Meaning and Usage
The verb '주의하다' means 'to pay attention to' or 'to be careful about' something. It is commonly used when advising someone to be cautious or mindful of potential dangers or important details.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '주의하다' in safety instructions, warnings, or polite requests to be attentive, such as in traffic safety, meetings, or when handling medicine.
Collocations and Patterns
- '~에 주의하다': to pay attention to something (e.g., '길에 주의하다' - pay attention to the road)
- '주의를 기울이다': to give careful attention
- '주의를 주다': to warn or give a caution
Register and Politeness
'주의하다' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When making polite requests, it is often combined with '-세요' or '-하십시오' endings.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '주의하다' with '조심하다'. While both mean to be careful, '주의하다' often implies paying attention to something specific, whereas '조심하다' is more about general caution or avoiding harm. For example, '길을 주의하다' (pay attention to the road) vs. '길을 조심하다' (be careful on the road).