Meaning and Usage
'굉장히' is an adverb used to emphasize the degree of an adjective or verb, similar to 'very' or 'extremely' in English. It expresses a strong intensity or degree and is commonly used in everyday conversation.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '굉장히' used to describe feelings, qualities, or states such as 재미있다 (interesting), 친절하다 (kind), or 날씨 (weather). It adds emphasis to the speaker's impression or experience.
Collocations and Patterns
- 굉장히 + adjective: to intensify the adjective (e.g., 굉장히 맛있다 - very delicious)
- 굉장히 + verb ending: to emphasize the action (e.g., 굉장히 노력하다 - to try very hard)
Register and Politeness
'굉장히' is neutral and polite enough for most formal and informal situations. It is more formal than 그냥 (just) or 아주 (very), but less formal than 매우.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '굉장히' with '아주' or '매우'. While all mean 'very', '굉장히' often carries a stronger or more impressive nuance. Avoid overusing it in casual speech where '아주' might sound more natural.