Meaning and Usage
길 primarily means 'road' or 'street' in Korean. It refers to a physical path or route that people use to travel from one place to another. It is one of the most common words used when giving or asking for directions.
Common Contexts
길 is used in everyday conversation about navigation, travel, and location. It can describe anything from a small alley to a large highway depending on context.
Collocations and Patterns
- 길을 가다: to go on a road; used when describing movement along a path.
- 길을 잃다: to lose one's way; common expression when someone is lost.
- 길이 막히다: the road is blocked or congested; often used when talking about traffic jams.
Register and Politeness
길 is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without change.
Common Learner Mistake
Sometimes learners confuse 길 with 거리, which also means street but often refers more to the distance or a street as a commercial area. 길 focuses more on the physical path or road itself.
Understanding these nuances will help you use 길 naturally when talking about directions or places.