Meaning and Usage
The verb '늘이다' primarily means to stretch, extend, or make something longer. It is often used with physical objects like fabric or hair, but can also apply to abstract concepts such as time or quantity.
Common Contexts
- Stretching materials: fabric, rubber bands, or other flexible items.
- Extending length: hair growth or physical dimensions.
- Increasing duration or amount: extending meeting times or deadlines.
Collocations and Patterns
- '시간을 늘이다' (to extend time): used when increasing the duration of an event or activity.
- '머리를 늘이다' (to grow hair longer): commonly used when talking about hair length.
- '폭을 늘이다' (to widen): used when making something broader.
Register and Politeness
'늘이다' is a standard verb used in both formal and informal contexts. It is neutral in politeness and can be conjugated accordingly.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '늘이다' with '늘다' which means 'to increase' or 'to grow' by itself without the causative sense. Remember, '늘이다' implies an action done to make something longer or bigger, while '늘다' describes something increasing naturally or by itself.