Meaning and Usage
'겨우' is an adverb used to express that something was done with great difficulty or just barely. It often implies a narrow margin or minimal success.
Common Contexts
You will frequently hear '겨우' in situations involving passing exams, meeting deadlines, or managing to do something despite challenges.
Collocations and Patterns
- 겨우 + verb: emphasizes barely completing an action (e.g., 겨우 합격했다 - barely passed)
- 겨우 + number + noun: indicates a small quantity or minimal amount (e.g., 겨우 한 끼 - barely one meal)
- 겨우 시간을 맞추다: to barely make it on time
Register and Nuance
'겨우' is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Korean. It conveys a sense of relief or struggle.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse '겨우' with '간신히', which is similar but '간신히' often carries a stronger nuance of struggling against odds. Use '겨우' when emphasizing the narrowness of success rather than the struggle itself.