Korean Dictionary
How to say "Is it far?" in Korean
“Is it far?” in Korean is 멀어요 (pronounced "Meoreoyo").
멀어요
Meoreoyo
Usage & Context
Asking about distance. 가까워요 means it's close/nearby. 걸어서 갈 수 있어요? (Can I walk there?) is a natural follow-up. Koreans may underestimate walking distances, so it's worth clarifying if a place is within comfortable walking distance before setting off on foot.
Example Sentence
거기까지 걸어서 가면 많이 멀어요?
Is it far to walk there?
How to use 멀어요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Is it far?” is 멀어요, romanized as Meoreoyo.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 멀어요.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Meo', sounds like 'muh' in 'muffin' but with a slightly more open 'o' sound. 'Reo' is like 'ruh' in 'rough', with the 'r' being a soft flap sound similar to the 'tt' in American English 'butter'. 'Yo' is pronounced like 'yo' in 'yogurt'. The stress is fairly even across syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
멉니다
Meomnida
This is the formal declarative form, often used in official announcements or very polite, formal speech.
Casual (반말)
멀어
Meoreo
This is the casual form, used with close friends or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Asking about travel distance to a specific destination.
여기서 공항까지 멀어요?
Is it far from here to the airport?
Reassuring someone about a distance, often when giving directions.
생각보다 안 멀어요. 걸어서 10분이면 가요.
It's not as far as I thought. It takes 10 minutes on foot.
Discussing daily commute difficulties due to distance.
우리 집은 회사에서 좀 멀어서 출퇴근이 힘들어요.
My house is a bit far from work, so commuting is tough.
Cultural Context
Koreans often have a different perception of 'far' compared to Westerners, sometimes underestimating walking distances. It's common to ask '멀어요?' when planning to walk or use public transport. While '멀어요' is polite, for very formal situations or public announcements, '멉니다' would be used. This word can also be used metaphorically, for example, '마음이 멀어졌다' (ma-eumi meoreojyeotda) means 'hearts grew distant'.
Editorial note
We review entries like 멀어요 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
너무 멀어요.
It's too far.
생각보다 안 멀어요.
It's not as far as I thought.
여기서 얼마나 멀어요?
How far is it from here?
Related Expressions
가까워요
Gakkawoyo
It's close
먼 길
Meon gil
A long way/journey
거리
Geori
Distance
멀리
Meolli
Far away (adverb)
More Travel Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Is it far? and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
