Meaning and Usage
The verb '늦어지다' means 'to become late' or 'to be delayed.' It is commonly used to describe situations where an event, appointment, or action happens later than planned or expected.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '늦어지다' when talking about transportation delays, meetings, deadlines, or any scheduled plans that do not start or finish on time.
Collocations and Patterns
- '회의가 늦어지다' (the meeting is delayed): used in professional or formal contexts.
- '버스가 늦어지다' (the bus is late): common in daily conversation about public transport.
- '일이 늦어지다' (work is delayed): used when tasks or projects take longer than expected.
Register and Politeness
'늦어지다' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. When speaking politely, it is often combined with polite endings like '-어요' or '-습니다.'
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse '늦다' (to be late) with '늦어지다.' Remember, '늦다' is an adjective describing the state of being late, while '늦어지다' is a verb indicating that something becomes late or is delayed over time.