길을 잃었어요I'm Lost: Directions and Problem-Solving
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- State that you are lost or confused about a location, using -길을 잃다 and related expressions.
- Ask a stranger for help politely, using softened openers such as 저기요 and 실례합니다.
- Ask for and understand detailed directions using landmarks, turns, and distance expressions.
- Use sequence connectors to follow multi-step directions, such as -아/어서 in its sequential sense and -고 나서.
- Describe the location of a place relative to a landmark using expanded location language (근처, 맞은편, 건너편, 사거리).
- Confirm and repeat back directions to check understanding.
- Read and listen to short exchanges about being lost and receiving directions.
- Write a short message explaining that you got lost and describing how you eventually found the place.
Communication Scenario
라일라's bank account is open and her package is on its way home, but her next errand does not go as smoothly. She has arranged to meet a classmate at a small bookstore she has never visited, and after leaving the subway station she quickly realizes she has no idea which direction to walk. This chapter gives 라일라 the language to explain that she is lost, ask a stranger for help without sounding abrupt, follow directions that involve landmarks and turns, and confirm that she has understood correctly before setting off again.
- This chapter introduces problem-description language (길을 잃다 and related expressions), softened openers for approaching strangers, and detailed direction-giving language built from landmarks, turns, and distance.
- Location particles 에/에서, the request pattern -아/어 주세요, and everyday polite speech level continue from Chapters 1 through 8.
- Assessment in this chapter focuses on describing a problem, asking for directions, and confirming understanding clearly and politely.
Core Vocabulary
The vocabulary below supports describing a problem, asking for help, and following directions. Approximately 30–50 productive items are expected for this chapter; the table shows a representative core set.
| Korean | Meaning | Use / Pattern | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 길을 잃다 | to get lost | 길을 잃었어요. | irregular-free stem; past 잃었어요 |
| 저기요 | excuse me (to get attention) | 저기요, 여쭤볼 게 있는데요. | formulaic opener |
| 실례합니다 | excuse me (more formal) | 실례합니다, 길 좀 물어봐도 돼요? | formulaic, Sino-Korean |
| 여쭤보다 | to ask (humble) | 뭐 좀 여쭤봐도 돼요? | humble verb, formulaic frame |
| 길을 물어보다 | to ask for directions | 지나가는 사람한테 길을 물어봤어요. | recycled 물어보다 |
| 똑바로 가다 | to go straight | 이 길로 똑바로 가세요. | action verb phrase |
| 왼쪽 / 오른쪽 | left / right | 오른쪽으로 가세요. | direction nouns + 으로 |
| 돌다 | to turn | 왼쪽으로 도세요. | ㄹ stem; 돌아요 |
| 건너다 | to cross | 길을 건너세요. | action verb |
| 횡단보도 | crosswalk | 횡단보도에서 건너세요. | Sino-Korean compound |
| 사거리 | intersection | 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가세요. | native + Sino compound |
| 신호등 | traffic light | 신호등 앞에서 기다리세요. | Sino-Korean compound |
| 모퉁이 | corner | 모퉁이를 돌면 있어요. | native Korean |
| 근처 | vicinity, nearby | 이 근처에 있어요. | Sino-Korean, location noun |
| 맞은편 / 건너편 | across from, opposite | 은행 맞은편에 있어요. | location noun + 에 |
| 쭉 | straight ahead, continuously | 쭉 가세요. | adverb, recycled sense |
| 얼마나 걸리다 | how long does it take | 여기서 얼마나 걸려요? | recycled 걸리다 pattern |
| 걸어서 / 걸어가다 | on foot / to walk (there) | 걸어서 십 분쯤 걸려요. | recycled 걷다 ㄷ irregular |
| 헤매다 | to wander around (lost) | 한 시간 동안 헤맸어요. | action verb |
| 지도 | map | 지도를 봐요. | Sino-Korean |
| 위치 | location, position | 정확한 위치를 몰라요. | Sino-Korean |
| 표지판 | sign, signpost | 표지판을 봤어요. | Sino-Korean compound |
| 지나가는 사람 | passerby | 지나가는 사람한테 물어봤어요. | noun phrase, recycled -는 modifier |
| 낯설다 | to be unfamiliar | 이 동네가 낯설어요. | ㄹ irregular descriptive verb |
| 확인하다 | to confirm, check | 다시 한번 확인할게요. | Sino-Korean, action verb |
| 다시 한번 | one more time | 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요. | fixed phrase |
| 그러니까 | so, in other words | 그러니까 오른쪽으로 가면 돼요? | discourse marker, formulaic confirmation frame |
| -고 나서 | after doing… | 건너고 나서 왼쪽으로 가세요. | sequence connector |
| -(으)면 되다 | it's fine if you… / all you have to do is… | 여기서 쭉 가면 돼요. | confirmation/sufficiency pattern |
Receptive support in this chapter includes a small, clearly marked set of additional location nouns encountered in the reading and listening passages, such as 골목 (alley) and 육교 (pedestrian overpass). These items are not required for independent production.
Pronunciation Focus
This chapter reinforces liaison across particle boundaries in location phrases, such as 횡단보도에서 and 신호등 앞에서, where a final consonant links smoothly to the following vowel-initial particle. It also reviews the batchim behavior of 잃다 in its past form. It introduces no new sound-change rule.
잃다 has a double batchim (ㅀ) that simplifies before a consonant-initial ending but keeps its ㅎ quality before a vowel-initial ending, giving the past form 잃었어요 a smooth, clearly aspirated glide from the stem into the ending. Say the phrase slowly at first — 길을 잃었어요 — keeping the object particle 을 firmly attached to 길 before moving to the verb.
길을 잃었어요 · 횡단보도에서 건너세요 · 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가세요
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter activates two new productive systems: softened openers and problem-description language for approaching a stranger, and detailed direction-giving language built from sequence connectors, turn/location vocabulary, and a confirmation pattern. Requests, location particles, and everyday polite speech level continue from earlier chapters.
New: describing a problem and asking for help
To tell someone you are lost, use 길을 잃었어요. To approach a stranger politely before asking a question, open with 저기요 or the more formal 실례합니다, then use 여쭤봐도 돼요? or a similar softened frame before your actual question.
- 저기요, 길을 잃었는데 좀 여쭤봐도 돼요? Excuse me, I'm lost — could I ask you something? 저기요 + 길을 잃다 (formulaic -는데 frame, glossed) + 여쭤봐도 돼요?
- 실례합니다. 이 근처에 서점이 있어요? Excuse me. Is there a bookstore near here? 실례합니다 + 근처 + 있어요?
The connector -는데 appears above only as a glossed, formulaic frame around 저기요 and 길을 잃다. It is not an independent productive target of this chapter and will be developed in a later chapter.
New: giving detailed directions with sequence and turns
Direction-giving strings together short action phrases in order. Use -고 나서 ("after doing...") to link one direction step clearly to the next, and use 왼쪽/오른쪽 with 으로 to say which way to turn.
| Pattern | Example | Gloss |
|---|---|---|
| 이 길로 쭉 가세요. | 사거리까지 이 길로 쭉 가세요. | Go straight along this road to the intersection. |
| -고 나서 [action] | 횡단보도를 건너고 나서 오른쪽으로 도세요. | After crossing the crosswalk, turn right. |
| [landmark] 맞은편/근처에 있다 | 서점은 은행 맞은편에 있어요. | The bookstore is across from the bank. |
[action]-고 나서 + [next action]
-고 나서 attaches directly to a verb stem and marks that the first action is completed before the second begins, making it useful for ordering multi-step directions.
신호등에서 왼쪽으로 돌고 나서 쭉 가세요.
Turn left at the traffic light, and then go straight.
New: confirming directions with 그러니까 and -(으)면 되다
To check that you understood correctly, restate the directions using 그러니까 ("so...") followed by a summary, and confirm sufficiency with -(으)면 되다 ("it's fine if...").
- 그러니까 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가면 돼요? So, all I have to do is turn right at the intersection? 그러니까 + 가다 + -(으)면 되다
- 네, 그렇게 하시면 돼요. Yes, that's right, just do that. recognition-only 시- honorific in staff/stranger speech, glossed
Both openers get a stranger's attention politely, but 저기요 is common and casual-neutral in everyday settings such as the street or a shop, while 실례합니다 is more formal and often preferred when approaching someone who looks busy, elderly, or in a more formal context. Either is acceptable for asking a passerby for directions; this chapter treats them as interchangeable openers.
Review: location particles 에/에서 and -(으)로
- 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가세요. Turn right at the intersection. 에서 (action location) + 으로 (direction), recycled from earlier chapters
- 서점은 은행 근처에 있어요. The bookstore is near the bank. 에 (existence location), recycled
Review: polite requests with -아/어 주세요
- 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요. Please say that one more time. recycled from Chapters 6-8
Practice — Building problem and direction sentences
- Open politely and say that you are lost.
- Ask whether a place is nearby using 근처 or 맞은편.
- Give one direction using -고 나서 to link two steps.
- Confirm the directions using 그러니까 and -(으)면 되다.
Model Dialogue
Setting: 라일라 leaves the subway station and stops a passerby to ask for directions to a bookstore.
내용 이해 — Comprehension questions:
- Why does 라일라 stop the passerby?
- What are the two steps of directions the passerby gives?
- Where exactly is the bookstore located?
- How long does it take to walk there?
Guided Practice
Complete each task using vocabulary and patterns from this chapter and earlier chapters.
- Write a sentence saying that you are lost, using 길을 잃다.
- Write a sentence asking whether a place is nearby, using 근처 or 맞은편.
- Write a two-step direction sentence using -고 나서.
- Write a sentence confirming directions using 그러니까 and -(으)면 되다.
- Write a sentence asking how long it takes on foot, using 얼마나 걸려요?
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a language partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud. Listen twice without reading, then complete the tasks below.
지나가는 사람한테 물어봤어요
민수는 친구 집을 찾고 있었어요. 그런데 이 동네가 낯설어서 길을 잃었어요. 그래서 지나가는 사람한테 길을 물어봤어요. 그 사람은 모퉁이를 돌고 나서 쭉 가라고 했어요. 그리고 신호등 앞에서 왼쪽으로 가면 친구 집이 보인다고 했어요. 민수는 걸어서 십 분쯤 걸렸어요. 드디어 친구 집을 찾았어요.
듣기 과제 — Listening task: Listen and answer in English.
| 질문 | 답 |
|---|---|
| Why did 민수 get lost? | ______ |
| What two direction steps did the passerby give? | ______ |
| How long did it take 민수 to walk there? | ______ |
받아쓰기 — Dictation: Your partner or instructor reads two sentences from the passage above, once each at natural speed. Write what you hear in Hangeul, then check your spacing, particles, and connector spelling.
- (the sentence describing why 민수 got lost)
- (the sentence describing how long the walk took)
Reading Practice
Below is a short message that 라일라 sent to her classmate after finding the bookstore. Read it and answer the questions below. No romanization is provided.
드디어 찾았어요
지영아, 미안해! 오늘 서점을 찾다가 길을 잃었어. 이 동네가 처음이라서 좀 낯설었어. 그래서 지나가는 사람한테 길을 물어봤어. 그 사람이 사거리까지 가라고 했어. 그리고 횡단보도를 건너고 나서 오른쪽으로 가라고 했어. 그렇게 하니까 은행이 보였고, 서점은 그 은행 맞은편에 있었어. 걸어서 오 분쯤 걸렸어. 다음에는 지도를 미리 볼게!
This passage recycles polite everyday vocabulary and productively uses 길을 잃다, -고 나서, and 근처/맞은편 location language. Only vocabulary and grammar activated through Chapter 9 are used. Note: this message is addressed to a close friend, so it uses casual intimate endings such as -아/-어 rather than -아요/어요; learners should recognize this register shift receptively but are not expected to produce casual/intimate endings productively at this stage. The connector -다가 and the quotative -라고 하다 appear only as glossed, formulaic frames and are not productive targets of this chapter.
내용 이해 — Comprehension questions:
- Why did 라일라 get lost?
- What directions did the passerby give her?
- Where exactly did she find the bookstore, and how long did the walk take?
Writing Workshop
This chapter's writing task is a short message explaining that you got lost and describing how you found the place: 길을 잃었던 이야기 ("A Story About Getting Lost").
- Open with a greeting or apology. Address the reader and acknowledge being late or delayed if relevant.
- State the problem. Say that you got lost, using 길을 잃다.
- Explain why. Briefly say why the area was unfamiliar or confusing.
- Describe asking for help. Say that you asked a passerby for directions.
- Give the directions you received. Use -고 나서 to link at least two direction steps.
- Say where you ended up. Use 근처 or 맞은편 to describe the final location.
- Close politely. Add a closing comment or plan for next time.
- Revise. Check your draft against the editing checklist below.
체크리스트 — Editing checklist:
- The message clearly states that the writer got lost.
- At least one direction sentence uses -고 나서 correctly.
- At least one location sentence uses 근처 or 맞은편 correctly.
- Speech level is consistent everyday polite -아요/어요 throughout (unless intentionally writing to a close friend, in which case casual endings should be used consistently).
- Only Hangeul is used; no romanization appears in the final draft.
- No grammar, particle, or vocabulary item beyond Chapter 9 appears productively in the text.
Speaking Practice
통제 연습 — Controlled practice: 길 묻고 답하기
Practice asking for directions to three different places aloud, opening each time with 저기요 or 실례합니다, until the pattern feels automatic.
의사소통 과제 — Communicative task: 길을 잃었어요
With a partner, role-play the Model Dialogue situation for a different destination. One partner plays someone who is lost and states the problem; the other plays a passerby who gives directions using -고 나서 and confirms with 그러니까.
혼자 하는 연습 — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing a real or imagined time you got lost, including how you asked for help, the directions you were given, and where you ended up.
Culture and Communication
In South Korea, approaching a stranger on the street to ask for directions is common and generally welcomed, especially when the request is short and polite. Opening with 저기요 or 실례합니다 signals that the interaction will be brief, and thanking the person clearly at the end, as 라일라 does in the Model Dialogue, is expected and appreciated.
Directions in South Korea are often given using nearby landmarks, such as banks, subway exits, or well-known stores, rather than street names alone, since many smaller streets are not commonly referred to by name in everyday speech. Learning to describe and recognize landmarks such as 사거리, 신호등, and 횡단보도 is often more useful for everyday navigation than memorizing formal addresses.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: 사거리에 오른쪽으로 가세요. using 에 where an action location is intended.
Correction: Use 에서 for the location where an action such as turning happens: 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가세요. Reserve 에 for existence or destination, as in 서점은 은행 근처에 있어요.
Error: Asking a direct question, such as 서점이 어디예요?, without any opener, which can sound abrupt to a stranger.
Correction: Begin with 저기요 or 실례합니다 before the question, as in 저기요, 서점이 어디예요?
Error: 횡단보도 건너고 나서 without a clear object particle, leaving the sentence unclear about what is being crossed.
Correction: Keep the object particle attached to the noun before the verb stem: 횡단보도를 건너고 나서 오른쪽으로 도세요.
Chapter Review
Section A — 어휘 (Vocabulary)
1. List three direction-related words and two location-related words from this chapter.
Section B — 문법 (Grammar)
1. Combine two actions into one sentence using -고 나서.
2. Correct the error: 사거리에 오른쪽으로 가세요.
Section C — 독해 이해 (Reading Comprehension)
1. According to 라일라's message, why did she get lost, and where did she eventually find the bookstore?
Section D — 쓰기 (Writing)
1. Write your "got lost" message following the Writing Workshop steps and checklist.
Section E — 말하기 (Speaking)
1. Role-play or record asking for and confirming directions to a place, including at least one -고 나서 sentence.
누적 복습 — Cumulative review
This chapter recycles everyday polite speech level, location particles 에/에서, the request pattern -아/어 주세요, and softened requests from earlier chapters, while adding problem-description language, softened openers, and sequential direction-giving with -고 나서. If any earlier system still feels uncertain, review the relevant chapter before continuing.
Practical Performance Task
수행 과제
길 찾기 — Getting Directions
You will describe a problem, ask a stranger for help, receive and confirm directions, and state the final location, in both written and spoken form.
- Written: Write your "got lost" message from the Writing Workshop.
- Spoken: Present the same content aloud as a street interaction, as in the Model Dialogue, including at least one -고 나서 direction and one confirmation with 그러니까.
- Reflection: Write one English sentence identifying which part of this chapter — vocabulary, problem description, direction-giving, or confirmation language — you feel most confident using.
| Criterion | What is evaluated |
|---|---|
| Problem description | Being lost or confused is clearly stated using 길을 잃다 |
| Softened opener | 저기요 or 실례합니다 is used before the request |
| Sequential directions | At least one -고 나서 sentence links two direction steps correctly |
| Location description | At least one 근처 or 맞은편 sentence describes the final location correctly |
| Confirmation | At least one 그러니까 / -(으)면 되다 confirmation is used correctly |
| Speech-level consistency | Everyday polite -아요/어요 maintained throughout (unless writing to a close friend) |
| Hangeul and spacing accuracy | Accurate spelling and level-appropriate spacing throughout, no romanization |
| Scope discipline | No structures used productively beyond this chapter and earlier chapters |
Answer Key
Grammar Practice — Building Problem and Direction Sentences
1. Sample answer: 길을 잃었어요.
2. Sample answer: 이 근처에 서점이 있어요?
3. Sample answer: 횡단보도를 건너고 나서 오른쪽으로 도세요.
4. Sample answer: 그러니까 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가면 돼요?
5. Sample answer: 여기서 걸어서 얼마나 걸려요?
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- 라일라 stops the passerby because she is lost and looking for a bookstore.
- The passerby says to go straight to the intersection, then cross the crosswalk and turn right.
- The bookstore is located across from the bank.
- It takes about five minutes on foot.
Listening comprehension
- 민수 got lost because the neighborhood was unfamiliar to him.
- The passerby said to turn the corner and go straight, then turn left at the traffic light.
- It took about ten minutes on foot.
Reading comprehension
- 라일라 got lost because the neighborhood was new and unfamiliar to her.
- The passerby told her to go to the intersection, cross the crosswalk, and then turn right.
- She found the bookstore across from a bank, and the walk took about five minutes.
Chapter Review — Section B
1. Sample answer: 숙제를 끝내고 나서 텔레비전을 봤어요.
2. Correction: 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 가세요.
Section D — Sample "got lost" message
안녕하세요. 오늘 서점을 찾다가 길을 잃었어요. 이 동네가 처음이라서 낯설었어요. 그래서 지나가는 사람한테 길을 물어봤어요. 사거리까지 가고 나서 횡단보도를 건너고 오른쪽으로 가라고 했어요. 서점은 은행 맞은편에 있었어요. 걸어서 오 분쯤 걸렸어요. 다음에는 지도를 미리 볼게요.
Check that: the problem is clearly stated, at least one -고 나서 sentence and one 근처/맞은편 sentence appear correctly, speech level is consistent, and no structures beyond this chapter appear productively.
Looking Ahead
지금 할 수 있는 것 — What you can do now
You can describe being lost, approach a stranger politely for help, follow and confirm multi-step directions using landmarks and turns, and describe the location of a place relative to a landmark, all in consistent everyday polite speech level.