Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '사람' means 'person' or 'human being.' It is one of the most fundamental nouns used to refer to individuals in everyday conversation.
Common Contexts
'사람' is used to talk about people in general, specific individuals, or groups. It can refer to strangers, friends, or any human beings.
Collocations and Patterns
- 사람들 (saramdeul): people (plural form)
- 좋은 사람 (joeun saram): good person
- 저 사람 (jeo saram): that person
These collocations are very common and useful in daily conversations.
Register and Politeness
'사람' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, when speaking politely, it is often combined with polite sentence endings.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '사람' with '인간,' which also means 'human.' '사람' is more common in daily speech, while '인간' is more formal or philosophical.
Use '사람' to refer naturally to people in most situations.