Meaning and Usage
The verb '들이다' primarily means to spend or invest something intangible, such as effort, time, or attention. It is often used when emphasizing the amount of resources (especially non-material ones) devoted to an activity or task.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see '들이다' in contexts related to work, study, or any activity requiring dedication. For example, '노력을 들이다' (to put in effort), '시간을 들이다' (to spend time), and '신경을 들이다' (to pay attention).
Collocations and Patterns
- '노력을 들이다': to put in effort, used when emphasizing hard work.
- '시간을 들이다': to spend time, highlighting time investment.
- '신경을 들이다': to pay attention or care, often about details or concerns.
Register and Politeness
'들이다' is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Korean. It is common in formal and informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '들이다' with '들다' (to enter or to cost). Remember that '들이다' specifically refers to investing or spending intangible resources, not physical entering or simple cost.
Use '들이다' when you want to express the act of dedicating effort, time, or attention to something.