Key Facts
- Hangul: 다리; Revised Romanization: dari
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral. The word 다리 also means 'leg', so context decides.
Bridge in Korean: What Does 다리 Mean?
다리 is the everyday word for a bridge over a river or road. The spelling and sound are identical for the body part 'leg', so only context separates them. Words like 건너다 (cross) and 위 (on top) point to the bridge, while 아프다 (hurt) points to the leg. The register is neutral. A bridge made for people to cross a road on foot has its own word, 육교.
How Do You Pronounce 다리?
Two syllables: da-ri. The d is a soft, unaspirated sound, and the r is a quick tap between vowels, a little like the middle sound of the English word 'butter'. The word is read as spelled.
Example Sentences with 다리
다리를 건너요.
Darireul geonneoyo.
I cross the bridge.
다리를 건너요 pairs the bridge with 건너요 ('cross'). With 건너다, only the bridge reading makes sense.
한강에는 다리가 많아요.
Hangangeneun dariga manayo.
There are many bridges over the Han River.
한강에는 다리가 많아요 uses 한강에는 ('on the Han River') to say there are many bridges. 많아요 means 'there are many'.
다리 위에서 사진을 찍었어요.
Dari wieseo sajineul jjigeosseoyo.
I took a photo on the bridge.
다리 위에서 사진을 찍었어요 places the action on top of the bridge with 위에서, and 찍었어요 is the past of 'took a photo'.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Crossing, naming and locating a bridge are the three patterns below.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 다리를 건너다 | to cross a bridge |
| 한강 다리 | Han River bridge |
| 다리 밑 | under the bridge |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ Reading every 다리 as 'leg', or every one as 'bridge'
Correct: ✓ Use the context: 건너다 or 위 points to a bridge, and 아프다 points to a leg.
Why: The two meanings share the same spelling and pronunciation. 다리가 아파요 means 'my legs hurt', and it is not about a bridge.
다리 Compared with the Leg 다리 and 육교
One spelling covers two meanings, and a neighbouring word names a specific kind of bridge.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 다리 | bridge | A structure that crosses water or a road. |
| 다리 (leg) | leg | Same spelling and pronunciation; 다리가 아파요 means 'my legs hurt'. |
| 육교 | pedestrian overpass | A footbridge for crossing a road on foot, not a bridge over water. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
다리 is a native Korean word with no hanja form. Standard dictionaries list the bridge 다리 and the leg 다리 as two separate words that happen to sound the same.
Finding a Cafe across the River
A visitor asks a local resident for directions. The nearby river and the crossing make the bridge meaning of 다리 clear.
Visitor
저 카페에 어떻게 가요?
Jeo kapee eotteoke gayo?
How do I get to that cafe?
Resident
이 다리를 건너세요.
I darireul geonneoseyo.
Cross this bridge.
Visitor
다리를 건너면 바로 있어요?
Darireul geonneomyeon baro isseoyo?
Is it right there once I cross the bridge?
Resident
네. 오른쪽에 있어요.
Ne. Oreunjjoge isseoyo.
Yes. It is on the right.
건너세요 gives the visitor an instruction to cross. 건너면 means “if” or “when you cross”, so the visitor checks what happens after reaching the other side. The bridge takes 를 because it is the thing being crossed. 오른쪽에 then locates the cafe on the right; it is not another instruction to cross something.
How Do You Describe the Route around a Bridge?
다리 위 means “on the bridge”, while 다리 밑 means “under the bridge”. Add 에서 when an action takes place there, as in the existing photo example. The position word matters: a meeting point beneath a bridge and a viewpoint on its deck can be close on a map but require different walking routes.
다리를 건너다 describes moving across a bridge to the other side. 다리를 놓다 means building or putting a bridge in place. 놓다 literally concerns placing something, but in this combination the object is a structure spanning a gap. A news report about building infrastructure and a visitor asking how to cross it therefore use different verbs.
In directions, 다리 건너편 means “the other side of the bridge”. 건너편 points to the far side from the speaker's current viewpoint. This is useful when a cafe or bus stop is visible across the water: you can identify where it is before explaining the route to reach it.
Why Do Some Bridge Names End in 대교?
다리 is the ordinary word to use when asking about a bridge. On maps and signs, a bridge's proper name may end in 대교, as in 한강's 마포대교. The ending identifies a large bridge within its name. You can refer to the named structure as a 다리 in an everyday description without changing the place name on the map.
육교 is useful when the route crosses above a road on foot. A sign for 지하도 instead points to an underground passage. Both can help pedestrians get across an obstacle, but one route goes above it and the other below. The general English instruction “cross over” is not enough to distinguish them.
A Proverb That Uses a Bridge
돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라 literally advises tapping even a stone bridge before crossing. The practical meaning is to double-check something even when it seems safe or certain. A friend might use it when you are about to submit an application: check the details once more before sending it. The National Institute of Korean Language's learner dictionary illustrates this cautionary use of the proverb.
Words for Finding the Crossing
| Word | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 강 | river | The water a river bridge spans. |
| 건너편 | opposite side | The destination beyond the crossing. |
| 지하도 | underground passage | A route below ground instead of over a bridge. |
| 오른쪽 | right side | Locates a destination after you cross. |
The city vocabulary lesson puts crossings beside roads and other landmarks. These words help you follow a route even when you do not recognize the bridge's proper name.
Quick Self-Test
- In 이 다리를 건너세요, does 다리 mean leg or bridge?
- Which meeting point is underneath: 다리 위 or 다리 밑?
- Does the stone-bridge proverb only advise people about actual bridges?
Show answers
- Bridge. 건너세요 means “cross”.
- 다리 밑 is underneath.
- No. It advises checking even something that seems certain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say 'bridge' in Korean?
Say 다리 (dari).
Is the word for bridge the same as the word for leg?
They are spelled and pronounced the same, but dictionaries list them as two different words. Context tells you which one.
How do I say 'cross the bridge'?
Say 다리를 건너다.
What is a pedestrian overpass called?
육교, a bridge for crossing a road on foot.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: places city vocabulary.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 다리 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.