Meaning and Usage
돌멩이 refers to a small stone or pebble, commonly found outdoors. It is a concrete noun used in everyday conversation to describe small rocks that are often encountered on roads, parks, or natural settings.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 돌멩이 when talking about children playing outside, describing the terrain, or when something is damaged by a small stone. It is a neutral word without any formal or informal connotations.
Collocations and Patterns
- 돌멩이를 주워요 (pick up stones): common when describing children or people collecting stones.
- 돌멩이가 많다 (there are many stones): used to describe a place with many small stones.
- 돌멩이로 던지다 (throw stones): used when someone throws stones, often in stories or descriptions.
Tips
Be careful not to confuse 돌멩이 with 큰돌 (big stone) or 바위 (rock), which refer to larger stones or rocks. 돌멩이 always implies a small size. This word is useful for describing natural environments or simple actions involving small stones.