The normal flow
- Identify whether the sign controls movement, service, safety, or access.
- Read the largest noun first, then the smaller instruction underneath.
- Use arrows and floor numbers before relying on translated place names.
- Treat 금지, 위험, and 주의 as stop-and-check words.
Terms to recognize
| Korean | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| 입구 / 출구 | Entrance / exit | Often shown above doors |
| 출입구 | Entrance and exit | A shared access point |
| 화장실 | Restroom | Look for male/female or accessible icons |
| 안내 | Information | A desk, board, or guidance notice |
| 매표소 | Ticket office | A staffed sales counter |
| 출입금지 | No entry | Do not pass the marked boundary |
Korean compound signs are often literal. Once you know 출입 (coming and going), 금지 (prohibited), and 안내 (guidance), long notices become easier to classify before you translate every word.
Movement words come in pairs
입구 and 출구 are the basic entrance and exit pair. 출입구 means a doorway used in both directions, while 비상구 is an emergency exit. In a building, 층 identifies a floor: 1층 is the first floor and 지하 1층 is basement level one. 올라가는 곳 and 내려가는 곳 indicate the up and down sides of stairs or escalators.
Push and pull labels are easy to miss because they sit close to a handle. 미세요 means push; 당기세요 means pull. 자동문 means automatic door. If a glass door does not move, check for a small 눌러주세요 (please press) button rather than pulling harder.
Service signs tell you what happens there
안내 is a broad word for information or guidance. 안내소 is an information office and 안내데스크 is an information desk. 매표소 sells tickets, 교환처 exchanges a ticket or voucher, and 고객센터 handles customer questions. 번호표 means a queue ticket; 번호표를 뽑아주세요 asks you to take one before waiting.
At shops, 계산대 is the checkout counter. 무인계산대 is self-checkout, and 직원계산대 is a staffed checkout. 준비중 means a business or service is preparing and may not be open yet; 영업중 means open for business and 영업종료 means business has ended for the day.
Pause at warning and access language
금지 means prohibited, 위험 means danger, and 주의 means caution. These words deserve a pause even when the rest of the sentence is unfamiliar. 관계자 외 출입금지 literally excludes everyone except authorized staff. 공사중 means work is in progress, and 미끄럼 주의 warns of a slippery surface.
A prohibition sign can be temporary or directional. Before changing course, check the arrow, time range, and small exceptions. For example, a door can be closed while another entrance remains open. When safety matters, use a camera translation tool for the entire notice rather than guessing from a single noun.
Sources checked
We use official operators and public agencies for details that can change. The practical interpretation is written and reviewed by MeKorean.
- Basic Korean DictionaryNational Institute of Korean Language
- Korea travel informationKorea Tourism Organization