Key Facts
- Hangul: 거리; Revised Romanization: geori
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean (the distance word is Sino-Korean 距離)
- Register: neutral, used in speech and writing; 길 is the common word for road or way
Street in Korean: What Does 거리 Mean?
거리 means a street, especially a street as a place where people walk, shop and gather, as in 거리 공연 (street performance) and 거리를 걷다 (to walk the street). A separate word with the same spelling means distance, as in 먼 거리 (a long distance).
How Do You Pronounce 거리?
Two syllables, geo and ri. The first vowel eo is an open, unrounded sound, close to the "u" in "fun". The ㄹ in the second syllable is a single tap of the tongue, not an English r.
Example Sentences with 거리
거리에 사람이 많아요.
Georie sarami manayo.
There are many people on the street.
에 marks the location, and 사람이 많아요 reports many people. The sentence paints a busy scene.
저는 서울 거리를 걸어요.
Jeoneun Seoul georireul georeoyo.
I walk the streets of Seoul.
Seoul is a proper noun and 거리를 is the object. 걸어요 is the verb to walk, so this is a sentence for describing a stroll.
밤에는 거리가 조용해요.
Bameneun georiga joyonghaeyo.
The street is quiet at night.
밤에는 means "at night", with 는 contrasting night with daytime. 조용해요 means is quiet. The subject 거리가 gets the 가 marker.
Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 거리를 걷다 | to walk the street |
| 거리 공연 | street performance |
| 먼 거리 | long distance |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners mix up 거리 "street" and 거리 "distance" (距離), which share one spelling.
Wrong: reading 먼 거리 as "a far street".
Correct: 먼 거리 means a long distance. The words around 거리 decide: 걷다 and 공연 point to a street, while 먼 points to distance.
거리 Compared with 길 and 도로
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 거리 | street | This page's word |
| 길 | road / way | 길 is the road or path you travel along; 거리 is a street as a public space, like a shopping street. |
| 도로 | road (roadway) | 도로 is a formal word for a vehicle road. |
Choosing Where to Walk after Dinner
Two visitors are looking for a quieter place to walk. They use polite conversation rather than formal travel-announcement language.
Hana
이 거리는 사람이 많네요.
I georineun sarami manneyo.
This street is crowded.
Sam
조용한 거리로 갈까요?
Joyonghan georiro galkkayo?
Shall we go to a quiet street?
Hana
좋아요. 저쪽으로 가요.
Joayo. Jeojjogeuro gayo.
Good. Let’s go that way.
Sam
저기 골목은 어때요?
Jeogi golmogeun eottaeyo?
How about that alley over there?
많네요 expresses a reaction to the crowd the speaker notices. 조용한 describes a quiet street, and 거리로 marks the destination they propose moving toward. 저쪽 points to “that direction”. 골목 is a smaller lane or alley, so Sam narrows the suggestion from a general street scene to a particular kind of route.
Useful Phrases for Describing a Street Scene
번화한 거리 means a bustling street, often with shops, businesses, and many people. 한적한 거리 means a quiet, uncrowded street. 한적한 focuses on the lack of activity or people, while 조용한 can focus more directly on quietness. These descriptions help you say what sort of place you want to walk through.
거리 공연 is a street performance. 거리 names the public setting and 공연 names the activity. A performer can sing, play an instrument, or do another act; the expression does not identify a particular kind of music. In a city-event description, look for the performance details after recognising the location phrase.
거리를 걷다 treats the street as the space you walk along. 거리를 건너다 means to cross the street, moving from one side to the other. The object 거리를 stays the same, but the verb changes the direction of travel. For a marked pedestrian crossing, the useful noun is 횡단보도.
How Can You Recognise the Distance Word?
거리 in 가까운 거리 means a short or nearby distance; 먼 거리 means a long distance. The same spelling also appears in 거리 두기, “keeping a distance”. This can concern physical space or a less close relationship, depending on the conversation. It does not mean putting a street somewhere.
안전거리 means a safe distance, a word you may see in driving or safety instructions. Here 거리 measures the space between people or things. Street expressions instead describe what happens in a public place: a performance, crowds, or a walk. Read the whole phrase rather than assigning one English translation to every occurrence.
Where Will You See 거리 around a City?
Tourist maps and local-event posters may use 먹거리 when describing an area with food stalls or restaurants. 먹거리 means food or things to eat. Although the ending looks like 거리 “street”, 먹거리 as a whole is a word for food. A 먹거리 description therefore does not automatically name a road.
거리 is useful for the atmosphere of an area, but a postal address may use a road name ending in 로 or 길. If you need a delivery address or an exact meeting point, copy the actual address rather than translating the English word “street” as 거리. A scenic description and an address serve different purposes.
The noun 거리 is neutral in conversation and writing. In the dialogue, the polite endings make the suggestions friendly and suitable for people who do not use casual speech together.
Words to Use Alongside 거리
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 골목 | alley; lane | A narrow route between buildings. |
| 횡단보도 | pedestrian crossing | Where pedestrians cross a road. |
| 보도 | sidewalk; pavement | The part intended for walking. |
| 교차로 | intersection | A point where roads meet. |
The city vocabulary lesson gives the surrounding words for describing a walk or asking directions.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 거리를 건너다 mean to walk along the street?
- Which meaning of 거리 appears in 안전거리?
- Does 먹거리 mean a street?
Show answers
- No. It means to cross from one side to the other.
- Distance: a safe distance between people or things.
- No. 먹거리 means food or things to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "street" in Korean?
Say 거리 (geori), especially for a street as a public space, as in 거리에 사람이 많아요 (There are many people on the street). For the route you take somewhere, use 길.
What is the difference between 거리 and 길?
길 is the road or path you travel along. 거리 is a street as a public space, such as a shopping street.
Does 거리 also mean distance?
Yes, but as a separate word with the same spelling, the Sino-Korean 距離. 먼 거리 means a long distance. Context, such as 먼 before it, tells you which word you are reading.
What is 도로?
도로 is a formal word for a road built for vehicles, the kind you see in traffic reports and on road signs. For a street where people walk, 거리 is the better fit.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the Around the City page puts 거리 beside its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 거리 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for road: see road.