Meaning and Usage
The word '저녁' primarily means 'evening' or 'dinner' in Korean. It refers to the time of day from late afternoon to night and is commonly used to talk about the evening meal.
Common Contexts
- Talking about the time of day: "저녁에" means "in the evening."
- Referring to the meal: "저녁을 먹다" means "to eat dinner."
Collocations and Patterns
- 저녁 식사 (evening meal/dinner): formal way to say dinner.
- 저녁 시간 (evening time): refers to the time period of evening.
- 저녁에 만나다 (to meet in the evening): used when arranging plans.
Register and Politeness
'저녁' is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts. When combined with polite verbs, it fits naturally into polite conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '저녁' with '밤' (night). '저녁' refers to early evening, while '밤' refers to night time, usually later than 저녁. Use '저녁' when talking about dinner or early evening activities.