Meaning and Usage
'켤레' is a Korean counter used specifically for counting pairs of items that naturally come in twos, such as shoes, socks, gloves, or earrings. It is equivalent to the English 'pair' when referring to these objects.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '켤레' when talking about buying, losing, or needing pairs of footwear or handwear. It is a very practical word in daily life, especially in shopping or describing clothing.
Collocations and Patterns
- 한 켤레 (one pair): Used when specifying a single pair.
- 두 켤레, 세 켤레 (two pairs, three pairs): Counting multiple pairs.
- 새 신발 한 켤레 (a new pair of shoes): Common phrase when buying shoes.
Tips
Remember that '켤레' is only used for items that come in pairs. Do not use it for single items or groups that are not naturally paired. A common mistake is confusing '켤레' with other counters like '개' (general counter) or '벌' (for clothes). Use '켤레' only for pairs to sound natural and accurate.