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여행하다

B1 verb #1,500 most common 4 min read

여행하다

Q: How do I say 'backpacking'?

You say '배낭여행을 하다'.

yeohaenghada Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 여행하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 여행하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '여행하다' is introduced as a basic action verb. Students learn to express simple desires like '여행하고 싶어요' (I want to travel) and basic past actions like '여행했어요' (I traveled). The focus is on the basic structure: [Place] + 에/을 + 여행하다. Learners should be able to identify the word in simple sentences about vacations and holidays. It is often taught alongside seasons and transport methods. The goal is to use the word to describe a simple trip to a known location like 'Seoul' or 'Jeju'.

At the A2 level, learners begin to use '여행하다' with more complex grammar patterns. They can describe who they are traveling with (친구와 여행해요) and the purpose of the trip using '-(으)러' (여행하러 가요). They also start using frequency adverbs like '자주' (often) or '가끔' (sometimes). At this stage, the distinction between '여행하다' and '여행을 가다' becomes clearer, and learners can use both interchangeably in basic conversation. They can also describe the duration of the trip (삼일 동안 여행했어요).

At the B1 level, '여행하다' is used to discuss experiences and plans in detail. Learners can use the '-아/어 보다' pattern (여행해 봤어요 - I have tried traveling) to talk about past experiences. They can also use conditional structures like '여행하면' (If I travel) and reason-giving structures like '여행하니까' (Because I travel). The vocabulary expands to include different types of travel, such as '배낭여행' (backpacking) or '패키지 여행' (package tour). They can participate in discussions about the pros and cons of different travel styles.

At the B2 level, the word is used in more abstract and formal contexts. Learners can discuss the impact of travel on personal growth or the economy. They use '여행하다' in complex sentences with connective endings like '-는데', '-다가', and '-자마자'. They can understand and use more specific terms like '국내 여행' (domestic travel) and '해외 여행' (overseas travel) in debates. They can also write short essays or reviews about their travel experiences, using descriptive adjectives to characterize the journey.

At the C1 level, '여행하다' appears in sophisticated literature, news reports, and academic discussions. Learners can use it to describe philosophical concepts, such as '인생을 여행하다' (traveling through life). They are expected to understand subtle nuances in register, such as the difference between '여행하다' and more formal terms like '답사하다' (to go on a field study) or '순례하다' (to go on a pilgrimage). They can analyze travel writing and discuss the sociological aspects of tourism using this verb as a base.

At the C2 level, mastery of '여행하다' involves using it with complete native-like fluency in any context. This includes understanding its use in idioms, metaphors, and highly formal speeches. A C2 learner can discuss the historical evolution of the word and its Hanja roots. They can use the verb to express irony, sarcasm, or deep poetic sentiment. They are also familiar with technical terms in the travel industry and can navigate complex legal or economic documents related to travel and tourism without difficulty.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

여행하다 in 30 Seconds

여행하다 means 'to travel' for leisure or learning.
It is a '하다' verb used with destination particles 을/를 or 에.
Commonly used for both domestic and international trips.
Often interchangeable with '여행 가다' in casual speech.

The verb 여행하다 (yeohaenghada) is the quintessential Korean term for traveling. It combines the noun '여행' (travel/journey), derived from the Hanja characters 旅 (traveler) and 行 (to go), with the versatile verb '하다' (to do). Unlike simple movement verbs like '가다' (to go), 여행하다 implies a purposeful journey, typically involving a change in environment for the sake of leisure, exploration, or education. It encompasses everything from a weekend getaway to a neighboring city to a year-long backpacking trip across continents.

Core Concept: The act of leaving one's usual place of residence to visit other places for pleasure or specific purposes.

저는 매년 여름에 제주도를 여행하다가 이제는 해외로 눈을 돌리고 있어요.

"I used to travel to Jeju Island every summer, but now I'm looking toward overseas."

In a broader sense, it can also be used metaphorically, such as '인생이라는 긴 여행' (the long journey of life). However, its primary usage remains rooted in physical movement. It is a transitive verb that can take an object (the destination) followed by the particle 을/를, or it can be used intransitively where the destination is marked by 에 or (으)로.

Etymological Nuance: 旅 (Ryeo) means a brigade or a group of travelers, suggesting that historically, travel was a collective endeavor for safety.

혼자 여행하는 것은 자신을 발견하는 좋은 기회입니다.

Using 여행하다 correctly involves understanding particle placement and verb conjugation. As a '하다' verb, it follows standard conjugation rules (여행해요, 여행했습니다, 여행할 거예요). The most common way to specify a destination is using the destination marker '을/를' or the direction markers '에' and '(으)로'.

Particle Usage: 1. [Destination]을/를 여행하다: Focuses on the area being covered.
2. [Destination]에/로 여행하다: Focuses on the destination of the trip.

배낭 하나만 메고 유럽을 여행하다 보면 많은 것을 배웁니다.

When you want to say 'travel by' a certain mode of transport, you use the particle '로/으로' with the vehicle. For example, '기차로 여행하다' (to travel by train). If you are traveling with someone, use '와/과' or '하고'.

Tense Examples: Past: 여행했어요 (Traveled)
Present: 여행해요 (Travel/Traveling)
Future: 여행할 거예요 (Will travel)

부모님과 함께 일본을 여행하고 싶어요.

You will encounter 여행하다 in various settings, from airport announcements to social media captions. In South Korea, travel is a major cultural pillar, often discussed in terms of 'healing' (힐링) and 'work-life balance' (워라밸).

Media & Entertainment: Travel variety shows like 'Traveler' or 'Battle Trip' use this verb constantly to describe the cast's journeys.

"이번 휴가 때 어디로 여행하실 계획인가요?"

Common question in office settings or interviews.

In literature and blogs, it is used to describe the internal growth that comes with visiting new places. You'll see it in titles of travel guides, blog posts ('혼자 여행하기 좋은 곳'), and news articles discussing tourism trends.

One of the most frequent errors for learners is confusing 여행하다 with '관광하다' or simply '가다'. While they are related, their nuances differ significantly.

Mistake 1: Overusing '관광하다': Learners often use '관광하다' for any trip. However, '관광' implies sightseeing at tourist attractions. If you are just relaxing at a beach, '여행하다' is better.

❌ 저는 주말에 친구 집에 관광했어요. (Wrong)
✅ 저는 주말에 친구 동네를 여행했어요. (Better)

Another mistake is using the wrong particle. While '에 여행하다' is acceptable, '을/를 여행하다' is often more natural when talking about exploring a whole country or city.

Korean has several words related to travel, each with a specific flavor. Understanding these will help you sound more like a native speaker.

여행하다 vs 관광하다: 여행하다: General travel, focusing on the experience.
관광하다: Sightseeing, focusing on seeing famous landmarks.
여행하다 vs 유람하다: 유람하다: To go around for pleasure, often used for scenic tours or cruises (slightly more formal/old-fashioned).
여행하다 vs 출장 가다: 출장 가다: To go on a business trip. This is never called '여행' unless you add personal travel time to it.

강을 따라 유람하며 경치를 구경했습니다.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

-고 싶다

-아/어 보다

-(으)면서

-(으)러 가다

-기 위해

Examples by Level

저는 한국을 여행해요.

I travel Korea.

Present tense

제주도에 여행하고 싶어요.

I want to travel to Jeju Island.

-고 싶다 (want to)

여름에 여행했어요.

I traveled in summer.

Past tense

친구와 여행해요.

I travel with a friend.

With (와/과)

어디를 여행해요?

Where do you travel?

Interrogative

기차로 여행해요.

I travel by train.

By (로/으로)

내일 여행할 거예요.

I will travel tomorrow.

Future tense

여행이 재미있어요.

Traveling is fun.

Noun form + adjective

혼자 여행하는 것을 좋아해요.

I like traveling alone.

-는 것 (nominalization)

가족과 함께 여행할 계획이에요.

I plan to travel with my family.

-(으)ㄹ 계획이다

여행하면서 사진을 많이 찍었어요.

I took many pictures while traveling.

-(으)면서 (while)

돈을 모아서 여행하고 싶어요.

I want to save money and travel.

-아서 (sequence/reason)

어디로 여행하는 게 좋을까요?

Where would be good to travel to?

-(으)ㄴ/는 게 좋을까요

작년에 유럽을 여행했어요.

I traveled Europe last year.

Specific time + past tense

여행하기 전에 지도를 봐요.

I look at a map before traveling.

-기 전에 (before)

자주 여행하세요?

Do you travel often?

Honorific -시-

외국을 여행해 본 적이 있나요?

Have you ever traveled abroad?

-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다

시간이 있으면 세계 여행을 하고 싶어요.

If I have time, I want to travel the world.

-(으)면 (if)

여행하다 보면 생각이 많아져요.

When you travel, you start to have many thoughts.

-다 보면

배낭여행하는 것은 힘들지만 즐거워요.

Backpacking is hard but fun.

Compound noun

여행할 때 가장 중요한 것은 무엇인가요?

What is the most important thing when traveling?

-(으)ㄹ 때 (when)

비가 와서 여행하지 못했어요.

I couldn't travel because it rained.

못 (cannot)

여행하기에 가장 좋은 계절은 가을이에요.

The best season for traveling is autumn.

-기에 (for doing...)

저는 주로 혼자 여행하는 편이에요.

I tend to travel alone.

-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다

새로운 문화를 경험하기 위해 여행합니다.

I travel to experience new cultures.

-기 위해 (in order to)

여행하다가 우연히 옛 친구를 만났어요.

I met an old friend by chance while traveling.

-다가 (interruption)

경제적인 이유로 여행을 포기하는 사람들이 많아요.

Many people give up traveling for economic reasons.

Reasoning

그는 전 세계를 여행하며 글을 씁니다.

He writes while traveling all over the world.

-(으)며 (simultaneous)

여행할수록 세상이 넓다는 것을 느껴요.

The more I travel, the more I feel the world is wide.

-(으)ㄹ수록

패키지로 여행하는 것보다 자유 여행이 더 좋아요.

I prefer free travel over package tours.

-보다 (comparison)

그 나라는 여행하기에 안전한가요?

Is that country safe to travel to?

Adjective + -기에

여행을 통해 많은 영감을 얻었습니다.

I gained a lot of inspiration through travel.

통해 (through)

진정한 자아를 찾기 위해 오지로 여행을 떠났다.

He set off on a trip to the remote areas to find his true self.

Literary style

여행하는 행위 자체가 하나의 예술이 될 수 있다.

The act of traveling itself can be an art form.

Abstract subject

그는 평생을 여행하며 보낸 방랑자였다.

He was a wanderer who spent his whole life traveling.

Participial use

현대인들에게 여행이란 일상으로부터의 탈출이다.

For modern people, travel is an escape from daily life.

Definition/Opinion

낯선 곳을 여행하다 보면 편견이 사라지기 마련이다.

Traveling to unfamiliar places naturally makes prejudices disappear.

-기 마련이다

그 작가는 여행하는 동안 느낀 감정을 시로 표현했다.

The author expressed the emotions felt while traveling through poetry.

Complex modifiers

지속 가능한 방식으로 여행하는 것이 중요해지고 있다.

Traveling in a sustainable way is becoming important.

Social context

여행은 단순히 장소를 옮기는 것이 아니라 시각을 바꾸는 것이다.

Travel is not just moving places, but changing perspectives.

A가 아니라 B이다

인생이라는 망망대해를 여행하는 우리 모두는 선장이다.

We are all captains traveling the vast ocean of life.

Metaphorical

여행하다 마주치는 고난은 성장의 밑거름이 된다.

Hardships encountered while traveling become the foundation for growth.

Advanced vocabulary

공간의 제약을 넘어 가상 세계를 여행하는 시대가 도래했다.

The era of traveling virtual worlds beyond spatial constraints has arrived.

Formal/Technical

그의 철학은 세계 곳곳을 여행하며 정립된 것이다.

His philosophy was established while traveling all over the world.

Passive nuance

여행하는 주체와 대상 사이의 경계가 모호해지고 있다.

The boundary between the traveler and the destination is blurring.

Sociological analysis

문학적 상상력을 통해 시공간을 여행하는 즐거움을 누린다.

Enjoying the pleasure of traveling through time and space via literary imagination.

Abstract/Poetic

여행은 타자의 삶을 깊이 있게 들여다보는 거울과 같다.

Travel is like a mirror that looks deeply into the lives of others.

Simile

치밀하게 계획된 여행보다는 발길 닿는 대로 여행하는 것을 선호한다.

I prefer traveling wherever my feet take me rather than a meticulously planned trip.

Idiomatic expression

Synonyms

관광하다 유람하다 떠나다 답사하다

Antonyms

머무르다 귀가하다

Common Collocations

세계를 여행하다

해외로 여행하다

혼자 여행하다

배낭여행을 하다

가족과 여행하다

기차로 여행하다

전국을 여행하다

자유롭게 여행하다

신혼여행을 하다

무전여행을 하다

Common Phrases

여행을 떠나다

여행 계획을 세우다

여행 가방을 싸다

여행을 즐기다

여행에서 돌아오다

여행지에 도착하다

여행 경비를 아끼다

여행 사진을 찍다

여행 정보를 찾다

여행을 예약하다

Often Confused With

여행하다 vs 관광하다 (sightsee)

여행하다 vs 구경하다 (look around)

여행하다 vs 방문하다 (visit)

Idioms & Expressions

"인생은 나그네 길 (Life is a traveler's path)"

"아는 만큼 보인다 (You see as much as you know - often said of travel)"

"집 떠나면 고생이다 (Leaving home is hardship)"

"금강산도 식후경 (Even Mt. Geumgang is best seen after eating)"

"천 리 길도 한 걸음부터 (A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step)"

"우물 안 개구리 (A frog in a well - someone who hasn't traveled/seen the world)"

"바람을 쐬다 (To get some fresh air - often used for short trips)"

"발길 닿는 대로 (Wherever one's feet lead)"

"구름에 달 가듯이 (Like the moon passing through clouds - traveling smoothly/quietly)"

"산 넘고 물 건너 (Over mountains and across waters - a long journey)"

Easily Confused

여행하다 vs 관광

Focuses on famous spots.

여행하다 vs 유람

Focuses on scenic enjoyment, often on water.

여행하다 vs 출장

Work-related travel.

여행하다 vs 답사

Travel for research/investigation.

여행하다 vs 순례

Religious travel.

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

nuance

여행하다 is more formal than 여행 가다.

metaphor

Can be used for 'journey of life' or 'journey of discovery'.

Common Mistakes

Using '관광하다' for a relaxing trip.
Using '여행하다' for a business trip (출장).
Forgetting the '하다' in the verb form.
Confusing '여행' (noun) with '여행하다' (verb) in sentence structure.
Using the wrong particle for transport (use '로' not '에').

Tips

Object Particle

Using '을/를' with 여행하다 makes the sentence sound more complete and professional.

Types of Travel

Learn words like 해외여행 (overseas), 국내여행 (domestic), and 배낭여행 (backpacking).

Healing

When talking to Koreans, mention that you travel for 'healing' (힐링) to build rapport.

Natural Flow

Instead of just saying '여행해요', try '여행하는 걸 진짜 좋아해요'.

Connectives

Use '-아서' to explain why you travel (e.g., 스트레스를 풀어서 여행해요).

Context Clues

If you hear '비행기' (airplane) or '여권' (passport), '여행' is likely the topic.

Visual Aid

Picture a map with a line moving from one point to another to remember '여행하다'.

Hashtags

Search #여행스타그램 on Instagram to see how real Koreans use the word.

Soft H

The 'h' in 'hada' is often weakened in fast speech, making it sound like 'yeohaeng-ada'.

Vs. Sightseeing

Remember that 여행하다 is broader than 관광하다. Use it for the whole experience.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Cultural Context

Bringing back local specialties (teuksanmul) for colleagues is common.

Koreans often plan trips around 'matjib' (famous restaurants).

Travel is seen as a necessary mental break.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"여행하는 거 좋아하세요?"

"가장 기억에 남는 여행지는 어디예요?"

"혼자 여행하는 걸 좋아하세요, 아니면 친구랑 하는 걸 좋아하세요?"

"다음에 어디로 여행하고 싶어요?"

"여행할 때 꼭 챙기는 물건이 뭐예요?"

Journal Prompts

내가 꿈꾸는 세계 여행에 대해 써보세요.

가장 최근에 여행했던 곳에서의 추억.

여행이 우리 삶에 왜 중요한가요?

혼자 여행하는 것의 장단점.

내가 추천하는 최고의 여행지.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

여행하다 is the verb 'to travel'. 여행 가다 means 'to go on a trip'. In daily conversation, '여행 가다' is more common, while '여행하다' is used more in writing or formal contexts.

No, for business trips, you should use '출장 가다'. Using '여행하다' implies you are going for fun.

Both are used. '서울을 여행하다' sounds like you are exploring the whole city. '서울에 여행하다' sounds like Seoul is your destination.

You say '배낭여행을 하다'.

Yes, it can be used for any trip, but for very short outings, '나들이하다' or '바람 쐬러 가다' are also common.

It is '여행사'.

Yes, '시간 여행을 하다' is the correct term for time travel.

Yes, it is polite. However, using the honorific '여행하세요' when asking them is better.

It means 'traveling around the world'.

You can say '여행 중이에요' (I am in the middle of a trip) or '여행하고 있어요'.