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우회 vs 직진: Nuances in Choosing Your Route

우회 (u-hoe, uhoe) · 직진 (jik-jin, jikjin)

우회 means taking a detour or indirect route, while 직진 means going straight ahead without deviation.

Comparison of Korean words 우회 and 직진 showing difference between detour and going straight

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

우회(u-hoe, uhoe)

Taking a route that detours instead of going directly

When to use

avoiding obstacles, road construction, avoiding traffic congestion

The nuance

Use 우회 when you cannot take the direct path due to obstacles or conditions. It usually refers to a detour or an alternate route.

직진(jik-jin, jikjin)

Going straight ahead without changing direction

When to use

maintaining direction at intersections, fastest route, basic direction in navigation

The nuance

Use 직진 when going straight ahead at intersections or traffic lights without turning. It means the most direct path.

Real-world examples

  • 우회하는 길로 가야 해요.

    u-hoe-ha-neun gil-ro ga-ya hae-yo., u hoe ha neun gil ro ga ya hae yo.

    Use 우회 when you need to take a detour due to obstacles or construction.

  • 직진하는 길로 가야 해요.

    jik-jin-ha-neun gil-ro ga-ya hae-yo., jik jin ha neun gil ro ga ya hae yo.

    Use 직진 when you must go straight ahead.

  • 우회하지 말고 직진하세요.

    u-hoe-ha-ji mal-go jik-jin-ha-se-yo., u hoe ha ji mal go jik jin ha se yo.

    Clear distinction: don't detour, go straight.

  • 직진하는 길로 우회하세요.

    jik-jin-ha-neun gil-ro u-hoe-ha-se-yo., jik jin ha neun gil ro u hoe ha se yo.

    직진 and 우회 are opposite concepts and cannot be combined.

  • 도로 공사 때문에 직진할 수 없어요.

    do-ro gong-sa ttae-mun-e jik-jin-hal su eop-eo-yo., do ro gong sa ttae mun e jik jin hal su eop eo yo.

    Natural sentence explaining the inability to go straight.

  • 교통 체증 때문에 직진했어요.

    gyo-tong che-jeung ttae-mun-e jik-jin-haess-eo-yo., gyo tong che jeung ttae mun e jik jin haess eo yo.

    To avoid traffic congestion, you should detour (우회), not go straight.

  • 우회전하지 말고 직진하세요.

    u-hoe-jeon-ha-ji mal-go jik-jin-ha-se-yo., u hoe jeon ha ji mal go jik jin ha se yo.

    Turning right (우회전) differs from going straight (직진).

  • 우회로 직진하세요.

    u-hoe-ro jik-jin-ha-se-yo., u hoe ro jik jin ha se yo.

    우회로 means detour route, incompatible with 직진.

Quick quiz

  1. Which word to use when you must take a detour due to construction?

    공사 때문에 길을 돌아가야 할 때 어떤 단어를 써야 할까요?(gong-sattae-mun-egil-euldol-a-ga-yahalttaeeo-tteondan-eo-reulsseo-yahal-kka-yo?, gongsattaemunegileuldolagayahalttaeeotteondaneoreulsseoyahalkkayo?)

  2. Which word is used when going straight without turning at an intersection?

    교차로에서 방향을 바꾸지 않고 곧장 갈 때 쓰는 단어는?(gyo-cha-ro-e-seobang-hyang-eulba-kku-jian-gogot-janggalttaesseu-neundan-eo-neun?, gyocharoeseobanghyangeulbakkujiangogotjanggalttaesseuneundaneoneun?)

  3. What do you call taking another route to avoid traffic congestion?

    교통 체증을 피하려고 다른 길로 가는 것을 무엇이라 하나요?(gyo-tongche-jeung-eulpi-ha-ryeo-goda-reungil-roga-neungeos-eulmu-eos-i-raha-na-yo?, gyotongchejeungeulpiharyeogodareungilroganeungeoseulmueosirahanayo?)

More comparisons to explore

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