Meaning and Usage
"밥" primarily means "cooked rice," which is a staple food in Korea, but it is also commonly used to refer to a meal in general. Koreans often say "밥 먹었어요?" as a casual greeting, implying "Have you eaten?" which shows the cultural importance of sharing meals.
Common Collocations
- 밥 먹다: to eat a meal
- 밥 짓다: to cook rice
- 밥 먹으러 가다: to go eat a meal
Register and Politeness
"밥" is an informal, everyday word used in casual and polite contexts. It is not formal but is appropriate in most daily conversations.
Tips for Learners
Be careful not to confuse "밥" with "쌀," which means uncooked rice. "밥" always refers to cooked rice or a meal. Also, "밥" can be used metaphorically to mean livelihood or income, as in "밥벌이," but this is more advanced usage.