Phrase in 30 Seconds
Learn how to safely navigate Korean streets by mastering the essential phrase for 'crossing the road'.
- Means: To physically move from one side of a path or road to the other.
- Used in: Giving directions, talking about daily commutes, or teaching safety rules.
- Don't confuse: Use the object marker '을' (eul) rather than the direction marker '로' (ro).
Explicación a tu nivel:
Significado
To go from one side of a road to the other.
Contexto cultural
In many Korean cities, you will find 'Smart Crosswalks' that have LED lights on the ground. These help 'Smombies' (Smartphone Zombies) see the signal even while looking down at their phones. The 'Yellow Carpet' initiative is a community-led project to paint the areas around school crosswalks bright yellow, making children waiting to cross more visible to drivers. Jaywalking is taken seriously in Korea. While people do it, there are often police officers or 'Silver Volunteers' (elderly traffic wardens) who blow whistles at those crossing illegally. During the 'Chuseok' or 'Seollal' holidays, the phrase '길을 건너다' takes on a broader meaning of traveling back to one's hometown, often involving crossing many provincial borders.
Use with '서' (seo)
When giving directions, always use '건너서' (cross and then) to sound natural.
Watch the marker
Never say '길에 건너다.' It's always '길을 건너다.'
Use with '서' (seo)
When giving directions, always use '건너서' (cross and then) to sound natural.
Watch the marker
Never say '길에 건너다.' It's always '길을 건너다.'
Hand raising
In Korea, children are taught to raise one hand while crossing to be more visible to drivers.
Directional verbs
Combine with '가다' (go) or '오다' (come) to specify direction: '건너가다' vs '건너오다'.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blank with the correct object marker.
횡단보도에서 길___ 건너세요.
'길' ends in a consonant (ㄹ), so it takes the object marker '을'.
Which sentence is the most natural for giving directions?
How do you say 'Cross the road and go straight'?
'-아서/어서' is used to show a sequence of actions where the first action is necessary for the second.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 어디예요? B: 지금 학교 앞 횡단보도에서 ( ).
The present progressive '-고 있다' is the most natural way to describe what you are doing right now.
Match the phrase to the situation: '무단횡단을 하지 마세요.'
When would you hear this?
'무단횡단' means jaywalking, and '하지 마세요' means 'don't do it.'
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejercicios횡단보도에서 길___ 건너세요.
'길' ends in a consonant (ㄹ), so it takes the object marker '을'.
How do you say 'Cross the road and go straight'?
'-아서/어서' is used to show a sequence of actions where the first action is necessary for the second.
A: 어디예요? B: 지금 학교 앞 횡단보도에서 ( ).
The present progressive '-고 있다' is the most natural way to describe what you are doing right now.
When would you hear this?
'무단횡단' means jaywalking, and '하지 마세요' means 'don't do it.'
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasTechnically yes, but '다리를 건너다' is much more common and specific.
It is neutral. You can make it formal by changing the verb ending to '건너십니다'.
There isn't a direct opposite, but '길을 따라 걷다' (walk along the road) is a different movement.
You say '건너지 마세요.'
It happens, but it's discouraged by loud whistles from traffic wardens and fines.
It means 'the opposite side of the road.'
Yes, '강을 건너다' is perfectly correct.
Because '길' ends in a consonant (batchim).
A 'Smartphone Zombie'—someone who looks at their phone while crossing the road.
It is '횡단보도' ({橫斷步道|횡단보도}).
Frases relacionadas
횡단보도
specialized formCrosswalk
신호등
similarTraffic light
길을 잃다
contrastTo get lost
건너편
builds onThe opposite side
무단횡단
specialized formJaywalking
Dónde usarla
Asking for directions
Traveler: 실례합니다, 은행이 어디에 있어요?
Local: 저기 횡단보도에서 **길을 건너면** 바로 보여요.
Teaching a child
Parent: 지수야, 초록불일 때 **길을 건너야** 해.
Child: 네, 엄마! 손 들고 건널게요.
On the phone with a friend
Friend A: 지금 어디야?
Friend B: 나 지금 **길 건너고 있어**. 1분만 기다려!
Warning someone
Passerby: 조심하세요! 차가 오는데 **길을 건너면** 안 돼요.
Student: 앗, 죄송합니다. 못 봤어요.
In a taxi
Passenger: 기사님, 저기서 **길 건너서** 세워주세요.
Driver: 네, 알겠습니다. 유턴해서 갈게요.
Describing a commute
Colleague: 집에서 회사까지 멀어요?
Worker: 아니요, **길만 한 번 건너면** 돼요. 아주 가까워요.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'Gil' (길) as a 'GILL' of a fish moving across the water, and 'Geonneoda' (건너다) as 'GOING' to the other side.
Asociación visual
Imagine a bright yellow 'X' on a road. You are walking along the lines of the X to get to the other side. The X marks the 'Cross' in 'Crossing'.
Rhyme
길을 건너, 저기로 건너! (Gil-eul geonneo, jeogiro geonneo! - Cross the road, cross to there!)
Story
A little boy named Gil wants to buy ice cream. The shop is on the other side. He waits for the green light, says '건너다!' and safely walks across. Now Gil has his ice cream.
In Other Languages
In Japanese, it is '道を渡る' (michi o wataru), which uses the exact same structure. In English, we say 'cross the street,' focusing on the 'cross' action just like Korean.
Word Web
Desafío
Next time you are outside, every time you see a crosswalk, whisper to yourself: '길을 건너요.' Do this 5 times today.
Review this phrase on Day 1, Day 3, and Day 7. Focus on the 'ㄹ' batchim in '건널 때'.
Pronunciación
The 'ㄹ' in '길' moves to the next syllable because of the vowel '을'.
The double 'ㄴ' makes a clear 'n' sound.
Espectro de formalidad
길을 건너십시오. (Giving a command or request)
길을 건너세요. (Giving a command or request)
길을 건너. (Giving a command or request)
길 건너라~ (Giving a command or request)
The word '길' is a native Korean word that has existed since Old Korean. '건너다' is also a native verb. Historically, '건너다' was primarily used for crossing rivers ({강|江}을 건너다), which were the main obstacles in the mountainous Korean peninsula. As roads became the primary mode of transport, the verb naturally shifted its object from water to land.
Dato curioso
The verb '건너다' is related to the word '건너편' (the opposite side). When you cross, you are going to the 'side that has been crossed to.'
Notas culturales
In many Korean cities, you will find 'Smart Crosswalks' that have LED lights on the ground. These help 'Smombies' (Smartphone Zombies) see the signal even while looking down at their phones.
“바닥 신호등 덕분에 안전하게 길을 건너요. (I cross the road safely thanks to the floor traffic lights.)”
The 'Yellow Carpet' initiative is a community-led project to paint the areas around school crosswalks bright yellow, making children waiting to cross more visible to drivers.
“아이들이 노란 카펫에서 길을 건너려고 기다려요. (Children wait at the yellow carpet to cross the road.)”
Jaywalking is taken seriously in Korea. While people do it, there are often police officers or 'Silver Volunteers' (elderly traffic wardens) who blow whistles at those crossing illegally.
“경찰관이 무단횡단을 하는 사람을 잡았어요. (The police officer caught someone jaywalking.)”
During the 'Chuseok' or 'Seollal' holidays, the phrase '길을 건너다' takes on a broader meaning of traveling back to one's hometown, often involving crossing many provincial borders.
“고향에 가려고 먼 길을 건너왔어요. (I came across a long way to go to my hometown.)”
Inicios de conversación
집 근처에 길을 건너야 하는 큰 도로가 있어요?
한국에서 길을 건널 때 무엇을 조심해야 할까요?
길을 건너다가 재미있는 것을 본 적이 있나요?
Errores comunes
길에 건너다
길을 건너다
L1 Interference
길을 지나다
길을 건너다
L1 Interference
길을 넘다
길을 건너다
L1 Interference
길을 건너가다 (when coming toward the speaker)
길을 건너오다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
道を渡る (michi o wataru)
The pronunciation and script are the only major differences.
过马路 (guò mǎlù)
Chinese uses a verb-object structure (VO), while Korean is object-verb (OV).
Cruzar la calle
Spanish requires an article (la), whereas Korean often omits it or uses markers.
Traverser la rue
French uses a definite article (la), while Korean uses the object marker (을).
Die Straße überqueren
German word order changes in subordinate clauses, while Korean remains SOV.
عبور الشارع (ubur al-shari')
Arabic is VSO or SVO, while Korean is SOV.
Atravessar a rua
Portuguese uses a prepositional-like feel with articles, unlike Korean markers.
Cross the street
English uses 'the' to specify the street, while Korean uses '을' to mark the object.
Spotted in the Real World
“무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다”
While not the exact phrase, the game 'Red Light, Green Light' is the ultimate cultural high-stakes version of crossing a space safely.
“내가 가는 이 길이 어디로 가는지...”
A famous song about finding one's path in life.
“길을 건너서 저 집으로 가.”
The characters often cross physical and social 'roads' between their basement home and the rich neighborhood.
Fácil de confundir
Both involve being on a road.
Use '건너다' for side-to-side movement; use '지나다' for moving past a point.
Both mean 'to cross' in English.
Use '넘다' for mountains or walls; use '건너다' for flat surfaces or water.
Preguntas frecuentes (10)
Technically yes, but '다리를 건너다' is much more common and specific.
usage contextsIt is neutral. You can make it formal by changing the verb ending to '건너십니다'.
grammar mechanicsThere isn't a direct opposite, but '길을 따라 걷다' (walk along the road) is a different movement.
basic understandingYou say '건너지 마세요.'
grammar mechanicsIt happens, but it's discouraged by loud whistles from traffic wardens and fines.
cultural usageIt means 'the opposite side of the road.'
practical tipsYes, '강을 건너다' is perfectly correct.
usage contextsBecause '길' ends in a consonant (batchim).
grammar mechanicsA 'Smartphone Zombie'—someone who looks at their phone while crossing the road.
cultural usageIt is '횡단보도' ({橫斷步道|횡단보도}).
basic understanding
