지하철은, 지하로 다닌다고 해서, 지하철 이고요. subway is called because, the train runs under ground. 지하 means underground. 철 is train. 전철은, 전기로 가기 때문에, 전철이라 하고요. 전철 is electronic train. when you look at the 전철 in korea, there is a electric wire upon the train connected with the electric wire. so 전철 can moves. 열차는, 일반적인 기차를 말해요. 여러 칸으로 열을 지어 있다고 해서 열차, 즉 기차라고 하지요. 열차 is just general train. like.. every chambers are connected in row. the row, so is called 열차. 열 is row. 차 is , as you know. that's a car or train. so 열차. in korea, the very popular transportation which everybody use, is moving by electronic wire. so the train can called, 지하철 or 전철. both are can be. in korea, 기차 is normally distinguished from the 지하철, 전철. 기차 is traditional train that move to long distance. hope it helps. 즐거운 한국어 공부!^^

안녕하세요? 지하철=전철 is a subway 열차 is a train

What's the difference between 지하철 = subway = train (in Australia we don't say subway), and 기차 = train? I'd say that 기차 is maybe the speed-rail (fast) train, because the picture in my textbook looks like this but my dictionary doesn't call it this