Level 4

벌금

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Meaning and Usage

The word '벌금' specifically refers to a monetary penalty imposed as punishment, commonly translated as 'fine' in English. It is used in legal and everyday contexts when someone violates rules or laws, such as traffic violations or minor offenses.

Common Collocations

  • 벌금을 내다: to pay a fine
  • 벌금을 물다: to be fined (literally 'to bear a fine')
  • 벌금형: a sentence of a fine

These collocations are frequently used in news reports, legal discussions, and daily conversations about penalties.

Register and Politeness

'벌금' is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When combined with polite verbs like '내다' or '물다', it fits well in polite speech.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '벌금' with '과태료' (administrative penalty) or '벌' (punishment in general). '벌금' always refers to a monetary fine, so be careful to use it only when talking about money penalties.

Practical Tips

When discussing fines, you can specify the amount by adding a number and currency before '벌금', e.g., '50만 원 벌금'. Also, '벌금을 내다' is a very common phrase to express paying a fine, so practicing this collocation will help in real conversations.

Example Sentences

교통 법규를 어기면 벌금을 내야 합니다.

Gyotong beobgureul eogimyeon beolgeumeul naeya hamnida.

If you break traffic rules, you have to pay a fine.

벌금이 너무 비싸서 감당하기 어렵다.

Beolgeumi neomu bissaseo gamdanghagi eoryeopda.

The fine is too expensive to afford.

법원은 그에게 100만 원의 벌금을 선고했다.

Beobwoneun geuege 100man wonui beolgeumeul seongohaetda.

The court sentenced him to a fine of one million won.