Korean Dictionary
How to say "Take a Shortcut" in Korean
“Take a Shortcut” in Korean is 지름길 (pronounced "Jireumgil").
지름길
Jireumgil
Usage & Context
Taking a shortcut means finding a faster or easier way to achieve something. In Korean culture, this has both literal meaning regarding actual paths and metaphorical meaning in life.
Example Sentence
지름길을 이용하면 시간을 절약할 수 있어요.
Taking a shortcut can save time.
How to use 지름길 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Take a Shortcut” is 지름길, romanized as Jireumgil.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
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 지름길.
Pronunciation Guide
지 (ji) sounds like 'jee' in 'jeep'. 름 (reum) has an 'r' sound similar to a light 'l' or 'd', followed by 'eum' like 'um' in 'hum'. 길 (gil) is like 'gill' in 'gill'. The stress is relatively even.
More Example Sentences
Asking for directions to a faster route.
이 산을 넘는 지름길이 어디에 있나요?
Where is the shortcut to cross this mountain?
Giving life advice emphasizing hard work over quick fixes.
인생에 지름길은 없어. 꾸준히 노력해야 해.
There are no shortcuts in life. You have to work steadily.
Regretting a poor study strategy that backfired.
시험공부 지름길을 찾다가 오히려 시간을 더 낭비했어.
I tried to find a shortcut for studying for the exam and ended up wasting more time.
Cultural Context
The concept of '지름길' is widely understood and used in Korea, both literally for physical paths and metaphorically for achieving goals. While efficiency is valued, there's also a strong cultural emphasis on hard work and perseverance, often expressed through sayings like '노력 없이 얻는 것은 없다' (Nothing is gained without effort), implying that true success rarely comes from shortcuts. This balance between seeking efficiency and valuing diligence is a common theme in Korean society.
Editorial note
We review entries like 지름길 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
지름길로 가다.
To go by a shortcut.
지름길을 찾다.
To look for a shortcut.
지름길은 없어.
There are no shortcuts.
Related Expressions
첩경
cheopgyeong
Shortcut (more formal, literary)
쉬운 길
swiun gil
Easy path/way
돌아가는 길
doraganeun gil
Detour, roundabout way (antonym)
편법
pyeonbeop
Expedient, improper means (often implies a shortcut that bends rules or is unethical)
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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