Usage of the suffix '-용'
The suffix '-용' is attached to nouns to indicate the purpose or intended use of an object or service. It translates roughly as "for [something]" in English. This suffix is very common in everyday Korean to specify what something is designed or meant for.
Common contexts
You will often see '-용' used with items, places, or services to clarify their target users or functions, such as '학생용' (for students), '어린이용' (for children), or '사무용' (for office use).
Collocations and patterns
- 'Noun + 용': indicates the purpose or intended user of an item.
- 'Noun + 용 + 으로': used to express "for the purpose of" or "intended for".
Register and formality
'-용' is neutral and widely used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a productive suffix that helps make descriptions precise.
Common learner mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '-용' with '-에' or '-을/를 위한' which also express purpose but are used differently grammatically. Remember '-용' is a suffix attached directly to nouns, not a separate particle or phrase.