복사하다 vs 붙여넣다: Basics of Computer Operations

복사하다 (bok-sa-ha-da, boksahada) · 붙여넣다 (but-yeo-neoh-da, butyeoneohda)

복사하다 means to duplicate data, while 붙여넣다 means to insert the copied data at a desired location.

Comparison of Korean words 복사하다 and 붙여넣다 with example sentences

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

복사하다(bok-sa-ha-da, boksahada)

To duplicate data exactly as the original

When to use

File duplication, Text copying, Image copying

The nuance

Use 복사하다 when duplicating original data exactly, such as files, text, or images on a computer.

붙여넣다(but-yeo-neoh-da, butyeoneohda)

To insert copied data into a desired location

When to use

Paste after copy, Text pasting, File pasting

The nuance

Use 붙여넣다 when inserting copied data into another location, only after copying; it is not used for duplicating the original itself.

Real-world examples

  • 파일을 복사하다가 컴퓨터가 멈췄어요.

    pa-il-eul bok-sa-ha-da-ga keom-pyu-teo-ga meom-chwoss-eo-yo., pa il eul bok sa ha da ga keom pyu teo ga meom chwoss eo yo.

    '복사하다' correctly describes duplicating the original file.

  • 파일을 붙여넣다가 컴퓨터가 멈췄어요.

    pa-il-eul but-yeo-neoh-da-ga keom-pyu-teo-ga meom-chwoss-eo-yo., pa il eul but yeo neoh da ga keom pyu teo ga meom chwoss eo yo.

    '붙여넣다' correctly describes pasting the copied file into another location.

  • 문서를 붙여넣다.

    mun-seo-reul but-yeo-neoh-da., mun seo reul but yeo neoh da.

    For duplicating the original document, use '복사하다'. '붙여넣다' is only for inserting copied content.

  • 텍스트를 복사한 다음 붙여넣으세요.

    tek-seu-teu-reul bok-sa-han da-eum but-yeo-neoh-eu-se-yo., tek seu teu reul bok sa han da eum but yeo neoh eu se yo.

    Correctly describes the sequence: copy text, then paste it.

  • 복사하지 않고 바로 붙여넣다.

    bok-sa-ha-ji an-go ba-ro but-yeo-neoh-da., bok sa ha ji an go ba ro but yeo neoh da.

    '붙여넣다' requires prior copying; cannot paste without copying first.

  • 이미지를 복사해서 다른 폴더에 붙여넣었다.

    i-mi-ji-reul bok-sa-hae-seo da-reun pol-deo-e but-yeo-neoh-eoss-da., i mi ji reul bok sa hae seo da reun pol deo e but yeo neoh eoss da.

    Correctly describes copying an image and pasting it into another folder.

  • 복사하다가 붙여넣다를 생략해도 된다.

    bok-sa-ha-da-ga but-yeo-neoh-da-reul saeng-ryak-hae-do doen-da., bok sa ha da ga but yeo neoh da reul saeng ryak hae do doen da.

    Copying and pasting are distinct steps; you cannot omit pasting after copying.

  • 텍스트를 복사해서 이메일에 붙여넣었어요.

    tek-seu-teu-reul bok-sa-hae-seo i-me-il-e but-yeo-neoh-eoss-eo-yo., tek seu teu reul bok sa hae seo i me il e but yeo neoh eoss eo yo.

    Correct example of copying text and pasting it into an email.

Quick quiz

  1. Which sentence is correct? '문서를 ___.'

    아래 문장 중 올바른 표현은? '문서를 ___.'(a-raemun-jangjungol-ba-reunpyo-hyeon-eun?'mun-seo-reul___.', araemunjangjungolbareunpyohyeoneun?'munseoreul___.')
  2. Which word is used when inserting copied text into another document?

    복사한 텍스트를 다른 문서에 넣을 때 사용하는 단어는?(bok-sa-hantek-seu-teu-reulda-reunmun-seo-eneoh-eulttaesa-yong-ha-neundan-eo-neun?, boksahantekseuteureuldareunmunseoeneoheulttaesayonghaneundaneoneun?)
  3. Which is correct? '파일을 ___ 중입니다.'

    '파일을 ___ 중입니다.'가 올바른 표현은?('pa-il-eul___jung-ip-ni-da.'gaol-ba-reunpyo-hyeon-eun?, 'paileul___jungipnida.'gaolbareunpyohyeoneun?)

More comparisons to explore

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