A2 noun 2 min read

구간

A section or a part of a longer path, time, or distance.

gugan
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 구간 to talk about a part of a road. If you walk from home to school, that is one 구간. It is just a word for a piece of a trip.

Use 구간 when you describe sections of a subway line or a highway. For example, 'The train is stopped in this 구간.' It helps people know exactly where something is happening.

At this level, you can use 구간 to discuss data or time. You might talk about a 'time 구간' (time interval) when analyzing work efficiency. It is a versatile word for segmenting any continuous flow.

In professional contexts, 구간 is essential for logistics and planning. You might use it to describe 'high-risk 구간' in a project or 'peak traffic 구간' during rush hour. It adds precision to your descriptions.

Advanced speakers use 구간 to discuss abstract intervals. You might talk about a 'developmental 구간' in a child's growth or a 'critical 구간' in an economic cycle. It allows for nuanced discussion of temporal or spatial boundaries.

At the mastery level, 구간 can be used in literary or highly technical contexts to define shifts in tone or narrative arcs. It functions as a structural anchor, helping to define the parameters of complex systems or long-form arguments.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Refers to a specific segment or interval.
  • Commonly used in traffic and project management.
  • Derived from Sino-Korean characters.
  • Not used for people.

When you look at a long highway or a marathon track, you don't see it as just one giant blob; you see it in segments. In Korean, we call these 구간. Think of it as a slice of a larger pie or a specific chapter in a long book.

You will hear this word constantly in transportation and sports. If a train is delayed, the announcer might say a specific 구간 (section) of the track is under construction. It is a very practical, everyday word that helps us organize our world into bite-sized pieces.

The word 구간 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning it is derived from Chinese characters. 구 (區) means 'area' or 'district,' and 간 (間) means 'space' or 'between.' Together, they literally define a 'spaced-out area' or a 'divided interval.'

Historically, this term was used to define administrative zones or distances between landmarks. Over centuries, it evolved from formal geography to common usage in modern infrastructure, like subway lines and highway exit markers.

You use 구간 whenever you need to talk about a part of a whole. It is very common in formal settings, like news reports about traffic or project management updates.

Common collocations include 구간별 (by section) or 공사 구간 (construction section). While it sounds slightly technical, it is used by everyone from taxi drivers to students talking about their study schedule.

1. 구간 반복: Repeating a specific section (common in language learning apps). 2. 구간 기록: Recording the time for a specific segment. 3. 전 구간: The entire stretch or whole distance. 4. 단거리 구간: A short-distance segment. 5. 위험 구간: A dangerous section of a road or area.

As a noun, 구간 is straightforward. It doesn't change form for pluralization in Korean. Pronounced as 'goo-gahn,' the stress is relatively even. It rhymes with words ending in '-an' like 'sun' or 'fun' in a loose phonetic sense.

You will often see it paired with particles like -에서 (from) or -까지 (to) to define the boundaries of the segment.

Fun Fact

It combines two characters that both relate to space and boundaries.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɡuːɡɑːn/

Sounds like 'goo-gahn'.

US /ɡuɡɑn/

Sounds like 'goo-gahn'.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing 'g' as 'j'.
  • Adding extra vowels.
  • Incorrect tone.

Rhymes With

안 간 반 산 단

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Easy to use

Speaking 2/5

Easy to say

Listening 2/5

Common in media

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

길 부분 시간

Learn Next

구역 단계 범위

Advanced

획정 구간성

Grammar to Know

Noun + -에서

구간에서

Noun + -까지

구간까지

Noun + -별

구간별

Examples by Level

1

이 구간은 짧아요.

This section is short.

Simple subject-predicate.

1

지하철 2호선 구간입니다.

2

공사 구간을 피하세요.

3

이 구간은 1km입니다.

4

다음 구간으로 가세요.

5

구간이 아주 길어요.

6

여기는 위험 구간입니다.

7

구간별로 확인하세요.

8

출발 구간을 정하세요.

1

데이터 구간을 분석합니다.

2

이 구간의 속도를 줄이세요.

3

전 구간이 개통되었습니다.

4

구간 반복 기능을 씁니다.

5

시간 구간을 설정하세요.

6

구간 기록이 단축되었습니다.

7

어려운 구간을 넘겼습니다.

8

구간별 요금이 다릅니다.

1

교통 정체 구간을 우회하세요.

2

이 구간은 공사가 진행 중입니다.

3

마라톤의 마지막 구간입니다.

4

구간별로 업무를 나눕니다.

5

위험 구간 표시가 있습니다.

6

전 구간 무료 운행입니다.

7

구간 설정이 잘못되었습니다.

8

가장 힘든 구간입니다.

1

성장 구간에 진입했습니다.

2

이 구간의 변화를 관찰하세요.

3

논리적 구간을 나누어 설명합니다.

4

역사적 구간을 구분합니다.

5

최적화 구간을 찾고 있습니다.

6

구간별 통계가 필요합니다.

7

이 구간은 예외입니다.

8

변동 구간이 큽니다.

1

시대적 구간을 획정하는 작업입니다.

2

심리적 구간을 넘어서야 합니다.

3

구간의 경계가 모호합니다.

4

구간적 접근이 유효합니다.

5

이 구간은 분석의 핵심입니다.

6

구간별 심층 연구가 진행됩니다.

7

구간성을 유지하는 것이 중요합니다.

8

구간적 특징을 파악하십시오.

Common Collocations

공사 구간
위험 구간
구간별
전 구간
구간 반복
정체 구간
단거리 구간
구간 기록
운행 구간
구간 설정

Idioms & Expressions

"구간을 나누다"

to divide into sections

일을 구간을 나누어 처리하자.

neutral

"구간을 넘기다"

to pass a section

어려운 구간을 넘겼다.

neutral

"구간을 좁히다"

to narrow the range

구간을 좁혀서 분석하세요.

formal

"구간을 정하다"

to set a section

공부할 구간을 정하자.

neutral

"구간에 진입하다"

to enter a section

이제 정체 구간에 진입했다.

formal

Easily Confused

구간 vs 구역

Both start with 구.

구간 is linear, 구역 is area.

도로 구간 vs 금연 구역.

구간 vs 부분

Both mean part.

부분 is general, 구간 is specific/path.

중요한 부분 vs 이 구간.

구간 vs 단계

Both imply parts.

단계 is for steps/process.

다음 단계 vs 이 구간.

구간 vs 범위

Both are boundaries.

범위 is scope.

범위를 넓히다.

Sentence Patterns

A1

이 구간은 [adjective]입니다.

이 구간은 위험합니다.

B1

[Location] 구간에서 [action]하세요.

공사 구간에서 서행하세요.

B2

[Time] 구간을 [verb]하세요.

시간 구간을 설정하세요.

B1

전 구간 [adverb]입니다.

전 구간 무료입니다.

B2

구간별로 [verb]하세요.

구간별로 확인하세요.

Word Family

Nouns

구역 zone
구간 section

Verbs

구분하다 to distinguish

Related

간격 interval

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

Academic Neutral Casual Slang

Common Mistakes

Using '구간' for a person. → Use '부분' or '사람'.
구간 is for distance/time/space, not people.
Confusing with '구역'. → 구역 is a zone/area, 구간 is a path/stretch.
Context matters.
Overusing in casual talk. → Use '쪽' or '데'.
구간 sounds a bit formal.
Pluralizing with -들. → 구간들 (rarely used).
Korean doesn't always need plural markers.
Using for abstract ideas. → Use '단계' or '과정'.
구간 is usually physical.

Tips

💡

When to use

Use it for roads and time intervals.

💡

Particles

Use with -에서 and -까지.

💡

Context

Think of subway maps.

💡

Did you know?

It's a very common word in traffic news.

💡

Don't use for people

People are not sections.

💡

Say it clearly

Goo-gahn.

🌍

Traffic

Listen to traffic reports.

💡

Visual

Imagine a ruler.

💡

Apps

Use language apps with '구간 반복'.

💡

Formal

Great for project updates.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Goo (Go) + Gahn (Gone) = The part of the road you have gone through.

Visual Association

A road with markers every kilometer.

Word Web

Road Time Distance Section

Challenge

Describe your commute using the word 구간.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Divided space

Cultural Context

None.

Similar to 'stretch' or 'segment'.

Used in many traffic reports on the radio.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • 구간별로 업무를 나누다
  • 구간 설정
  • 위험 구간 확인

Travel

  • 다음 구간
  • 전 구간 개통
  • 정체 구간

Language Study

  • 구간 반복
  • 구간 설정
  • 어려운 구간

Sports

  • 구간 기록
  • 마지막 구간
  • 단거리 구간

Conversation Starters

"오늘 운전할 때 정체 구간이 많았나요?"

"공부할 때 구간 반복 기능을 자주 쓰나요?"

"이 구간의 공사가 언제 끝날까요?"

"어떤 구간이 가장 힘들었나요?"

"구간별로 계획을 세우는 편인가요?"

Journal Prompts

Describe your commute to school or work using the word 구간.

Write about a time you had to repeat a section of a task.

Explain why dividing work into sections is helpful.

Describe a dangerous section of a road you know.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

Yes, it can refer to a time interval.

No, use 구역 instead.

It is neutral but common in formal reports.

No, Korean doesn't use plural markers here.

구간 is linear, 구역 is area-based.

Yes, for a section of a book.

No, it is Sino-Korean.

이 구간.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

이 ___은 너무 길어요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 구간

구간 refers to a path or section.

multiple choice A2

Which word means 'section'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 구간

구간 is the correct term.

true false B1

구간 is used for people.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is for space or time.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Correct definitions.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

이 구간은 매우 길어요.

Score: /5

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