Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '수만' literally means 'tens of thousands' and is used to express a large but approximate quantity, typically in the range of 20,000 to 90,000. It is often used in contexts involving populations, quantities of items, or large groups of people.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see '수만' in news reports, business contexts, and everyday conversations when emphasizing a large number without specifying an exact figure. For example, '수만 명' (tens of thousands of people) is a common collocation.
Collocations and Patterns
- 수만 명: tens of thousands of people, used to describe large crowds or populations.
- 수만 가지: tens of thousands of kinds/types, used when referring to a vast variety.
- 수만 원: tens of thousands of won, used when talking about money in the tens of thousands range.
Register and Nuance
'수만' is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Korean. It conveys an approximate large quantity rather than an exact number, so it is useful when the speaker wants to emphasize scale without precision.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '수만' with exact numbers or smaller quantities. Remember, '수만' always implies a large, approximate number in the tens of thousands, not a precise count. Avoid using it when you need to specify an exact figure.