Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '신용' primarily means 'trust' or 'credit.' It is used both in personal and financial contexts. When you talk about '신용' in everyday conversation, it often refers to the trustworthiness of a person or company.
Common Contexts
- Personal trust: When you say someone has '신용이 좋다,' it means they are reliable or trustworthy.
- Financial credit: '신용 카드' means 'credit card,' and '신용 등급' refers to a credit rating.
Collocations and Patterns
- 신용 카드: credit card, used for payment.
- 신용 등급: credit rating, used in financial contexts.
- 신용을 잃다: to lose trust, often used when someone breaks a promise or behaves untrustworthily.
- 신용을 쌓다: to build trust, used when someone gains reliability over time.
Register and Politeness
'신용' is a formal noun often used in business, finance, and formal speech. It is not typically used in casual slang but appears in polite and neutral contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '신용' with '신뢰,' which also means trust but is more about personal trust or confidence. '신용' often has a financial or formal nuance, while '신뢰' is broader and more emotional.
Use '신용' when referring to creditworthiness or formal trust, especially in financial or business settings.