i gireun anjeonhaeyo.

This road is safe.

Breakdown of i gireun anjeonhaeyo.

• 이: this
• ~은: topic particle
• 길: road
• 안전하다: safe

Questions & Answers about i gireun anjeonhaeyo.

What does each part of 이 길은 안전해요 mean?

Breakdown of the sentence:

• 이: “this” (demonstrative determiner)
• 길: “road,” “street,” or “path”
• 은: topic particle (marks 이 길 as the topic of the sentence)
• 안전해요: polite present-tense form of the adjective 안전하다 (“to be safe”)

So literally: “As for this road, (it) is safe.”

What is the function of 은 in 이 길은?

• 은 is the topic marker.
• It tells the listener, “I’m talking about this road (이 길).”
• It sets the frame for the comment that follows (안전해요).
• Contrast with the subject marker 이/가, which would simply introduce a new subject without emphasizing it as the topic.

What kind of word is 안전해요, and how is it formed?

• 안전해요 is the polite present-tense form of the descriptive verb (adjective) 안전하다.
• Formation steps:
  1. Start with the dictionary form 안전하다.
  2. Drop -다 → 안전하-.
  3. Change 하 to 해 (irregular 하-conjugation).
  4. Add -요 for polite speech → 안전해요.

What’s the difference between 안전해요 and 안전합니다?

• Both mean “(it) is safe,” but differ in speech level:
  • 안전해요 uses the polite informal style (해요체), common in daily conversation or customer service.
  • 안전합니다 uses the polite formal style (합니다체), often used in news reports, presentations, or very formal settings.

Could we say 이 길이 안전해요 instead of 이 길은 안전해요?

Yes, you can, but nuance changes:

• 이 길이 안전해요 uses 이 (subject marker) and reads more like stating a fact about the road (focus on identifying what is safe).
• 이 길은 안전해요 uses 은 (topic marker) and often implies contrast or reassurance (“As for this road, it’s safe [even if others aren’t]”).

Can you drop the particle and just say 이 길 안전해요?

• In casual spoken Korean or advertising, you might hear 이 길 안전해요 with particles omitted for brevity.
• In standard grammar, particles are required to show the role of each noun. Omitting them is more colloquial and can sound abrupt.

What’s the difference between 길 and 도로?

• 길 is a general term for road, street, path, or way. It can be narrow or wide and is often used in everyday speech (e.g., 뒷길, 산길).
• 도로 specifically means a paved road or highway. It sounds more formal/technical (e.g., 국도, 고속도로).

When and why would a speaker use 이 길은 안전해요?

Typical contexts:

• Reassuring someone about walking or driving on a particular road at night.
• Giving instructions and calming fears (“Don’t worry, this path is safe”).
• Comparing routes: “We can take this one—이 길은 안전해요.”
  It’s polite yet conversational, suitable for friends, family, or customers.