Meaning and Usage
The Korean word '수컷' specifically refers to the male of an animal species. It is used in biological or everyday contexts when distinguishing gender among animals.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '수컷' when talking about animals in nature documentaries, pet care, or biology classes. It is a neutral term without any particular formality or politeness level.
Collocations and Patterns
- 수컷과 암컷 (male and female): used to compare or distinguish genders.
- 수컷 사자 (male lion): specifying the male animal in a species.
- 수컷 고양이 (male cat): common when describing pets or animals.
Usage Notes
'수컷' is strictly used for animals, not humans. For humans, words like '남자' (man) or '남성' (male) are used instead. A common learner mistake is to use '수컷' when referring to men, which sounds unnatural and inappropriate.
Summary
Use '수컷' when you want to talk about the male animal counterpart clearly and naturally. It helps specify gender in animal-related conversations without ambiguity.