Meaning and Usage
The verb '병들다' primarily means 'to get sick' or 'to become ill.' It is used to describe both physical and metaphorical sickness, such as a person falling ill or something like a tree becoming diseased.
Common Contexts
- Physical illness: When talking about people or animals becoming sick.
- Plants or objects: Describing when plants or other living things start to show signs of disease.
- Emotional or mental state: Sometimes used metaphorically to describe emotional or mental suffering.
Collocations and Patterns
- 병들다 + 아프다/고생하다: to get sick and suffer.
- 마음이 병들다: to have a sick or troubled heart (emotional suffering).
- 병들기 시작하다: to start getting sick.
Register and Politeness
'병들다' is a neutral verb and can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the sentence ending.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '병들다' with '아프다' (to be sick). '병들다' emphasizes the process of becoming sick or the state of being diseased, while '아프다' focuses on feeling pain or being ill at the moment. Use '병들다' when describing the onset or condition of sickness.