Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '남자' primarily means 'man' or 'male'. It is used to refer to adult males but can also be used more generally for males in various contexts. It is a common noun and appears frequently in daily conversation.
Common Contexts
'남자' is often used to talk about someone's gender, to describe relationships (e.g., 남자 친구 for boyfriend), or to specify a group of males. It can refer to a man in general or a specific man depending on context.
Collocations and Patterns
- 남자 친구: boyfriend; used when talking about a romantic male partner.
- 남자 사람: a man (more formal or emphasizing the person).
- 남자답다: to be manly; used to describe someone showing traditionally masculine qualities.
Register and Politeness
'남자' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. However, when referring to someone respectfully, additional titles or terms might be used.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '남자' (man) with '소년' (boy) or '남자아이' (male child). '남자' usually implies an adult male unless context specifies otherwise.
Use '남자' when you want to clearly indicate a male person, especially adults, and combine it with other words to specify relationships or qualities.