Meaning and Usage
The verb '자랑하다' means 'to boast' or 'to be proud of something or someone.' It is often used when someone wants to express pride in their own achievements or in people or things related to them.
Common Contexts
You can use '자랑하다' when talking about personal accomplishments, family members, or possessions that you feel proud of. It can carry a positive meaning of pride or a negative nuance of bragging depending on the context.
Collocations and Patterns
- 자랑하다 + (object): to boast about something
- 자랑스럽다 (adjective form): to be proud
- 자랑거리 (noun): something to be proud of
Register and Politeness
'자랑하다' is a neutral verb and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, when advising someone not to boast, it is common to use polite forms like '자랑하지 마세요.'
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '자랑하다' with simply 'pride' (자부심). Remember, '자랑하다' is an action verb meaning to boast or show pride, while '자부심' is a noun meaning pride as a feeling or state.