Meaning and Usage
The verb '늦추다' means to delay or postpone something, often referring to time-related events such as meetings, deadlines, or schedules. It is a transitive verb, so it requires an object, typically a time or deadline.
Common Contexts
'늦추다' is frequently used in formal and informal contexts when plans or schedules need to be pushed back. It often appears with words like '시간' (time), '마감일' (deadline), or '출발' (departure).
Collocations and Patterns
- '시간을 늦추다': to delay the time
- '마감일을 늦추다': to postpone the deadline
- '출발 시간을 늦추다': to delay the departure time
These collocations are common in work, school, and daily life situations.
Register and Politeness
'늦추다' is neutral in politeness and can be used in both casual and formal speech. When speaking politely, it is often combined with polite endings like '-요' or '-습니다'.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '늦추다' with '미루다', which also means to postpone. However, '늦추다' specifically implies pushing something to a later time, often with a nuance of adjusting a scheduled time, while '미루다' can mean to put off or delay more generally, including tasks or responsibilities.
Use '늦추다' when emphasizing the time aspect of postponement.