Meaning and Usage
The adjective '까다롭다' describes something or someone that is difficult to deal with, complicated, or picky. It often implies a sense of annoyance or the need for extra care and attention.
Common Contexts
- Personality: When describing a person who is hard to please or has strict standards.
- Tasks or problems: When something is complicated or requires careful handling.
- Customers or clients: When referring to someone who is demanding or particular about service.
Collocations and Patterns
- 까다로운 성격 (a difficult personality): Used to describe someone who is hard to get along with.
- 까다로운 문제 (a complicated problem): Refers to issues that are not easy to solve.
- 까다로운 손님 (a picky customer): Describes customers who have high or strict demands.
Register and Politeness
'까다롭다' is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Korean. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts depending on the sentence.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '까다롭다' with simply 'difficult' (어렵다). However, '까다롭다' often carries a nuance of being fussy or requiring careful attention, not just difficulty. Use it when you want to emphasize complexity combined with a sense of annoyance or fussiness.