Essential Korean Phrases: Moving house (이사)

Key expressions you need for moving house (이사) in Korea.

The Situation

You're moving house (이사) in Korea. These phrases will help you handle the situation confidently. Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, Koreans will appreciate the effort — and these specific phrases are what they expect to hear. Each phrase below is in 해요체 (polite form), which is appropriate for all service situations.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

The biggest mistake isn't grammar — it's using English-style directness. Korean service interactions follow specific scripts. Saying "Give me a coffee" (translated literally) sounds rude, even with perfect grammar. Korean uses 주세요 ("please give") as the default polite request form. Almost every service phrase ends with this word. Learn it once, use it everywhere.

How It Works

Key phrases for Moving house (이사): • 이사 날짜를 잡고 싶어요. (isa narjjareur japgo sipeoyo.) "I'd like to set a moving date." • 짐이 많아요. (jimi manayo.) "I have a lot of stuff." • 엘리베이터 있어요? (erribeiteo iteoyo?) "Is there an elevator?" These phrases cover the most common interactions. Memorize them as complete units rather than trying to construct sentences from scratch.

Real Examples

• 이사 날짜를 잡고 싶어요. (isa narjjareur japgo sipeoyo.) — "I'd like to set a moving date." • 짐이 많아요. (jimi manayo.) — "I have a lot of stuff." • 엘리베이터 있어요? (erribeiteo iteoyo?) — "Is there an elevator?"

Common Mistakes

❌ Translating English phrases word-by-word ✅ Use the set Korean phrases: 이사 날짜를 잡고 싶어요. → Korean service language has fixed patterns. Use the phrases as-is rather than constructing your own sentences. ❌ Speaking too quickly or mumbling ✅ Speak slowly and clearly, especially 주세요 at the end → Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, speaking clearly with 주세요 at the end will get your message across.

Quick Tip

Moving companies (이사업체) are common. 떡 to new neighbors is tradition — 떡 돌리다 (distribute rice cakes). Pro tip: Screenshot these phrases on your phone before going out. In the moment, you can quickly reference them. After using them 3-4 times in real situations, they'll become automatic. Start with the first phrase (이사 날짜를 잡고 싶어요.) — it's the most essential one for this situation.

Moving companies (이사업체) are common. 떡 to new neighbors is tradition — 떡 돌리다 (distribute rice cakes).

Examples

이사 날짜를 잡고 싶어요. — isa narjjareur japgo sipeoyo. — I'd like to set a moving date.

짐이 많아요. — jimi manayo. — I have a lot of stuff.

엘리베이터 있어요? — erribeiteo iteoyo? — Is there an elevator?