Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '수십' means 'tens of' and is used to indicate an approximate quantity ranging from twenty to ninety, often implying a considerable but not exact number. It is commonly used with countable nouns such as people, years, attempts, or objects.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '수십' in contexts describing quantities in business, history, or everyday life, such as '수십 명' (tens of people), '수십 년' (tens of years), or '수십 번' (tens of times).
Collocations and Patterns
- 수십 명: tens of people, used when referring to a group size.
- 수십 년: tens of years, used to express a long period.
- 수십 번: tens of times, used to describe repeated actions.
Register and Nuance
'수십' is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Korean. It conveys an approximate quantity rather than an exact count, so it is often used when the exact number is unknown or unnecessary.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '수십' with '수백' (hundreds) or '수천' (thousands). Remember that '수십' specifically refers to quantities in the tens range, so using it for larger quantities can cause misunderstandings.