Meaning and Usage
"우유" means "milk" in Korean and is a very common noun used in daily life. It refers primarily to cow's milk but can be used generally for milk as a beverage or ingredient.
Common Collocations
- 우유 한 잔 (a glass of milk): a typical way to order or mention milk as a drink.
- 우유를 넣다 (to add milk): often used when talking about adding milk to coffee, tea, or cereal.
- 우유 알레르기 (milk allergy): a common health-related phrase.
Usage Notes
"우유" is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When talking about milk in recipes or daily conversation, "우유" is the standard term. Learners sometimes confuse "우유" with "밀크" (milk), which is a loanword used mostly in brand names or stylized contexts.
Practical Tips
When ordering drinks or talking about breakfast, "우유" is very useful. Remember to use counters like "잔" (glass) when specifying quantity. Also, mentioning "우유 알레르기" is important in medical or dietary contexts to avoid misunderstandings.