Meaning and Usage
"공부" primarily means "study" or "learning" in Korean. It refers to the act of acquiring knowledge or skills, often related to school or exams.
Common Contexts
You will hear "공부" used when talking about school subjects, exam preparation, or self-study. It is a noun but often combined with verbs like 하다 (to do) to form the verb phrase 공부하다 (to study).
Collocations and Patterns
- 공부하다: to study (the most common verb form)
- 시험 공부: studying for an exam
- 열심히 공부하다: to study hard
- 공부 시간: study time
Register and Politeness
"공부" is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts. When combined with 하다, the verb form can be conjugated to match the politeness level.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "공부" with "일" (work) or "연습" (practice). "공부" specifically refers to learning or studying, not general work or practice activities.
Use "공부" when you want to talk about learning or studying in everyday conversation or academic contexts.