입구, 출구, 역: read the direction too
A word, an arrow, and a number work together when you are finding your way.
Understand the place
입구 means entrance and 출구 means exit. 지하철 identifies the subway; 역 means station and can follow a station name. At a bus stop, look for 버스 and 정류장. These words help you identify a transport place, while arrows and numbers narrow down the direction.
Easy to mix up
An exit number is not a subway line number. Read the words next to the number before following it. 역 identifies a station, while 정류장 identifies a stop. 화장실 points to a restroom, so its arrow may take you somewhere different from the exit you need.
A sign you might see
출구 3 ↗ means exit 3 in the arrow's direction. First recognize 출구, then the number 3, then the arrow. This is more reliable than choosing a corridor only because its number looks familiar. Compare your destination with the station map when needed.
Read in this order
- Name the destination of the arrow first: 입구, 출구, or 화장실. An arrow is useful only after you know what it points to.
- Read the number beside that word. Distinguish an exit number from a line number or another label before choosing a corridor.
- Follow the arrow as part of the complete notice, then compare the station map or surroundings if you need to confirm your route.
Three signs, three decisions
Fictional sign examples
지하철 says subway and 입구 points to an entrance. The arrow directs you toward getting into that place. It does not identify which train direction or platform you will need after entering.
출구 3 ↗ pairs the exit word with the number 3 and an arrow. In this example, 3 is the exit identifier. Read all three pieces together rather than following a number that merely looks familiar.
화장실 names a restroom, and the left arrow directs you there. This arrow can legitimately point away from the exit. Different notices can point in different directions because they lead to different destinations.
What the sign cannot tell you
You see the number 3 twice: once beside 출구 and once on other station information. Matching only the numbers could take you to the wrong place. Identify the word attached to each number before assuming they refer to the same thing.
Check your understanding
Show answer and explanation
입구 is entrance. 출구 is exit, and 화장실 is restroom. The arrow must be read with its destination word, not followed without knowing where it leads.
Show answer and explanation
Yes. 출구 identifies the following number as an exit number in this example. It does not identify subway line 3.
Try it on your next walk
Cover the translations of 입구 and 출구 and decide which gets you into a building. Next, read 출구 3 ↗ aloud. Practice noticing the word before the number in the transport round.
Practice these signs →