Meaning and Usage
The verb '어려워지다' means 'to become difficult' or 'to get harder.' It is a combination of the adjective '어렵다' (difficult) and the verb ending '-아/어지다,' which indicates a change of state. This verb is commonly used to describe situations, conditions, or tasks that become more challenging over time.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '어려워지다' in contexts related to exams, work, weather, or economic conditions. For example, when a test becomes harder, or when circumstances worsen, this verb naturally fits.
Collocations and Patterns
- 시험이 어려워지다: the exam becomes difficult
- 상황이 어려워지다: the situation becomes difficult
- 일이 어려워지다: the work becomes difficult
These collocations help express increasing difficulty in various contexts.
Register and Politeness
'어려워지다' is neutral in politeness and can be used in both formal and informal speech depending on the sentence ending.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '어려워지다' with '어렵다.' Remember, '어렵다' describes a current state of difficulty, while '어려워지다' emphasizes the process of becoming difficult. Use '어려워지다' when you want to highlight that something is getting harder over time.