When you want to say something is near or close by in Korean, you use the word 가까이 (ga-kka-i).
It's an adverb, which means it describes a verb, telling you where an action happens. Think of it like saying 'walk close' or 'stand nearby'.
You'll often see it used when talking about physical distance, like 'The store is close by'.
Remember, it focuses on the proximity of something.
When using 가까이 (gakkai) at an A2 level, you learned it means 'near' or 'close'. As you progress to B1, you'll encounter more nuanced uses. For instance, it often implies a closer proximity than simply 'nearby' and can suggest a sense of intimacy or immediacy.
You'll frequently hear it used with verbs of movement, like 가까이 오다 (gakkai oda - to come closer) or 가까이 가다 (gakkai gada - to go closer). It can also be used figuratively to talk about something being 'close to' a certain state or condition.
When using 가까이, it's often paired with verbs indicating movement towards something, like 오다 (to come), 가다 (to go), or 다가가다 (to approach). For example, 가까이 오세요 means "Please come closer."
You can also use 가까이 to describe something's proximity without active movement, such as 집이 역에 가까이 있어요 (The house is near the station). In this context, it functions similarly to 근처에 (near/around).
However, note that 가까이 generally implies a closer proximity than 근처에. While both indicate 'near,' 가까이 suggests a more immediate vicinity. For instance, if you say 가까이 앉으세요, it means "Sit closer" (right next to me or very near), whereas 근처에 앉으세요 could mean "Sit somewhere in the vicinity."
It's important to remember that 가까이 is an adverb, so it modifies verbs or adjectives. Do not confuse it with 가까운 (close/nearby), which is an adjective and would be used before a noun, like 가까운 친구 (a close friend).
How Formal Is It?
"도서관이 학교에 인접하여 있습니다. (The library is adjacent to the school.)"
"집이 회사에서 가까이 있어요. (My house is close to the company.)"
"우리 집이랑 가까이 살아. (You live close to my house.)"
"엄마, 인형이 나한테 가까이 왔어요! (Mom, the doll came close to me!)"
"야, 너 옆에 딱 붙어 있어. (Hey, stick right next to me.)"
Examples by Level
가까이 다가갈수록 그림은 더욱 선명해졌다.
As I got closer, the painting became clearer.
가까이 다가가다 (to get closer); -ㄹ수록 (the more... the more...)
그녀는 항상 어려운 이웃에게 가까이 다가가 도움을 주었다.
She always approached difficult neighbors closely and helped them.
어려운 이웃 (neighbors in difficulty); -에게 (to someone); -아/어 주다 (to do something for someone)
두 나라는 지리적으로 가까이 위치하여 문화 교류가 활발하다.
The two countries are located close geographically, so cultural exchange is active.
지리적으로 (geographically); 위치하다 (to be located); -아/어서 (because); 활발하다 (to be active)
우리는 자연에 가까이 다가가 삶의 지혜를 배운다.
We approach nature closely and learn life's wisdom.
자연에 (to nature); 삶의 지혜 (life's wisdom); 배우다 (to learn)
그는 항상 진실에 가까이 가려고 노력했다.
He always tried to get close to the truth.
진실에 (to the truth); -려고 노력하다 (to try to do something)
어머니는 아이들을 항상 가까이 두고 보살폈다.
The mother always kept her children close and cared for them.
가까이 두다 (to keep close); 보살피다 (to care for)
폭풍우가 가까이 다가오고 있다는 소식에 모두가 긴장했다.
Everyone was tense at the news that the storm was approaching closely.
폭풍우 (storm); -는다는 소식에 (at the news that...); 긴장하다 (to be tense)
그는 자신의 꿈에 한 발짝 더 가까이 다가갔다.
He took one step closer to his dream.
한 발짝 더 (one more step); 꿈에 (to his dream)
Often Confused With
Adjective form of 'near/close'.
Noun meaning 'vicinity' or 'nearby area'.
Noun meaning 'side' or 'next to'.
Easily Confused
Both '가까이' and '근처' relate to proximity. Learners might struggle with when to use each.
'가까이' is an adverb meaning 'near' or 'closely', often describing an action's proximity. '근처' is a noun meaning 'vicinity' or 'nearby area'. You would use '가까이' with a verb (e.g., '가까이 오다' - to come near), and '근처' with a location (e.g., '집 근처' - near the house).
여기에 가까이 오세요. (Come close here.) 우리 집 근처에 병원이 있어요. (There's a hospital near my house.)
'가까이' is an adverb derived from the adjective '가깝다', leading to potential confusion in usage.
'가깝다' is an adjective meaning 'to be near' or 'to be close'. It describes a state or quality. '가까이' modifies verbs or other adverbs, indicating how an action is performed.
우리 집은 학교에서 가까워요. (My house is close to school.) 의자에 가까이 앉으세요. (Sit close to the chair.)
Both indicate close proximity, but '옆' is more specific about direction.
'가까이' means 'near' in a general sense of proximity. '옆' means 'beside' or 'next to', indicating a more direct side-by-side position.
책상 가까이 의자가 있어요. (There's a chair near the desk.) 책상 옆에 의자가 있어요. (There's a chair next to the desk.)
Both imply being close, but '인접하다' is more formal and specific.
'가까이' is a common, everyday word for general proximity. '인접하다' is a more formal verb meaning 'to be adjacent to' or 'to border on', often used in more technical or geographical contexts.
저와 가까이 앉아주세요. (Please sit close to me.) 이 도시는 바다에 인접해 있습니다. (This city is adjacent to the sea.)
Both can refer to an area around something.
'가까이' focuses on the nearness itself, often in relation to an action. '주변' is a noun meaning 'surroundings' or 'vicinity', referring to the area around a place or object.
제게 가까이 다가오세요. (Come closer to me.) 학교 주변에 공원이 많아요. (There are many parks around the school.)
How to Use It
가까이 is an adverb used to indicate proximity in terms of distance. It can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It's often used with verbs of movement or verbs that describe being in a location.
Examples:
집 가까이에 공원이 있어요. (There is a park near the house.)
저쪽으로 좀 더 가까이 와주세요. (Please come a little bit closer over there.)
책상 가까이 앉아 주세요. (Please sit near the desk.)
A common mistake is confusing 가까이 with 가깝다 (to be near/close). 가깝다 is an adjective, while 가까이 is an adverb.
Incorrect: 공원이 집 가깝다 있어요. (Park is near the house.)
Correct: 공원이 집 가까이 있어요. (Park is near the house.)
Correct: 집이 공원과 가깝다. (The house is near the park.)
Tips
가까이 vs. 가깝다
Remember, '가까이' is an adverb meaning 'near' or 'closely'. '가깝다' is an adjective meaning 'to be close' or 'to be near'. They are related but used differently in sentences.
Using 가까이 with verbs
You'll often see '가까이' used with verbs of motion, like '오다' (to come) or '가다' (to go), to indicate moving closer to something. For example, '이리 가까이 와요' means 'Come closer this way'.
Describing proximity
'가까이' can also describe something being physically nearby. For instance, '책을 가까이 두세요' means 'Keep the book nearby' or 'Keep the book close'.
Implies closeness in space
The primary use of '가까이' is to indicate a short distance or proximity in physical space. Think of it as the opposite of '멀리' (far).
No particles needed
As an adverb, '가까이' typically doesn't need additional particles to function in a sentence. It directly modifies the verb or adjective that follows it, describing how an action is performed or where something is.
가까이 for 'up close'
Sometimes, '가까이' can imply examining something up close or in detail. For example, '가까이서 보세요' means 'Look up close'.
Practice with simple sentences
Start by forming simple sentences like '가까이 앉으세요' (Sit closer) or '집이 가까이 있어요' (The house is nearby) to get comfortable with its usage.
Listen for it in daily conversations
Pay attention to how native speakers use '가까이' in everyday speech. You'll notice it frequently when talking about location or bringing things closer.
Don't confuse with '거의'
Be careful not to confuse '가까이' with '거의' (almost). While both might sound similar to new learners, '가까이' is about physical proximity, and '거의' is about degree or completion.
Context is key
While 'near' and 'close' are good translations, the exact nuance of '가까이' can depend on the context. Always consider the surrounding words to fully understand its meaning in a given sentence.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing physical proximity to objects or places.
- 집 가까이 (near the house)
- 학교 가까이 (near the school)
- 내 옆에 가까이 (close beside me)
Talking about being close to someone emotionally or in relationship.
- 마음이 가까이 (hearts close together)
- 서로 가까이 (close to each other)
- 그녀와 가까이 지내다 (to be close with her)
Indicating approaching a specific point or time.
- 마감일이 가까이 오다 (the deadline is approaching)
- 목표에 가까이 가다 (to get close to the goal)
- 밤이 가까이 되다 (it's getting close to night)
Giving directions or instructions to move closer.
- 더 가까이 와요 (come closer)
- 앞으로 가까이 (closer to the front)
- 나에게 가까이 (closer to me)
Referring to something being within reach or easily accessible.
- 손 가까이 (within arm's reach)
- 가까이 두다 (to keep something close)
- 항상 가까이 있어요 (it's always nearby)
Conversation Starters
"혹시 이 근처에 좋은 식당이 있을까요? (Is there a good restaurant nearby?)"
"친구 집이 학교에서 얼마나 가까이 있어요? (How close is your friend's house to school?)"
"제가 당신 옆에 더 가까이 앉아도 괜찮을까요? (Is it okay if I sit closer to you?)"
"시험이 다가오는데, 공부는 잘 되고 있어요? (The exam is approaching, is your studying going well?)"
"무엇이든 항상 가까이에 두는 물건이 있어요? (Is there anything you always keep close to you?)"
Journal Prompts
오늘 당신에게 가장 가까이 있었던 좋은 일은 무엇이었나요? (What was the good thing that was closest to you today?)
당신이 가장 가까이 하고 싶은 사람이나 장소는 어디인가요? 왜요? (Who or what is the person or place you want to be closest to? Why?)
미래에 어떤 목표에 가장 가까이 다가가고 싶으신가요? (What goal do you want to get closest to in the future?)
당신이 평소에 '가까이' 둔다고 생각하는 물건이 있다면 무엇인가요? (If there's an item you usually keep 'close', what is it?)
가까운 미래에 배우고 싶은 새로운 것이 있나요? (Is there anything new you want to learn in the near future?)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYou use 가까이 to show that something is physically near or close to something else. For example, '의자 좀 더 가까이 놓으세요.' means 'Please put the chair a little closer.'
가까이 is an adverb, meaning 'near' or 'close' (describes how an action is done). 가깝다 is an adjective, meaning 'to be near' or 'to be close' (describes a state of being). So you might say '가까이 오세요' (Come closer) but '집이 가까워요' (The house is close).
Not usually. 가까이 is primarily for physical proximity. For time, you'd use words like '곧' (soon) or '조만간' (shortly).
Yes, a very common one is '가까이 와.' or '가까이 오세요.' which means 'Come closer.' Another is '가까이 살아요.' meaning 'I live nearby.'
You could say '가까이 있어.' (Stay close/be close) or '가까이 계세요.' (formal). If you want to say 'stay close to me', you'd say '내 옆에 가까이 있어.'
Yes, '가까이 가다' is very natural and means 'to go near' or 'to go closer.' For example, '강아지에게 가까이 가지 마세요.' means 'Don't go near the dog.'
The opposite of 가까이 is '멀리' (far, far away). For example, '멀리 가지 마세요.' means 'Don't go far.'
While primarily physical, in some contexts, it can imply being 'close to' an outcome or goal, but it's less common than for physical distance. Stick to physical closeness for now.
It's pronounced roughly as 'gah-gga-ee'. Make sure the 'ㄲ' sound is a strong, tense 'g' sound, similar to a 'k' but without aspiration.
Yes, you can. You'd often use it with a location particle like '에'. For example, '학교에 가까이 살아요.' means 'I live close to school.'
Test Yourself 48 questions
Choose the sentence where '가까이' is used correctly to mean 'near' or 'close'.
'가까이' describes physical proximity here.
Which sentence means 'The school is nearby'?
'가까이 있어요' means 'is nearby'.
Select the correct Korean translation for 'Please come closer.'
'가까이 오세요' is the polite way to say 'come closer'.
You can use '가까이' to describe a friend who lives far away.
'가까이' means near or close, so it's not used for someone far away.
The sentence '의자에 가까이 앉으세요.' means 'Please sit close to the chair.'
'가까이 앉으세요' means 'sit close'.
If you say '집이 가까이 있어요', it means your house is far away.
'가까이 있어요' means 'is nearby', not far away.
Which sentence correctly uses '가까이'?
'가까이' is an adverb meaning 'near' or 'close' and works well with verbs like '살다' (to live) to indicate proximity.
Choose the best Korean translation for 'Please come closer.'
'가까이' means 'closer' or 'nearby', and '와 주세요' means 'please come'.
Which word is an antonym for '가까이'?
'가까이' means 'near' or 'close', so '멀리' (far) is its direct opposite.
The sentence '책을 가까이 두세요.' means 'Please put the book far away.'
'가까이' means 'near' or 'close', so the sentence means 'Please put the book nearby/close.'
'가까이' can be used to describe physical distance.
'가까이' directly refers to being 'near' or 'close' in terms of physical proximity.
It is natural to say '가까이 먹어요' to mean 'I eat closely'.
While '가까이' means 'close', '가까이 먹어요' sounds unnatural. You would typically use '가까이 앉아서 먹어요' (I sit close and eat) or '가까운 곳에서 먹어요' (I eat in a nearby place).
The park is close to the house.
Come closer here.
I live near the school.
Read this aloud:
가까이에 마트가 있어요?
Focus: 가까이에 (ga-kka-i-e)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
저의 친구는 가까이에 살아요.
Focus: 가까이에 (ga-kka-i-e)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
이 식당은 역에서 가까워요.
Focus: 가까워요 (ga-kka-wo-yo)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'The school is close to home.' The adverb '가까이' modifies the verb '있어요' (is).
This sentence means 'He was always close by my side.' '내 곁에' means 'by my side', and '가까이 있어 주었다' means 'was close by for me'.
This sentence means 'I sat close to the window and read a book.' '창가에' means 'by the window', and '가까이 앉아' means 'sat close'.
그는 늘 진실에 ___ 다가가려 노력했다.
이 문맥에서는 '진실에 다가가다' 즉, 진실에 접근한다는 의미가 자연스러우므로 '가까이'가 적절합니다.
오랜 시간 끝에, 우리는 문제의 본질에 ___ 접근할 수 있었다.
문제가 되는 핵심에 '근접하게' 접근했다는 의미로 '가까이'를 사용합니다.
환경 보호는 우리의 삶과 밀접하게 ___ 있는 문제이다.
'밀접하게 연결되어 있다'는 의미로 '가까이'가 적절하며, 영어의 'closely related'와 유사한 표현입니다.
그들은 서로의 생각에 ___ 다가가 이해하려 애썼다.
상대방의 생각에 '근접하게' 다가가 이해하려는 노력을 나타낼 때 '가까이'를 사용합니다.
이번 프로젝트는 성공에 한 발짝 더 ___ 갈 수 있는 기회였다.
성공에 '더욱 근접하게' 나아갔다는 의미로 '가까이'가 적절합니다.
그는 청중에게 ___ 다가가 소통하려 노력하는 진정한 리더였다.
청중에게 '친근하게, 직접적으로' 다가가 소통하려 한다는 의미로 '가까이'가 가장 적절합니다.
다음 중 '가까이'의 의미와 가장 가까운 표현은 무엇입니까?
'가까이'는 공간적으로 '바로 옆에' 또는 '인접한'이라는 의미를 가집니다. '멀리'는 반대되는 의미이며, '천천히'와 '자주'는 시간이나 빈도와 관련된 표현입니다.
다음 문장에서 '가까이'가 가장 자연스럽게 사용된 것은 무엇입니까?
'가까이 가지 않으려고 노력합니다'는 위험한 상황에 물리적으로 접근하지 않으려는 의미로, '가까이'가 적절하게 사용되었습니다. 다른 문장들은 '멀리', '크게', '가까이'의 사용이 어색하거나 문맥상 맞지 않습니다.
다음 대화에서 밑줄 친 부분과 바꿔 쓸 수 있는 단어는 무엇입니까? A: 너무 늦었으니 이제 집에 가야겠어요. B: 네, 저도 집이 <u>가까이</u> 있어서 금방 갈 수 있어요.
'가까이'는 공간적으로 '근처에' 있다는 의미로 사용될 수 있습니다. '멀리'는 반대 의미이고, '오래'와 '어렵게'는 시간이나 상태를 나타내는 부사입니다.
'가까이'는 물리적인 거리뿐만 아니라 심리적인 거리에도 사용될 수 있다.
'가까이'는 물리적인 거리(예: 은행이 가까이 있어요)뿐만 아니라, 심리적인 거리(예: 우리는 마음이 가까운 친구예요)를 나타낼 때도 사용될 수 있습니다.
비행기가 활주로에서 '가까이' 이륙했다는 문장은 옳지 않다.
비행기가 활주로에서 '가까이' 이륙했다는 것은 활주로에서 거의 즉시 또는 얼마 지나지 않아 이륙했다는 의미로, 문맥상 적절하게 사용될 수 있습니다.
'가까이 하다'는 '~와 친하게 지내다'라는 의미를 가질 수 있다.
'가까이 하다'는 단순히 물리적으로 가까이 가는 것뿐만 아니라, 사람과의 관계에서 '친하게 지내다', '교류하다'와 같은 의미로 사용되기도 합니다.
The speaker is talking about someone keeping their family 'close' to their heart.
The speaker asked the audience to come 'closer'.
They listened to an expert's opinion 'closely' or 'up close'.
Read this aloud:
그 문제에 대해 더 가까이 가서 이야기해 볼까요?
Focus: 가까이 가서 (gakka-i gaseo)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
저는 늘 고향을 마음 가까이 두고 있습니다.
Focus: 마음 가까이 (ma-eum gakka-i)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
어려울 때일수록 친구들을 가까이해야 합니다.
Focus: 가까이해야 합니다 (gakka-i haeya hamnida)
You said:
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She always kept her parents close to her heart.
The closer you get to success, the more humble you should be.
He sensed that danger was approaching.
Read this aloud:
실패를 두려워하지 말고 목표에 가까이 다가가세요.
Focus: 실패를, 두려워하지 말고, 목표에, 가까이 다가가세요
You said:
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Read this aloud:
그는 항상 진실에 가까운 이야기를 했다.
Focus: 그는, 항상, 진실에, 가까운, 이야기를 했다
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Read this aloud:
우리는 해결책에 가까이 왔다.
Focus: 우리는, 해결책에, 가까이 왔다
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가까이 vs. 가깝다
Remember, '가까이' is an adverb meaning 'near' or 'closely'. '가깝다' is an adjective meaning 'to be close' or 'to be near'. They are related but used differently in sentences.
Using 가까이 with verbs
You'll often see '가까이' used with verbs of motion, like '오다' (to come) or '가다' (to go), to indicate moving closer to something. For example, '이리 가까이 와요' means 'Come closer this way'.
Describing proximity
'가까이' can also describe something being physically nearby. For instance, '책을 가까이 두세요' means 'Keep the book nearby' or 'Keep the book close'.
Implies closeness in space
The primary use of '가까이' is to indicate a short distance or proximity in physical space. Think of it as the opposite of '멀리' (far).
Example
의자를 좀 더 가까이 당겨 앉으세요.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More general words
몇몇
A2An unspecified small number of; some or a few.
조금
A1A little/a bit
적게
A1A little / Few
약간
A2A little; slightly; somewhat.
많이
A1A lot/much
잠시
A2For a moment; briefly.
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2A little while ago, earlier.
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
