Meaning and Usage
운동화 specifically refers to sports shoes or sneakers designed for physical activities like running or exercising. It is a common everyday word used in casual and informal contexts.
Common Collocations
- 운동화 끈 (shoelaces of sports shoes): Often mentioned when talking about tying or fixing shoelaces.
- 새 운동화 (new sports shoes): Common phrase when buying or showing new sneakers.
- 운동화 신고 (wearing sports shoes): Used when describing wearing these shoes for activities.
Usage Notes
When Koreans say 운동화, they usually mean comfortable shoes suitable for sports or casual wear, not formal shoes. It’s important not to confuse 운동화 with 일반 신발 (general shoes) or 구두 (dress shoes).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 운동화 to mean any shoes, but it specifically implies sports or casual sneakers. Use 신발 for general shoes if you are unsure.
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운동화 is neutral and widely used in everyday conversation without formality concerns.