Meaning and Usage
The verb '삼다' primarily means 'to make or regard someone or something as' a certain role or status. It is often used when you want to express that you consider or treat a person as a friend, teacher, or other significant figure. Another less common meaning is to make something physically out of a material, such as making shoes out of straw.
Common Collocations
- 친구로 삼다: to make someone your friend
- 스승으로 삼다: to take someone as a teacher
- 짚으로 삼다: to make something out of straw
These collocations show how '삼다' is used to assign a role or create something from a material.
Register and Politeness
'삼다' is a standard verb used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in written or formal speech when describing relationships or roles.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '삼다' with verbs like '만들다' (to make) because of its meaning related to creating something. However, '삼다' often implies a figurative or relational making (e.g., making someone a friend), not just physical creation. Pay attention to the context to choose the correct verb.