Meaning and Usage
The Korean noun '부담' refers to a burden, responsibility, or pressure that someone feels. It can be physical, emotional, financial, or social.
Common Contexts
You often hear '부담' in everyday conversation when talking about stress or difficulty caused by tasks, money, or social expectations. It can describe something heavy or difficult to handle.
Politeness and Tone
'부담' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When combined with '없이' (without), as in '부담 없이', it means 'without pressure' or 'feel free to'. This phrase is very common in invitations or when encouraging someone to relax.
Common Collocations
- 부담을 느끼다: to feel a burden or pressure
- 부담이 되다: to become a burden
- 부담 없이: without burden, freely
- 경제적 부담: financial burden
Learner Tips
A common mistake is confusing '부담' with '책임' (responsibility). While both can mean responsibility, '부담' emphasizes the feeling of pressure or difficulty, whereas '책임' is more about duty or obligation. Use '부담' when you want to express stress or heaviness related to a task or situation.