Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '동안' is a noun that primarily means 'during' or 'for (a period of time)'. It is used to indicate the duration of an action or event. For example, '두 시간 동안' means 'for two hours'.
Common Contexts
'동안' is often used with time expressions to specify how long something lasts or when something happens. It can refer to a specific time span (like '여름 동안' - 'during the summer') or a continuous period.
Collocations and Patterns
- '시간 동안' (for a certain amount of time): used to express duration.
- '회의 동안' (during a meeting): used to specify an event's time frame.
- '여름 동안' (during summer): used with seasons or periods.
Register and Politeness
'동안' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a common word in everyday conversation and writing.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '동안' with '사이' (between), but '동안' emphasizes the duration or continuous period, while '사이' focuses on the space or interval between two points. For example, '두 시간 동안' means 'for two hours', but '두 시간 사이' means 'between two hours'.