Meaning and Usage
The verb '싫어하다' means 'to dislike' or 'to be reluctant to do something.' It is commonly used to express a negative feeling or aversion toward a person, thing, or action. It is a regular verb and conjugates accordingly.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '싫어하다' when talking about food preferences, personal dislikes, or emotional reactions to people or situations. For example, "나는 매운 음식을 싫어해요" means "I dislike spicy food."
Politeness and Register
The verb is typically used in polite speech with endings like '-해요' or '-합니다.' It is neutral in formality but not used in very formal writing.
Common Collocations
- 싫어하다 + noun: to dislike something (e.g., 싫어하는 음식 - disliked food)
- 싫어하다 + verb stem + -는 것: to dislike doing something (e.g., 싫어하는 일 - disliked work)
- 싫어하다 + 사람: to dislike a person
Learner Tips
A common mistake is confusing '싫어하다' with '안 좋아하다.' While both express dislike, '싫어하다' is stronger and more direct. Use '싫어하다' to clearly express aversion or strong dislike.
Remember to conjugate it properly depending on tense and politeness level.