Breakdown of angaega kkin georieseoneun josimhaeya hae.
~에서~eseo
location particle
~는~neun
topic particle
~가~ga
subject particle
~어야 하다~eoya hada
to have to
조심하다josimhada
to be careful
거리geori
street
안개angae
fog
끼다kkida
to be covered with fog
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Questions & Answers about angaega kkin georieseoneun josimhaeya hae.
In 안개가 낀 거리에서는 조심해야 해, what does 안개가 낀 literally mean, and how does 끼다 function here?
It literally means fog has settled, using the verb 끼다 (to settle on/cover). The clause 안개가 낀 acts like a relative clause modifying 거리, so 안개가 낀 거리 conveys streets on which fog has settled (i.e. foggy streets).
Why is there -ㄴ in 낀, and how does it connect to 거리?
The suffix -ㄴ is the attributive ending for verb stems ending in a vowel. You drop -다 from 끼다 to get the stem 끼-, then add -ㄴ to form 낀. This turns the verb into an adjective-like modifier directly describing 거리.
Why is 안개 followed by 가 and not 는?
가 is the subject marker here, indicating 안개 is the grammatical subject of the relative clause 안개가 낀. You reserve 는 for contrast or broader topics. Since this clause simply states a fact, 가 is correct.
What role does -에서는 play in 거리에서는 compared to -에서?
-에서 marks location (“in/at”), while -에서는 adds a topical nuance (“as for in/at”). So 거리에서는 sets 거리 as the contextual topic—in those streets (as the situation) you must be careful.
What is the structure and meaning of 조심해야 해?
This uses the obligation pattern verb stem + 아/어야 하다. Here:
- 조심하다 → drop -다 → 조심하-
- Attach -어야 하다 → 조심해야 하다
- In casual speech, 하다 → 해 → 조심해야 해 It means “(you) must be careful.”
Can I use 조심해야 돼 instead of 조심해야 해? What’s the nuance?
Yes. The pattern -아/어야 되다 also expresses obligation. 조심해야 돼 and 조심해야 해 are virtually interchangeable. Some find -돼 slightly more formal, while -해 feels more conversational, but both are common.
Why is there no explicit subject for 조심해야 해?
Korean often drops the subject when it’s clear from context. Here it’s implicitly you (the listener). If needed, you could say 당신은 조심해야 해, but it’s usually unnecessary.
What level of politeness is 조심해야 해, and how would I make it more polite?
조심해야 해 is informal (반말). To make it polite, add 요: 조심해야 해요. For a more formal or official tone, you can use 조심해야 합니다, or switch to a polite imperative 조심하세요.