Meaning and Usage
The verb '지급하다' primarily means 'to pay' or 'to provide money or resources officially or formally.' It is often used in contexts involving salaries, bonuses, government subsidies, or any formal payment.
Common Contexts
You will frequently encounter '지급하다' in business, legal, and governmental settings. For example, companies use it when talking about paying employees, and governments use it when distributing aid or benefits.
Collocations and Patterns
- '월급을 지급하다' (to pay a monthly salary): Common in workplace contexts.
- '지원금을 지급하다' (to provide support funds): Used in social welfare or disaster relief.
- '보너스를 지급하다' (to pay a bonus): Often appears in employment contracts or HR discussions.
Register and Formality
'지급하다' is a formal verb and is appropriate in official documents, news reports, and formal speech. It is less common in casual conversation where simpler verbs like '주다' (to give) might be used.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse '지급하다' with '지불하다,' both meaning 'to pay.' However, '지급하다' often implies an official or systematic payment, while '지불하다' is more general and can be used for everyday payments like bills or purchases. Use '지급하다' when referring to formal or institutional payments.