Basic Meaning
The verb '자다' primarily means 'to sleep' in Korean. It is one of the most common verbs used to talk about resting or sleeping.
Usage in Daily Life
You will often hear '자다' when people talk about their sleep habits, such as how well they slept or when they went to bed. It is used in both casual and polite speech, with polite endings like '-요' added for formality.
Common Collocations
- '일찍 자다' (to sleep early): used when talking about going to bed early.
- '잘 자다' (to sleep well): describes good quality sleep.
- '많이 자다' (to sleep a lot): indicates sleeping for a long time.
Important Notes
'자다' is a regular verb and is often confused with '자르다' (to cut) by beginners due to similar pronunciation. Make sure to distinguish them by context and spelling.
Politeness
'자다' can be conjugated into polite forms like '잡니다' (formal) or '자요' (polite), depending on the situation.