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What does 놀다 mean?

놀다 (nol-da, nolda)

'놀다' (nolda) is a Korean verb that primarily means to spend time having fun or relaxing, but it has multiple meanings depending on context.

Korean verb 놀다 meaning to play or be idle

Definition & nuance

Core meaning and shades learners miss.

놀다(nol-da, nolda)

'놀다' mainly means to have fun or relax. It can also mean to be idle without working or for machines/tools to be inactive.

Nuances

  • Focus on fun activities
  • Negative sense of idling without work
  • Inactive state of machines or tools
  • Used with non-human subjects

When to use

Playing with friends, Relaxing, Machine stopped, Idling

In context

'놀다' is used as a verb where the subject is usually a person engaging in leisure activities. It is informal and common in daily conversation. It can also describe machines or tools being inactive, where the subject is an object.

Real-world examples

  • 아이들이 공원에서 놀고 있어요.

    a-i-deul-i gong-won-e-seo nol-go iss-eo-yo., a i deul i gong won e seo nol go iss eo yo.

    '놀다' means spending time having fun.

  • 오늘은 집에서 아무것도 안 하고 놀았어요.

    o-neul-eun jip-e-seo a-mu-geos-do an ha-go nol-ass-eo-yo., o neul eun jip e seo a mu geos do an ha go nol ass eo yo.

    '놀다' means relaxing or idling.

  • 기계가 놀고 있어서 수리해야 해요.

    gi-gye-ga nol-go iss-eo-seo su-ri-hae-ya hae-yo., gi gye ga nol go iss eo seo su ri hae ya hae yo.

    '놀다' describes machines being inactive.

  • 그는 열심히 놀았어요.

    geu-neun yeol-sim-hi nol-ass-eo-yo., geu neun yeol sim hi nol ass eo yo.

    '놀다' does not mean 'to work hard'.

  • 친구와 놀기를 좋아해요.

    chin-gu-wa nol-gi-reul joh-a-hae-yo., chin gu wa nol gi reul joh a hae yo.

    '놀다' means spending fun time with friends.

  • 그는 놀면서 공부했어요.

    geu-neun nol-myeon-seo gong-bu-haess-eo-yo., geu neun nol myeon seo gong bu haess eo yo.

    '놀다' and 'study' are contradictory actions.

Quick quiz

  1. What is the basic meaning of '놀다'?

    '놀다'의 기본 의미는 무엇인가요?('nol-da'uigi-bonui-mi-neunmu-eos-in-ga-yo?, 'nolda'uigibonuimineunmueosingayo?)

  2. Which sentence uses '놀다' incorrectly?

    다음 중 '놀다'를 잘못 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung'nol-da'reuljal-mossa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung'nolda'reuljalmossayonghanmunjangeun?)

  3. What does '놀다' mean when used for machines?

    '놀다'가 기계에 쓰일 때 의미는?('nol-da'gagi-gye-esseu-ilttaeui-mi-neun?, 'nolda'gagigyeesseuilttaeuimineun?)

More meaning guides

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