새우다

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Meaning and Usage

The Korean verb '새우다' primarily means 'to stay up all night' or 'to sit up late,' often implying sacrificing sleep for work, study, or other urgent matters. It is commonly used in informal and neutral contexts.

Common Collocations

  • 새우다 밤 (stay up all night): Used when emphasizing the entire night without sleep.
  • 새우지 말다 (don’t stay up): A common expression advising against staying up late.
  • 새우다 공부하다 (stay up studying): Indicates staying awake to study.

Usage Notes

When using '새우다,' the focus is on the act of staying awake through the night, often with a sense of effort or necessity. It is not used for short-term sleeplessness but for prolonged wakefulness, usually overnight.

A common learner mistake is confusing '새우다' with simply '자다' (to sleep) or '일어나다' (to wake up). Remember, '새우다' specifically refers to staying awake all night.

Register and Politeness

'새우다' is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite speech, depending on the sentence ending. It is not formal but is widely acceptable in everyday conversation.

Example Sentences

시험 공부 때문에 어젯밤에 새웠어요.

Siheom gongbu ttaemune eojetbame saeweosseoyo.

I stayed up all night last night because of exam studying.

새우지 말고 일찍 자는 게 건강에 좋아요.

Saeuji malgo iljjik janeun ge geongange joayo.

Instead of staying up all night, going to bed early is better for your health.

그는 프로젝트 마감 때문에 며칠 동안 계속 새웠다.

Geuneun peurojekteu magam ttaemune myeochil dongan gyesok saeweotda.

He stayed up continuously for several days because of the project deadline.