Meaning and Usage
"지난해" means "last year" and is commonly used in both spoken and written Korean to refer to the previous calendar year. It is a formal and neutral term suitable for various contexts including business, news, and everyday conversation.
Common Collocations
- 지난해에 (in last year): used to specify an action or event that happened during last year.
- 지난해와 비교해서 (compared to last year): used when comparing data or situations between last year and another time.
- 지난해 매출 (last year's sales): a common phrase in business contexts.
Usage Notes
"지난해" is often interchangeable with "작년," which also means "last year," but "지난해" tends to sound slightly more formal or written. Learners should avoid mixing "지난해" with future or current year references to prevent confusion.
Common Mistake
Confusing "지난해" with "내년" (next year) or "올해" (this year) is a frequent error. Always double-check the context to ensure the correct year is referenced.