Level 4

감소

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Meaning and Usage

The noun '감소' refers to a decrease or reduction in quantity, size, or intensity. It is commonly used in formal or written contexts such as news reports, scientific discussions, and official statements.

Common Contexts

You will often see '감소' used with statistics or measurable quantities like population, birth rates, consumption, or production. It is a neutral term without emotional connotations.

Collocations and Patterns

  • '감소하다': to decrease (verb form)
  • '감소 추세': decreasing trend
  • '감소 원인': cause of decrease
  • '감소 폭': extent or range of decrease

These collocations help specify the nature or degree of the decrease.

Register and Politeness

'감소' is a formal noun and is mostly used in written or formal spoken Korean. In casual conversation, Koreans might use verbs like '줄다' or '적어지다' instead.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '감소' with '줄다'. While both mean decrease, '감소' is a noun often paired with '하다', and '줄다' is a verb. Use '감소' in formal contexts and '줄다' in everyday speech.

Example Sentences

최근 몇 년 동안 출산율이 크게 감소했다.

Choegeun myeot nyeon dongan chulsanryuri keuge gamsohaetda.

In recent years, the birth rate has significantly decreased.

에너지 소비 감소를 위해 전기 사용을 줄여야 한다.

Eneoji sobi gamsoreul wihae jeongi sayongeul juryeoya handa.

To reduce energy consumption, we need to cut down on electricity use.

감소 추세가 멈추고 다시 증가하기 시작했다.

Gamso chusega meomchugo dasi jeunggahagi sijakhaetda.

The decreasing trend stopped and started to increase again.