Break in Korean 🇰🇷

끊어지다 info.

Tips to Remember:
• Notice that 끊어지다 comes from 끊다 (“to cut, break off”) with the suffix -어지다, which implies a state change—something becomes broken or disconnected. Think of a phone call suddenly dropping ("끊어져") to remember its usage.
• The repeated “ㄴ” sound in 끊어지다 might remind you of something snapping into pieces or connections cutting off completely.

Explanations:
• 끊어지다 is a verb meaning “to break” or “to get cut off,” often used for signals, phone calls, or connections, as well as for physical things becoming disconnected.
• The term implies an unintentional or sudden break rather than an intentional act.

Other Words with Similar Meanings:
• 부서지다 (buseojida) – meaning “to break apart or shatter.”
• 깨지다 (kkaejida) – meaning “to break or crack,” often used for objects like glass.
• although each may have its own nuance, 끊어지다 is specifically used when something becomes disconnected or ceases functioning.

Conjugations:
Base form (infinitive): 끊어지다 (kkeun-eojida)

Present (Descriptive/Formal):
• Dictionary form (present state): 끊어지다
• Informal present: 끊어져 (kkeun-eojyeo)
Example: 전화가 끊어져. (Jeonhwaga kkeun-eojyeo.) – “The phone call is disconnected.”

Past:
• Past informal: 끊어졌다 (kkeun-eojyeotda)
Example: 회의 도중에 전화가 끊어졌다. (Hoeui dojunge jeonhwaga kkeun-eojyeotda.) – “The phone call broke during the meeting.”

Future:
• Future informal: 끊어질 거야 (kkeun-eojil geoya)
Example: 만약 네트워크가 불안하면 연결이 끊어질 거야. (Manyag network-ga buranhame yeongyeol-i kkeun-eojil geoya.) – “If the network isn’t stable, the connection will be cut off.”

Conjugation in Polite/Formal Speech:
Present (Polite): 끊어져요 (kkeun-eojyeoyo)
Past (Polite): 끊어졌어요 (kkeun-eojyeosseoyo)
Future (Polite): 끊어질 거예요 (kkeun-eojil geoyeyo)

Examples of Sentences:
1. A phone call scenario:
Korean: 통화 중에 전화가 끊어졌어요.
Romanized: Tonghwa junge jeonhwaga kkeun-eojyeosseoyo.
English: “The phone call was cut off during the conversation.”

2. A description of a broken connection:
Korean: 인터넷 연결이 갑자기 끊어져요.
Romanized: Inteones yeongyeoli gapjagi kkeun-eojyeoyo.
English: “The internet connection suddenly got broken.”

3. Talking about a broken appliance:
Korean: 오래된 라디오가 끊어져서 쓸 수 없어요.
Romanized: Oraedoen radio-ga kkeun-eojyeoseo sseul su eopseoyo.
English: “The old radio is broken so it can’t be used.”

4. A metaphorical use (relationship break):
Korean: 그들의 관계가 여러 번 끊어졌어요.
Romanized: Geudeul-ui gwangyega yeoreo beon kkeun-eojyeosseoyo.
English: “Their relationship broke down several times.”

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