Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '새' primarily means 'bird'. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation to refer to any kind of bird.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '새' when talking about nature, animals, or describing sounds like chirping. It is used in both casual and formal speech without any change in form.
Collocations and Patterns
- 새가 지저귀다: birds chirp — used to describe the sound birds make, often in the morning.
- 새 한 마리: one bird — a common way to count birds using the counter '마리' for animals.
- 새가 날다: a bird flies — describing the action of flying.
Tips for Learners
Be careful not to confuse '새' (bird) with '새' meaning 'new' (which is a different word but pronounced the same). Context usually makes the meaning clear. When counting birds, always use the counter '마리'.
Understanding '새' well will help you talk about nature scenes and animals naturally in Korean.