Meaning and Usage
The word '상당수' refers to a considerable or significant number of people or things. It is often used in formal or written contexts such as reports, surveys, or discussions to indicate a large portion without specifying an exact number.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see '상당수' used when talking about survey results, public opinions, or groups within a population. It emphasizes that the number is not just a few but enough to be noteworthy.
Collocations and Patterns
- 상당수의 + noun: used to specify a considerable number of something (e.g., 상당수의 사람들 - a considerable number of people).
- 상당수 + verb: often followed by verbs like '있다' or '보이다' to describe existence or appearance of a significant number.
Register and Nuance
'상당수' is neutral to formal in tone, suitable for academic, journalistic, or professional settings. It is less common in casual conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '상당수' with vague quantifiers like '많이' (many) or '대부분' (most). Remember, '상당수' implies a significant but not necessarily majority portion, so it is more precise than '많이' but less than '대부분'.