A1 Collocation तटस्थ

길을 묻다

gireul mutda

to ask for directions

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '길을 묻다' to politely ask someone for directions when you are lost or trying to find a specific location.

  • Means: To inquire about the route or path to a destination.
  • Used in: Asking strangers on the street, asking staff in a building.
  • Don't confuse: '길을 잃다' (to be lost) with '길을 묻다' (to ask for the way).
Confused face + Map icon + Polite bow = Successful navigation

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means asking someone for the way to a place. You use it when you are lost.
It is a standard collocation used to initiate a request for navigation. It is essential for tourists and newcomers in Korea to find their way.
This phrase functions as a polite social strategy. By using '물어보다' instead of just '묻다', the speaker softens the request, making it more socially acceptable in public spaces.
The phrase demonstrates the intersection of functional language and social etiquette. It requires the speaker to navigate the 'ㄷ' irregular conjugation while maintaining appropriate honorific levels for the listener.
Linguistically, '길을 묻다' serves as a pragmatic marker for initiating service encounters. It reflects the cultural expectation of '공손함' (politeness) where the speaker acknowledges the listener's time and effort in providing guidance.
The phrase is a quintessential example of Korean communicative competence. It involves complex morphological shifts (ㄷ-irregularity) and pragmatic choices regarding speech levels (Haeyoche vs. Hasipsioche), reflecting the speaker's awareness of social hierarchy and situational context.

मतलब

To inquire about the way to a particular place.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Asking for directions is a great way to start a conversation with locals.

💡

Use '좀'

Adding '좀' makes the request sound softer and more natural.

मतलब

To inquire about the way to a particular place.

💡

Use '좀'

Adding '좀' makes the request sound softer and more natural.

खुद को परखो

Fill in the blank.

실례합니다, _____ 좀 물을게요.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 길을

We use '길을 묻다' for directions.

🎉 स्कोर: /1

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

1 सवाल

No, it is very common.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔗

길을 잃다

contrast

To be lost

🔗

길을 찾다

similar

To find the way

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🗺️

Lost on the street

You: 실례합니다, 길을 좀 물을게요.

Local: 네, 어디를 찾으세요?

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Road' (길) with a 'Question mark' (묻다) on it.

Visual Association

A traveler holding a map, looking confused, and pointing at a street sign.

Rhyme

길을 묻다, 길을 찾다.

Story

Min-su was lost in Seoul. He felt shy but needed help. He walked up to a lady and said, '실례합니다, 길을 좀 물을게요.' She kindly pointed the way.

Word Web

길묻다방향지도실례합니다도와주다

चैलेंज

Go to a public place and ask someone for the location of the nearest restroom using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Preguntar el camino

Korean requires a particle '을' while Spanish uses 'el'.

French high

Demander son chemin

French uses the possessive 'son' while Korean is more direct.

German moderate

Nach dem Weg fragen

Korean uses a direct object particle.

Japanese high

道を聞く (michi o kiku)

Japanese uses 'kiku' (hear/ask) while Korean uses 'mutda' (ask).

Arabic moderate

سؤال عن الطريق (su'al 'an al-tariq)

Korean is verb-based.

Easily Confused

길을 묻다 बनाम 길을 잃다

Learners mix up 'asking' and 'being lost'.

묻다 = ask, 잃다 = lose.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (1)

No, it is very common.

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