Meaning and Usage
The adjective '젊다' means 'to be young' or 'youthful.' It describes the state of being in the early stages of life, often implying energy, freshness, and potential.
Common Contexts
'젊다' is frequently used to talk about age in a positive sense, emphasizing vitality or the opportunity to learn and experience new things. It can describe people, but also sometimes abstractly refer to things like ideas or attitudes that are fresh or new.
Collocations and Patterns
- 젊을 때 (when young): Used to talk about actions or experiences appropriate or recommended during youth.
- 아직 젊다 (still young): Emphasizes that someone has not yet aged or lost youth.
- 젊다는 것은 ~이다 (being young means ~): Used to define or explain what youth implies.
Register and Politeness
'젊다' is a neutral adjective and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When conjugated, it follows regular adjective patterns.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '젊다' with '어리다,' which also means 'young' but is often used for children or in a more tender sense. '젊다' generally refers to youth in a broader or adult context, while '어리다' is more about childhood or immaturity.