Meaning and Usage
The verb '모자라다' means 'to be insufficient' or 'to lack' something. It is commonly used to express that a quantity, amount, or quality is not enough for a particular purpose.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '모자라다' when talking about time, money, confidence, or other resources that are insufficient. It can describe both tangible things like money and intangible things like skills or feelings.
Collocations and Patterns
- '시간이 모자라다' (time is insufficient): used when there is not enough time to complete something.
- '돈이 모자라다' (money is insufficient): used when lacking money.
- '자신감이 모자라다' (lack confidence): used to describe insufficient confidence or courage.
Register and Nuance
'모자라다' is neutral and commonly used in everyday conversation. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but is more frequent in casual speech.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '모자라다' with '부족하다', which also means 'to be insufficient'. '모자라다' often implies a more immediate or noticeable lack, while '부족하다' can be more formal or abstract. Use '모자라다' when you want to emphasize that something is clearly not enough in a practical sense.