 ___ ___.
'버스' ends in a vowel, so it needs '를'. '타요' is the polite present form.
Which sentence means 'I went home by bus'?
Choose the best translation.
'타고 갔어요' is the past tense of 'ride and go'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 시청에 어떻게 가요? B: 저기서 100번 ___ ___.
When giving directions to a stranger, the honorific '타세요' is most appropriate.
Match the slang usage to the situation.
When would you say '나 오늘 버스 탔어' to a friend?
The phrase is used both literally for transport and figuratively for being carried.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises저는 매일 학교에 가려고 ___ ___.
'버스' ends in a vowel, so it needs '를'. '타요' is the polite present form.
Choose the best translation.
'타고 갔어요' is the past tense of 'ride and go'.
A: 시청에 어떻게 가요? B: 저기서 100번 ___ ___.
When giving directions to a stranger, the honorific '타세요' is most appropriate.
When would you say '나 오늘 버스 탔어' to a friend?
The phrase is used both literally for transport and figuratively for being carried.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! '자전거를 타다' is the correct way to say ride a bike.
'버스를 타다' focuses on the act of riding, while '버스로 가다' focuses on the method of travel to a destination.
It can be slightly self-deprecating or a joke among friends, but using it to insult someone else might be rude.
You say '버스 안이에요' or '버스 타고 있어요'.
In formal writing, yes. In casual conversation, it is almost always dropped: '버스 타'.
Use the phrase '버스를 잘못 탔어요'.
Ask '몇 번 버스를 타야 해요?' (Which number bus should I take?)
Yes, '지하철을 타다' is perfectly correct.
Yes, '승차하다' is the formal/technical version, but '타다' is used 99% of the time.
It means one person did all the work while the others just 'rode along' to get the grade.
Related Phrases
지하철을 타다
similarTo ride the subway
택시를 타다
similarTo take a taxi
버스를 갈아타다
builds onTo transfer buses
버스를 놓치다
contrastTo miss the bus
버스에서 내리다
contrastTo get off the bus
