Meaning and Usage
The verb '흘리다' primarily means 'to shed' or 'to spill' a liquid or substance. It is commonly used to describe shedding tears (눈물을 흘리다), spilling liquids like water (물을 흘리다), or sweating (땀을 흘리다).
Common Collocations
- 눈물을 흘리다: to cry or shed tears
- 물을 흘리다: to spill water
- 땀을 흘리다: to sweat
These collocations are very frequent in daily conversation and writing.
Register and Politeness
'흘리다' is a standard verb used in both formal and informal contexts. It is neutral in politeness and can be combined with polite endings as needed.
Usage Tips
When using '흘리다' with liquids or substances, the object is usually marked with the object particle (을/를). Avoid confusing '흘리다' with '흐르다' which means 'to flow' and is intransitive. '흘리다' is transitive and requires an object that is being shed or spilled.