Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '고기' means 'meat' and is commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to animal flesh used as food. It can refer to various types of meat such as beef, pork, chicken, or fish depending on context.
Common Collocations
- 고기를 먹다 (to eat meat): a very common phrase when talking about meals.
- 고기를 구우다 (to grill meat): often used when describing Korean barbecue or cooking.
- 돼지고기, 소고기, 닭고기 (pork, beef, chicken): specific types of meat.
Cultural Notes
In Korean cuisine, meat plays an important role, especially in dishes like 삼겹살 (pork belly) and 불고기 (marinated beef). When using '고기', specifying the type of meat is common.
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse '고기' with '고기잡이' (fishing) or other compound words. Also, '고기' alone usually implies edible meat, not just any animal flesh.
Register and Politeness
'고기' is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without change.