Meaning and Usage
The verb "쌓다" primarily means "to pile up" or "to accumulate." It is used both in literal contexts, such as stacking physical objects, and in figurative contexts, like accumulating experience or emotions.
Common Collocations
- 책을 쌓다: to pile up books (literal stacking)
- 경험을 쌓다: to accumulate experience (figurative use)
- 스트레스를 쌓다: to accumulate stress (figurative, often negative)
Register and Nuance
"쌓다" is a common verb used in everyday conversation and writing. It is neutral in formality and can be used in both casual and polite speech depending on the sentence ending.
Learner Tips
A common confusion is mixing "쌓다" with "쌓이다." Remember, "쌓다" is active (someone piles up something), while "쌓이다" is passive (something is piled up). For example, "책을 쌓다" means "to pile books," but "책이 쌓이다" means "books are piled up." Understanding this distinction helps avoid mistakes in sentence construction.