Meaning and Usage
The verb '기다리다' means 'to wait' and is one of the most common verbs used in everyday Korean. It is used when someone stays in a place or remains patient until a certain event or person arrives.
Common Contexts
You can use '기다리다' when waiting for transportation, people, or events. It often appears with time expressions or conjunctions like '까지' (until) to specify the waiting period.
Collocations and Patterns
- 기다리다 + 까지: to wait until a certain time or event (e.g., 버스가 올 때까지 기다리다)
- 기다리면서: while waiting (shows simultaneous action)
- 기다리다 보면: if you keep waiting (implies patience leading to a result)
Register and Politeness
'기다리다' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Politeness is shown by verb endings (e.g., 기다리세요 for polite requests).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '기다리다' with '기다려 주다' which means 'to wait for someone as a favor.' Remember '기다리다' is intransitive and focuses on the subject waiting, not causing someone else to wait.