What does 걸음 mean?
걸음 (geol-eum) means: Step / Pace.
Speakers use this to describe the act of walking or moving forward, as well as to count physical steps or distances. It frequently combines with verbs of motion such as stopping, hurrying, or taking a step forward. It also appears in everyday expressions about visiting someone's home, whether visits are frequent or infrequent.
Can carry a sense of deliberate progression or physical effort depending on whether it is paired with verbs of beginning or hastening.
Can carry a sense of deliberate progression or physical effort depending on whether it is paired with verbs of beginning or hastening.
Other sides of 걸음
◆ progress — Speakers use this to describe taking an initiative, launching a project, or embarking on a personal journey. It appears in contexts involving preparation, resolution, and moving toward a future objective. It pairs with modifiers like 새로운 and combines with verbs such as 시작하다, 준비하다, and 내딛다.
Using this word can make an abstract milestone or career move feel tangible and deliberate, as if each step of progress is a physical movement forward.
◆ matching_pace — Speakers use this term in combination with verbs like 앞서서 and movements denoting progression to describe how one person's pace relates to another's. It appears when discussing someone staying ahead or maintaining relative positioning during physical movement like climbing a mountain. The expression functions within both descriptive narratives and structured conversations about movement and tracking distance.
When used in relation to someone staying slightly ahead, it can evoke a sense of guidance, leadership, or the mindful adjustment of one person's speed to accommodate or follow another.
Using this word can make an abstract milestone or career move feel tangible and deliberate, as if each step of progress is a physical movement forward.
◆ matching_pace — Speakers use this term in combination with verbs like 앞서서 and movements denoting progression to describe how one person's pace relates to another's. It appears when discussing someone staying ahead or maintaining relative positioning during physical movement like climbing a mountain. The expression functions within both descriptive narratives and structured conversations about movement and tracking distance.
When used in relation to someone staying slightly ahead, it can evoke a sense of guidance, leadership, or the mindful adjustment of one person's speed to accommodate or follow another.
🎙️ 걸음은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [거름]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 지수는 전화를 받더니 급한 일이 생겼다며 갑자기 빠른 걸음으로 걷기 시작했다.
ji-su-neun jeon-hwa-reul bat-deon-i geup-han il-i saeng-g-eot-da-myeo gap-ja-gi ppa-reun geol-eum-u-ro geot-gi si-jak-hae-tta.
Jisoo answered the phone, said something urgent came up, and suddenly started walking with a fast step.
💡 Shows the word used with a modifier describing walking speed. - 대장은 언제나 우리보다 두어 걸음 앞서서 산을 올랐다.
dae-jang-eun eon-je-na u-ri-bo-da du-eo geol-eum ap-seo-seo san-eul ol-rat-da.
The leader always climbed the mountain a couple of steps ahead of us.
💡 Shows the word used as a unit of distance. - 이 별장은 스무 걸음쯤 떨어진 곳에 바다가 있어 경치가 무척 좋다.
i byeol-jang-eun seu-mu geol-eum-jjeum tteo-jin got-e ba-da-ga isseo gyeong-chi-ga mu-cheok jot-da.
This villa has the sea about twenty steps away, so the scenery is very nice.
💡 Shows the word used to measure physical proximity.