Meaning and Usage
The verb '반기다' means to be glad or to welcome someone or something warmly. It is often used when expressing happiness or positive reception towards people, guests, or new ideas.
Common Contexts
You will frequently hear '반기다' in social situations where someone is greeting a friend or guest warmly. It can also be used in more abstract contexts, such as welcoming changes or new concepts.
Collocations and Patterns
- '친구를 반기다' (to be glad to see a friend): used when meeting someone familiar after a while.
- '손님을 반기다' (to welcome guests): common in hospitality or service contexts.
- '새로운 아이디어를 반기다' (to welcome new ideas): used in professional or creative settings.
Register and Politeness
'반기다' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the surrounding sentence structure will determine the overall politeness.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '반기다' with simply '기쁘다' (to be happy). '반기다' specifically implies welcoming or greeting with gladness, often directed at a person or thing arriving or appearing, rather than a general feeling of happiness.