KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean phrases › Getting around & directions › 길을 잃어버린 것 같아요
“I think I’m lost” in Korean: 길을 잃어버린 것 같아요
길을 잃어버린 것 같아요
gireul ileobeorin geot gatayo
Meaning
I think I’m lost.
Usage note
길을 잃다 means “to lose one’s way”, and -아/어 버리다 adds “ended up ...ing”. Softening with -(으)ㄴ 것 같아요 (“I think”) is natural spoken Korean.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
How to pronounce it
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 길을 | ||
| 길 | ㄱ+ㅣ+ㄹ | [기] gi |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [를] reul |
| 잃어버린 | ||
| 잃 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅀ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [러] reo |
| 버 | ㅂ+ㅓ | beo |
| 린 | ㄹ+ㅣ+ㄴ | rin |
| 것 | ㄱ+ㅓ+ㅅ | [걷] geot |
| 같아요 | ||
| 같 | ㄱ+ㅏ+ㅌ | [가] ga |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | [타] ta |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 길을 → [기를]
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 잃어 → [이러]
- Final-sound reduction: every final consonant is pronounced as one of seven sounds — ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ or ㅇ. 것 → [걷]
Speech style
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 길 | noun | road, way | TOPIK level 1 |
| 잃다 | verb | to lose | TOPIK level 4 |
Phrases that use the same word
Phrases with “길을”
- 길을 잃어버렸어요I’m lost. (I lost my way.)
- 길을 잃었어요I’m lost
- 길을 잘못 들어서 한참 돌아왔어요I took a wrong turn and went a long way around
Phrases with “같아요”
- 병원에 가야 할 것 같아요I think I need to go to the hospital
- 마음 한구석이 짠해서 눈물이 날 것 같아요Something tugs at my heart and I’m close to tears
- 오늘 늦을 것 같아요I think I’ll be late today
- 길이 막혀서 늦을 것 같아요Traffic is heavy, so I think I’ll be late
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “길을 잃어버린 것 같아요” mean?
Show the answer
Answer: I think I’m lost
Question 2 How do you say “I think I’m lost” in Korean?
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Answer: 길을 잃어버린 것 같아요 gireul ileobeorin geot gatayo
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameMore phrases for this situation
- 이 버스가 시청에 가나요?Does this bus go to City Hall
- 어디서 갈아타야 해요?Where do I have to transfer
- 걸어서 얼마나 걸려요?How long does it take on foot
- 지하철 막차가 몇 시예요?What time is the last subway train
- 이 근처에 주차할 곳이 있을까요?Is there somewhere to park near here
- 환승 할인이 되나요?Is there a transfer discount
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