Meaning and Usage
줄어들다 means 'to decrease' or 'to dwindle.' It is often used to describe quantities, amounts, or sizes becoming smaller over time. This verb is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Common Collocations
- 줄어들다 + quantity (e.g., 인구가 줄어들다): to indicate a decrease in numbers or amounts.
- 비용이 줄어들다: costs decrease.
- 근육이 줄어들다: muscles shrink.
Nuances
When using 줄어들다, the focus is on a natural or gradual reduction rather than a sudden drop. It often implies a process happening over time.
Register and Politeness
줄어들다 is neutral and can be used in various speech levels depending on the sentence ending.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 줄어들다 with 줄이다, which means 'to reduce' but is a transitive verb requiring a direct object. 줄어들다 is intransitive and describes the subject itself decreasing.