Korean Dictionary
How to say "Seat" in Korean
“Seat” in Korean is 좌석 (pronounced "jwaseok").
좌석
jwaseok
Usage & Context
좌석 refers to seats on Korean public transport including subway, bus, and train. Korean subway cars have designated 좌석 for the elderly, pregnant women, and disabled passengers known as 노약자석 which are widely respected. Numbered reserved 좌석 are standard on KTX and intercity trains in Korea.
Example Sentence
창가 좌석으로 예약하고 싶어요.
I want to book a window seat.
How to use 좌석 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Seat” is 좌석, romanized as jwaseok.
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 좌석.
Pronunciation Guide
좌 (jwa) sounds like "jwa" in "jaw-ah" but blended quickly, with a soft 'j' like in "jump". 석 (seok) sounds like "seok" in "sock" but with a slightly tighter 'o' sound. The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Planning a flight trip.
비행기 좌석은 미리 지정해야 해요.
You need to reserve airplane seats in advance.
Politely claiming a seat that someone might be occupying.
이 좌석은 제 자리인데요.
This seat is mine.
Buying tickets for an event.
콘서트 좌석 배치도를 확인해 보세요.
Check the concert seating chart.
Cultural Context
좌석 is a general term for a seat, often used in formal contexts like booking tickets for planes, trains, or concerts. On public transport, while it refers to any seat, the concept of 'priority seats' (노약자석) is much more culturally significant. Koreans are generally very mindful of designated seating, especially on public transport, reflecting a strong sense of public etiquette.
Editorial note
We review entries like 좌석 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
창가 좌석
window seat
통로 좌석
aisle seat
좌석 번호
seat number
Related Expressions
자리
jari
place, spot, seat (more general)
의자
uija
chair (the physical furniture)
입석
ipseok
standing room (opposite of a seat)
노약자석
noyakjaseok
priority seat (specific type of seat)
More Transportation Words
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