Meaning and Usage
The verb '쫓다' primarily means 'to chase' or 'to drive away.' It is often used when someone or something is pursuing another person or animal, or when trying to make someone leave a place.
Common Contexts
You will hear '쫓다' in contexts involving pursuit, such as police chasing a suspect, animals chasing prey, or even someone trying to get rid of unwanted visitors.
Collocations and Patterns
- 쫓아가다: to chase after someone or something
- 쫓겨나다: to be driven out or expelled
- 계속 쫓다: to keep chasing
These collocations help express continuous action or the result of being forced to leave.
Register and Politeness
'쫓다' is a neutral verb and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the surrounding sentence structure will determine the overall politeness.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '쫓다' with '좇다' (to follow or pursue an abstract goal). Remember, '쫓다' is physical chasing or driving away, while '좇다' is more figurative pursuit.