Meaning and Usage
The verb '외우다' means 'to memorize' or 'to recite from memory.' It is commonly used when talking about learning vocabulary, poems, speeches, or any material that requires memorization.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '외우다' in educational settings, such as students memorizing words for exams or children learning songs. It implies active effort to commit something to memory.
Collocations and Patterns
- '단어를 외우다' (to memorize words): very common when studying languages.
- '시를 외우다' (to memorize a poem): used in literature or school contexts.
- '외운 내용을 말하다' (to say what one has memorized): practicing recall.
Register and Politeness
'외우다' is a neutral verb suitable for both formal and informal contexts. You can use polite endings like '외워요' or '외웠어요' depending on the situation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '외우다' with '기억하다' (to remember). '외우다' focuses on the act of memorizing intentionally, while '기억하다' is more about recalling or remembering something naturally or passively.