Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '둘' means 'two' or 'a couple' and is used to count or refer to two items or people. It is a native Korean number, often used in everyday conversation when counting objects or people.
Common Contexts
- Counting objects: '사과가 둘 있어요' (There are two apples).
- Referring to two people: '둘이서 영화를 봤어요' (The two of us watched a movie).
- Making a choice between two options: '둘 중에 하나를 골라 주세요' (Please choose one of the two).
Collocations and Patterns
- '둘 중에' + noun/verb: used to indicate 'among two' or 'between two'.
- '둘이서': means 'the two of us/them', emphasizing two people acting together.
Notes
- '둘' is used with native Korean counting system, not Sino-Korean numbers.
- When counting objects, '둘' is often followed by a counter word (like '개' for general items), but it can stand alone when the context is clear.
- Learners sometimes confuse '둘' with the Sino-Korean number '이' (two). '둘' is used for counting and informal contexts, while '이' is used in formal or compound numbers.
Understanding '둘' helps in everyday communication involving quantities and pairs.