Travel Phrases — Entry No. 1186
예약
reservation · noun
예약
reservation
[ye-yak]
nounbeginner
Meaning
The Korean word for ‘reservation’ (예약), pronounced ‘ye-yak.’ This noun is essential for booking restaurants, hotels, flights, and concert tickets in Korea. It’s a direct loanword from English but adapted to Korean phonetics.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
K-Pop concerts require ‘ye-yak’ (reservations/ticketing) through platforms like Interpark and Melon Ticket. In ‘Business Proposal,’ the female lead makes dinner reservations at upscale restaurants. IVE members frequently discuss concert ‘ye-yak’ system in their variety show appearances, making it familiar to international K-Pop fans.
Example Sentences
예약이 있어요.
ye-yak-ee ee-ssuh-yo
I have a reservation. (confirming your booking)
명일 여섯 시에 예약을 하고 싶어요.
myung-il yuh-suh-sut shee-eh ye-yak-eul ha-go shee-puh-yo
I want to make a reservation for tomorrow at 6 PM. (booking request)
콘서트 티켓 예약을 어떻게 해요?
kon-suh-teu tee-ket ye-yak-eul uh-dduh-ke hae-yo?
How do I make a concert ticket reservation? (K-Pop specific)
⚠️ Don’t use reservation when…
1) 예약 (ye-yak) is a noun and needs a verb like 하다 (to do)—say ‘예약을 해요’ not just ‘예약 해요.’ 2) Don’t confuse 예약 (reservation) with 예정 (schedule/plan)—they’re used differently in context.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Business Proposal — Female lead makes upscale restaurant reservations for dates with the CEO
- K-Pop: aespa — ‘Spicy’ (members discuss concert reservations in behind-the-scenes content)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.