Meaning and Usage
The word '손톱' specifically refers to the fingernail, the hard protective covering on the tip of your fingers. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '손톱' in contexts related to personal grooming, such as cutting or cleaning nails, or describing physical actions involving nails like scratching.
Collocations and Patterns
- 손톱을 깎다: to cut fingernails, a very common phrase when talking about grooming.
- 손톱이 길다/짧다: describing the length of fingernails.
- 손톱으로 긁다: to scratch with fingernails.
Register and Politeness
'손톱' is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal settings without change.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '손톱' with '발톱' (toenail). Remember, '손' means hand, so '손톱' is fingernail, while '발톱' is toenail.