Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '배' is commonly used as a counter for multiples, meaning 'times' or 'fold'. It expresses how many times something is increased or compared to another quantity.
Common Contexts
You will often see '배' used in comparisons, such as '두 배' (two times), '세 배' (three times), etc., to describe size, quantity, speed, or intensity.
Collocations and Patterns
- '두 배' (two times): used to express doubling.
- '세 배 이상' (more than three times): to indicate a larger multiple.
- '배로 늘다/줄다' (increase/decrease by times): to describe multiplication or division of amounts.
Register and Politeness
'배' is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a basic noun and does not change with politeness levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '배' with '배' meaning 'stomach' or 'ship'. Context is key to understanding which meaning is intended. When used with numbers, it means 'times' or 'fold'.