Meaning and Usage
택배 refers to parcel delivery services commonly used in Korea for sending and receiving packages. It is a very common term in daily life, especially with the rise of online shopping.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 택배 when talking about receiving goods at home, sending gifts, or when discussing delivery times. It can refer both to the service and the package itself.
Collocations and Patterns
- 택배 기사님 (delivery person): polite way to refer to the delivery worker.
- 택배를 보내다 (to send a package): used when you want to ship something.
- 택배가 도착하다 (the package arrives): common phrase to talk about delivery status.
Register and Politeness
택배 is a neutral, everyday noun used in both formal and informal contexts. When speaking politely, you might add honorifics when referring to the delivery person (기사님).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 택배 with 일반 우편 (regular mail). 택배 usually implies faster, tracked parcel delivery, often with courier services, while 일반 우편 is standard postal mail without guaranteed speed or tracking.