Meaning and Usage
The verb '일으키다' primarily means 'to raise' or 'to cause'. It can be used literally, such as helping someone to stand up, or figuratively, such as causing an event or starting something.
Common Contexts
- Physically helping someone to get up: 아이가 넘어졌을 때 '일으키다' is used to describe helping them stand.
- Causing an event or reaction: 논쟁이나 문제를 '일으키다' means to provoke or cause a controversy or problem.
- Starting or founding something: '회사를 일으키다' means to start or establish a company.
Collocations and Patterns
- '논쟁을 일으키다' (to cause a controversy): used when someone's words or actions provoke debate.
- '문제를 일으키다' (to cause a problem): used in contexts of causing trouble or issues.
- '사건을 일으키다' (to cause an incident): often used in news or reports.
- '사람을 일으키다' (to help someone get up): literal physical action.
Register and Nuance
'일으키다' is a standard verb used in both spoken and written Korean. It is neutral in formality but often appears in formal contexts such as news reports or formal discussions when describing causes or effects.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '일으키다' with '일어나다' (to get up by oneself). Remember, '일으키다' usually implies causing or helping something to happen or stand, often with an agent causing the action, while '일어나다' is intransitive and means to get up by oneself.