Level 1

책

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Understanding '책' (chaek)

'책' is the basic Korean noun for 'book.' It refers to any bound collection of written or printed pages. This word is used in everyday conversation, formal writing, and education.

Common Uses

You will often hear '책' when talking about reading habits, borrowing or buying books, or discussing literature and study materials. For example, '책을 읽다' means 'to read a book,' and '책을 빌리다' means 'to borrow a book.'

Collocations and Patterns

  • 책을 읽다: to read a book — used when describing the action of reading.
  • 책을 빌리다: to borrow a book — common when talking about libraries or friends.
  • 책을 사다: to buy a book — used in shopping contexts.
  • 책상 위에 책: a book on the desk — showing location.

Register and Usage Notes

'책' is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without change. It is rarely combined with honorifics because it is an object, not a person.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '책' with '책자' (a booklet or pamphlet), which is less common and more specific. Stick to '책' for general use. Also, remember that '책' is a noun, so it needs appropriate particles like 을/를 when used as an object.

Example Sentences

나는 매일 밤 자기 전에 책을 읽어요.

Naneun maeil bam jagi jeone chaegeul ilgeoyo.

I read a book every night before going to sleep.

도서관에서 책을 빌렸어요.

Doseogwaneseo chaegeul bilryeosseoyo.

I borrowed a book from the library.

이 책은 한국 역사에 대해 자세히 설명하고 있어요.

I chaegeun Hanguk yeoksae daehae jasehi seolmyeonghago isseoyo.

This book explains Korean history in detail.