Question 1

Why do we say 5층까지 instead of just 5층 in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The particle 까지 marks an endpoint or limit (“up to”). Saying 5층까지 makes it clear you’re talking about going “as far as the 5th floor.” If you just say 5층, it’s ambiguous whether you mean “at the 5th floor,” “toward the 5th floor,” or something else.

Question 2

What does 가려면 mean, and how is it different from 가면?

Accepted Answer

가려면 comes from the verb 가다 + the intention-conditional ending -려면, which implies “if (you) intend to go ….”  
- 가려면 = “if you want to go” (focus on the plan or intention required)  
- 가면 = general conditional “if you go.”

Here, you’re saying “if you want to get up to the 5th floor, …,” so you use -려면.

Question 3

Why is 계단을 이용하거나 used rather than something like 계단을 이용하고?

Accepted Answer

The connector -거나 attaches to verbs to mean “or.”  
- 계단을 이용하거나 엘리베이터를 타는 = “using the stairs or taking the elevator.”  
By contrast, -고 is “and,” so 계단을 이용하고 엘리베이터를 타다 would mean you do both actions in sequence, which isn’t what you want here.

Question 4

What role does -는 게 play in 엘리베이터를 타는 게 편해요?

Accepted Answer

-는 게 is a colloquial contraction of -는 것이, turning a verb phrase into a noun phrase (“the act of V-ing”).  
So:  
- 엘리베이터를 타는 게 편해요  
- = “The act of taking the elevator is comfortable.”  
- = “It’s more convenient to take the elevator.”

Question 5

Why is the adjective 편해요 used here instead of 편리해요?

Accepted Answer

Both mean “convenient,” but nuance differs:  
- 편하다 often describes something that feels easy, comfortable, or less burdensome in everyday speech.  
- 편리하다 is slightly more formal/technical for “convenient” or “practical.”  
Here, the speaker is giving casual advice, so 편하다 is more natural.

Question 6

Who is the subject of this sentence? I don’t see one explicitly mentioned.

Accepted Answer

Korean often omits subjects when they’re understood from context. The implied subject here is you (or people in general).  
So the full meaning is:  
“(For you) to go up to the 5th floor, using the stairs or taking the elevator is more comfortable.”

Question 7

Can we expand -는 게 to a longer form?

Accepted Answer

Yes. -는 게 is shorthand for -는 것이. Both are acceptable, but -는 게 is more conversational.  
- 엘리베이터를 타는 것이 편해요 (formal)  
- 엘리베이터를 타는 게 편해요 (colloquial)

5cheungkkaji garyeomyeon gyedaneul iyonghageona ellibeiteoreul taneun ge pyeonhaeyo.

Breakdown of 5cheungkkaji garyeomyeon gyedaneul iyonghageona ellibeiteoreul taneun ge pyeonhaeyo.

Questions & Answers about 5cheungkkaji garyeomyeon gyedaneul iyonghageona ellibeiteoreul taneun ge pyeonhaeyo.

More from this lesson

Master Korean — from 5cheungkkaji garyeomyeon gyedaneul iyonghageona ellibeiteoreul taneun ge pyeonhaeyo to fluency