When you’re seriously sick or injured, you’ll need this word to say you have to go to the hospital or tell a taxi driver your destination.

For lighter problems like a cold, headache or stomachache, you’ll often go to a pharmacy instead of a hospital.

At a pharmacy you’ll say things like “Do you have cold medicine?” or “Please give me medicine for stomachache” using this word.

Even before explaining where it hurts, just saying “아파요” is enough to let people know you need help.

In serious situations you should be able to ask “Where is the emergency room?” to get help as fast as possible.

If you face pickpocketing, loss or a dangerous situation, just saying “경찰” helps people understand you need the police.

You show this for check-in, currency exchange or SIM purchases, so it’s your most important ID word – and crucial if you lose it.

If you lose it, you may need to say “I lost my wallet” at a lost-and-found counter, café or restaurant, so this word is important.