Meaning and Usage
The adverb '오래' means 'for a long time' or 'long' in terms of duration. It is commonly used to describe the length of time something lasts or has lasted.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '오래' when talking about waiting times, relationships, or the age of objects and buildings. For example, '오래 기다리다' means 'to wait for a long time,' and '오래된 건물' means 'an old building.'
Collocations and Patterns
- 오래 기다리다: to wait for a long time, used when apologizing or explaining delays.
- 오래 사귀다: to have a long-term relationship or friendship.
- 오래되다: to be old or have existed for a long time, often used with objects or places.
Register and Politeness
'오래' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is often combined with polite verb endings to match the situation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '오래' with '오랜' which is the attributive form used before nouns (e.g., 오래된). Remember, '오래' is mainly an adverb, while '오랜' modifies nouns directly.