Meaning and Usage
The verb '괴로워하다' means to feel distress or suffering, often emotionally or mentally. It is used to describe someone who is troubled or anguished about a situation.
Common Contexts
This verb frequently appears in contexts involving emotional pain, worry, or hardship, such as problems with relationships, health, or personal difficulties.
Collocations and Patterns
- '괴로워하다 + 때문에' (because of distress): Explains the cause of suffering.
- '괴로워하는 모습' (the appearance of suffering): Describes how someone looks when they are distressed.
- '사랑 때문에 괴로워하다' (to be distressed because of love): A common phrase expressing emotional pain related to love.
Register and Politeness
'괴로워하다' is a standard verb used in both spoken and written Korean. It is neutral in politeness and can be used in formal and informal contexts depending on the sentence ending.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '괴로워하다' with '괴롭다'. The difference is that '괴롭다' is an adjective meaning 'to be painful or distressing' and describes the state itself, while '괴로워하다' is a verb meaning 'to feel distressed' and is used with a subject who experiences the feeling.