bu

Part, a section

TOPIK 4

Meaning and Usage

The Korean word '부' primarily means 'part' or 'section' and is commonly used to refer to divisions within organizations, books, or objects. It can denote a department in a company, a section of a text, or a component of a machine.

Common Collocations

  • '마케팅 부' (marketing department): refers to the marketing division in a company.
  • '책의 부' (part of a book): used when dividing a book into sections.
  • '자동차 부품' (car parts): '부' appears in compound nouns related to parts or components.

Register and Politeness

'부' is a neutral noun used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in professional or academic settings.

Usage Tips

When using '부' to refer to departments, it often follows the name of the function or role (e.g., '인사 부' for HR department). Avoid confusing '부' with '부분', which also means 'part' but is more general and less formal. '부' tends to be used in official or organizational contexts.

Example Sentences

회사의 마케팅 부에서 일하고 있어요.

Hoesaui maketing bueseo ilhago isseoyo.

I work in the marketing department of the company.

책의 첫 부는 서론입니다.

Chaegui cheot buneun seoronimnida.

The first part of the book is the introduction.

이 부품은 자동차 부에 사용됩니다.

I bupumeun jadongcha bue sayongdoemnida.

This part is used in the car's component section.