Meaning and Usage
"예쁘다" is an adjective used to describe something or someone as pretty, lovely, or attractive. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to compliment appearances, objects, or even actions that look nice.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "예쁘다" when talking about people, especially children or women, as well as things like clothes, flowers, or decorations. It expresses a positive aesthetic impression.
Collocations and Patterns
- 예쁜 옷 (pretty clothes): used when describing attractive clothing.
- 정말 예쁘다 (really pretty): emphasizes the degree of prettiness.
- 웃을 때 예쁘다 (pretty when smiling): describes a specific situation or expression.
Register and Politeness
"예쁘다" is neutral and informal. To be polite, you can say "예뻐요" or "예쁩니다" depending on the formality.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "예쁘다" with "이쁘다," which is a colloquial or dialectal variant. Stick to "예쁘다" in formal writing and standard speech for clarity and correctness.