Meaning and Usage
"그러하다" is a formal or literary verb meaning "to be so" or "to be as stated." It is often used in written or formal spoken Korean to confirm or assert that something is exactly as described or believed.
Context and Register
This verb is not common in casual conversation but appears in formal writing, news reports, academic texts, or polite speech. It conveys certainty or affirmation about a fact or statement.
Common Collocations
- "~이/가 그러하다": to state that something is so.
- "사실이 그러하다": the fact is so.
- "말이 그러하다": the words are so.
These collocations emphasize the truth or correctness of a statement.
Usage Tips
Learners often confuse "그러하다" with the more common "그렇다." "그러하다" is more formal and literary, while "그렇다" is used in everyday speech. Use "그러하다" when you want to sound formal or when writing.
Summary
Use "그러하다" to formally affirm that something is exactly as stated, especially in writing or formal contexts. It helps express certainty and is often paired with nouns like "사실" (fact) or "말" (words).