Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ride-Sharing" in Korean
“Ride-Sharing” in Korean is 카풀 (pronounced "kapul").
카풀
kapul
Usage & Context
카풀 refers to carpooling or ride-sharing in Korea where multiple people share a vehicle for a common route. The Korean government and companies have promoted 카풀 to reduce traffic congestion and emissions. Apps offering 카풀 services have been developed in Korea though they faced initial resistance from taxi operators.
Example Sentence
출퇴근 시 카풀을 이용하면 교통비를 절약할 수 있어요.
Using ride-sharing for commuting can save on transportation costs.
How to use 카풀 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ride-Sharing” is 카풀, romanized as kapul.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 카풀.
Pronunciation Guide
카 (ka) sounds like 'car' without the 'r'. 풀 (pul) sounds like 'pool' in 'swimming pool'. This is a direct loanword from 'carpool', with the stress typically falling on 'pul'.
More Example Sentences
Suggesting a solution for traffic.
출퇴근 시간에 카풀하면 차가 덜 막힐 거예요.
If we carpool during rush hour, traffic will be less congested.
Explaining how one saves money.
회사 동료들과 카풀해서 기름값을 아껴요.
I carpool with my colleagues to save on gas money.
Trying to find a ride-sharing partner.
카풀 앱으로 같이 갈 사람을 찾고 있어요.
I'm looking for someone to carpool with using a carpool app.
Cultural Context
카풀, or carpooling/ride-sharing, is a concept that has gained traction in Korea, particularly to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce environmental impact. While the idea is popular, actual implementation of ride-sharing *services* faced significant resistance from the powerful taxi industry, leading to regulatory challenges and protests. Despite this, informal carpooling among colleagues or friends is common, and there have been various attempts to launch app-based services, often with specific time restrictions (e.g., during rush hour) to avoid direct competition with taxis.
Editorial note
We review entries like 카풀 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
카풀 할까요?
Shall we carpool?
카풀 구해요.
I'm looking for a carpool.
카풀 이용하다
To use carpooling/ride-sharing
Related Expressions
공유 경제
gongyu gyeongje
sharing economy
대중교통
daejunggyotong
public transportation
택시
taekssi
taxi
교통 체증
gyotong chejeung
traffic congestion
More Transportation Words
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