Meaning and Usage
'일부러' means 'on purpose' or 'intentionally' and is used to express that an action was done deliberately, not by accident. It often emphasizes the speaker's awareness or intention behind the action.
Common Contexts
You will hear '일부러' in everyday conversations when someone wants to clarify that something was done with intention, whether positive or negative. It can be used to explain behavior, justify actions, or accuse someone of deliberate acts.
Collocations and Patterns
- 일부러 늦다: to be late on purpose
- 일부러 그런 건 아니다: it's not done intentionally
- 일부러 피하다: to avoid someone intentionally
These collocations show how '일부러' modifies verbs to highlight intentionality.
Register and Politeness
'일부러' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal speech. It fits well in spoken and written Korean.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '일부러' with '우연히' (by chance). Remember, '일부러' always implies intention, while '우연히' means something happened accidentally or coincidentally.