Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '목숨' specifically refers to 'life' or 'one's life' in a very concrete and often serious sense. It is commonly used when talking about life in contexts involving danger, risk, or survival.
Common Collocations
- 목숨을 걸다: to risk one's life, often used when someone takes a serious risk.
- 목숨을 구하다: to save a life, used in contexts of rescue or medical help.
- 목숨이 위태롭다: life is in danger, describing a critical or life-threatening situation.
Register and Nuance
'목숨' is a neutral noun but often appears in serious or dramatic contexts. It is not used for abstract life concepts but for the physical life of a person or animal. It can appear in both formal and informal speech but is more common in news, stories, or serious conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '목숨' with '생명' (saengmyeong), which also means life but is more scientific or biological. '목숨' is more about the personal, lived life and its risk or value in everyday or dramatic contexts.
Use '목숨' when emphasizing the preciousness or danger to life rather than the abstract concept of life itself.