Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '인사' primarily means 'greeting' or 'salutation.' It refers to the act of saying hello or showing respect when meeting someone. It is a fundamental social practice in Korean culture.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '인사' used when talking about greetings at work, school, or social gatherings. For example, saying '인사를 하다' means 'to greet someone.'
Collocations and Patterns
- 인사를 하다: to greet someone
- 인사를 건네다: to offer a greeting
- 인사를 받다: to receive a greeting
These phrases are commonly used in daily conversations and formal settings.
Register and Politeness
'인사' itself is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the verbs combined with it (like 하다) can be conjugated to match the politeness level.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '인사' with '사람' (person) because of the original meaning related to 'people.' Remember, in modern usage, '인사' mostly refers to greetings, not people.
Understanding '인사' helps you navigate social interactions smoothly in Korean-speaking environments.