What does 작다 mean?

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  이 가방은 너무 작아요.

  i ga-bang-eun neo-mu jak-a-yo., i ga bang eun neo mu jak a yo.

  '작다' correctly describes the bag's small size.

• ⭕

  그 사람은 키가 작다.

  geu sa-ram-eun ki-ga jak-da., geu sa ram eun ki ga jak da.

  It's natural and correct to say a person is short using '작다'.

• ⭕

  이 방은 너무 작아서 불편해요.

  i bang-eun neo-mu jak-a-seo bul-pyeon-hae-yo., i bang eun neo mu jak a seo bul pyeon hae yo.

  Correct sentence expressing the room's small size.

• ⭕

  그는 마음이 작다.

  geu-neun ma-eum-i jak-da., geu neun ma eum i jak da.

  Figurative use meaning narrow-minded personality.

• ⭕

  이 사과는 더 작아요.

  i sa-gwa-neun deo jak-a-yo., i sa gwa neun deo jak a yo.

  Correct use of '작다' in comparative form.

• ⭕

  이 신발은 너무 작아요.

  i sin-bal-eun neo-mu jak-a-yo., i sin bal eun neo mu jak a yo.

  Natural expression indicating shoe size is small.

• ❌

  작다 가방은 편해요.

  jak-da ga-bang-eun pyeon-hae-yo., jak da ga bang eun pyeon hae yo.

  '작다' must be changed to '작은' when modifying a noun.

• ❌

  그는 키가 크다 작다.

  geu-neun ki-ga keu-da jak-da., geu neun ki ga keu da jak da.

  Cannot use opposite meanings in the same sentence simultaneously.

1. What is the basic meaning of '작다'?

   '작다'의 기본 뜻은 무엇인가요?('jak-da'uigi-bontteus-eunmu-eos-in-ga-yo?, 'jakda'uigibontteuseunmueosingayo?)
   • 크기가 크다(keu-gi-gakeu-da, keugigakeuda)
   • 크기가 작다(keu-gi-gajak-da, keugigajakda)
   • 양이 많다(yang-iman-da, yangimanda)
   • 양이 많지 않다(yang-iman-jian-da, yangimanjianda)

2. What is the correct form of '작다' before a noun?

   '작다'를 명사 앞에서 쓸 때 올바른 형태는?('jak-da'reulmyeong-saap-e-seosseulttaeol-ba-reunhyeong-tae-neun?, 'jakda'reulmyeongsaapeseosseulttaeolbareunhyeongtaeneun?)
   • 작다(jak-da, jakda)
   • 작은(jak-eun, jakeun)
   • 작게(jak-ge, jakge)
   • 작음(jak-eum, jakeum)

3. Which sentence uses '작다' correctly?

   다음 중 '작다'를 올바르게 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung'jak-da'reulol-ba-reu-gesa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung'jakda'reulolbareugesayonghanmunjangeun?)
   • 이 방은 너무 작아요.(ibang-eunneo-mujak-a-yo., ibangeunneomujakayo.)
   • 작다 집에 살아요.(jak-dajip-esal-a-yo., jakdajipesalayo.)
   • 신발이 작은 맞아요.(sin-bal-ijak-eunmaj-a-yo., sinbalijakeunmajayo.)
   • 그는 키가 크다 작다.(geu-neunki-gakeu-dajak-da., geuneunkigakeudajakda.)