Meaning and Usage
The word '큰길' literally means 'big road' or 'main road.' It refers to a principal or major street, often wider and busier than smaller streets or alleys. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to describe important roads in towns or cities.
Common Contexts
'큰길' is often contrasted with smaller paths or alleys (골목길). It can be used when giving directions, describing locations, or talking about traffic and transportation.
Collocations and Patterns
- 큰길을 따라 (along the main road): Used when describing movement or directions.
- 큰길에서 조금만 들어가다 (go a little off the main road): Describes moving from a main road into a quieter or less busy area.
- 큰길과 작은 골목길 (main roads and small alleys): Used to contrast different types of streets.
Register and Usage Notes
'큰길' is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is not a technical term but rather a common noun used in daily speech.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '큰길' with '큰 길' (two words), but in Korean, it is usually written as one word when referring to the main road. Also, '큰길' specifically implies a main or big road, so using it to describe any road might be inaccurate; use '길' for a general road or street.