Level 3

알아듣다

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Understanding '알아듣다'

The verb '알아듣다' means to listen and comprehend what is being said. It is commonly used when referring to understanding spoken language or messages. This verb is often used in everyday conversations when someone wants to express whether they understood or not.

Usage and Nuances

'알아듣다' focuses on the act of hearing and mentally processing the meaning. It is different from just hearing ('듣다') because it implies comprehension. It is often used with negative forms to express difficulty in understanding.

Common Collocations

  • '말을 알아듣다' (to understand words/speech): the most common phrase.
  • '잘 알아듣다' (to understand well): emphasizes clear comprehension.
  • '못 알아듣다' (to not understand): expresses failure to comprehend.

Register and Politeness

This verb is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Politeness is shown by the sentence ending, not the verb itself.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse '알아듣다' with '이해하다' (to understand). '알아듣다' is specifically about understanding spoken language, while '이해하다' is broader and can apply to concepts, ideas, or written text. Use '알아듣다' when focusing on listening comprehension.

Example Sentences

그의 말을 잘 알아듣지 못했어요.

Geuui mareul jal aladeutji mothaesseoyo.

I couldn't understand what he said well.

한국어를 배우면 사람들의 말을 더 잘 알아들을 수 있어요.

Hangugeoreul baeumyeon saramdeului mareul deo jal aladeureul su isseoyo.

If you learn Korean, you can understand what people say better.

아이들은 어른들이 하는 말을 쉽게 알아듣지 못할 때가 많아요.

Aideureun eoreundeuri haneun mareul swipge aladeutji mothal taega manhayo.

Children often cannot easily understand what adults say.