거리
서울에서 부산까지의 거리가 400km예요.
The distance from Seoul to Busan is 400 km.
Physical space between two points
이 두 도시 사이의 거리는 얼마나 됩니까?
How far apart are these two cities?
그는 집에서 학교까지의 거리를 매일 걷습니다.
He walks the distance from home to school every day.
Can refer to literal distance or metaphorical 'gap' (e.g., emotional distance).
Street or road
저는 시내의 한 거리에서 그를 만났어요.
I met him on a street in the city.
이 거리는 밤에 불이 켜집니다.
This street is lit at night.
Often used in compound words like '거리 이름' (street name) or '거리 풍경' (street scenery).
Something to be done or an opportunity
할 일이 많아서 시간이 없어요.
I have so much to do that I don’t have time.
Common in phrases like '할 거리' (things to do) or '볼 거리' (things to see).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing '거리' meanings
Context is key: '거리' as 'distance' (e.g., '거리 계산') vs. 'street' (e.g., '거리 풍경') vs. 'things to do' (e.g., '볼 거리'). Listen for accompanying particles like '에서' (from) for distance or '의' (of) for streets.
Gold Rule
Particle usage with '거리'
Use '에서' for distance (e.g., '서울에서 부산까지의 거리') and '의' for streets (e.g., '이 거리의 이름').
Word Origin
From Middle Korean 거리 (< 古代韓語 *kəri), related to the verb '가리다' (to part, separate). Proto-Korean root *kəri- meaning 'space between'.
Usage Notes
1) '거리' as 'street' is often used in place names (e.g., '명동거리' for Myeongdong Street). 2) In modern Korean, '거리' can also imply 'something worth doing' (e.g., '볼 만한 거리' = 'something worth seeing'). 3) Avoid confusion with '거리' in '거리낌' (hesitation) or '거리끼다' (to feel awkward), which are derived from the verb '거리다' (to feel uneasy).