사귀다

§ Understanding 사귀다 (to make friends, to date)

The Korean verb 사귀다 (sa-gwi-da) is super useful and has a couple of main meanings. It can mean 'to form a friendship' or 'to make friends.' It can also mean 'to form a romantic relationship' or 'to date.' The context usually makes it clear which meaning is intended, so don't worry too much about mixing them up.

Meaning 1

To form a friendship; to make friends

When you use 사귀다 in this context, it often refers to the process of becoming friends with someone or maintaining a friendship.

Meaning 2

To form a romantic relationship; to date

This is also a very common usage. When talking about romantic relationships, 사귀다 means 'to date' or 'to be in a relationship.'

§ Grammar and Prepositions with 사귀다

사귀다 is usually used with the particle ~와/과 (~wa/gwa) or ~하고 (~hago) to indicate 'with whom' you are making friends or dating. These particles mean 'and' or 'with'.

• ~와/과 (~wa/gwa): Use ~과 after a word ending in a consonant, and ~와 after a word ending in a vowel. This is a slightly more formal way to say 'with'.
• ~하고 (~hago): This is a more common and conversational way to say 'with'. It can be used with both words ending in a consonant or a vowel.

§ Common Phrases with 사귀다

Here are some common phrases using 사귀다 that you might hear or want to use:

• 친구를 사귀다 (chin-gu-reul sa-gwi-da): To make friends.
• 애인을 사귀다 (ae-in-eul sa-gwi-da): To get a girlfriend/boyfriend (literally 'to make a lover').
• 누구와/하고 사귀다 (nu-gu-wa/ha-go sa-gwi-da): To date someone.
• 잘 사귀다 (jal sa-gwi-da): To get along well (often in the context of friendship or dating).

§ Conjugation of 사귀다

Like all Korean verbs, 사귀다 changes form depending on the politeness level and tense. Here are a few common conjugations:

• Present Tense (Polite): 사귀어요 (sa-gwi-eo-yo)
• Present Tense (Informal): 사귀어 (sa-gwi-eo)
• Past Tense (Polite): 사귀었어요 (sa-gwi-eoss-eo-yo)
• Future Tense (Polite): 사귈 거예요 (sa-gwil geo-ye-yo)

Let's talk about the Korean verb 사귀다. This word is super common, and you'll hear it a lot in everyday conversations. It basically means 'to make friends' or 'to date,' depending on the context.

It’s one of those essential verbs you need to know to talk about relationships, whether platonic or romantic. We’ll break down how to use it and give you some real-world examples.

DEFINITION

to form a friendship or romantic relationship; to make friends / to date

§ 사귀다 at School or Work

You'll frequently hear 사귀다 when people are talking about making new friends, especially in new environments like school or a new job.

It’s natural to talk about wanting to form connections, and 사귀다 is the go-to verb for that.

§ 사귀다 in Dating Conversations

This is probably where you'll hear 사귀다 most often, especially if you watch Korean dramas or listen to K-pop. When referring to romantic relationships, it means 'to date' or 'to be in a relationship.'

You might also hear it in questions like 'Are you two dating?' (두 분 사귀세요?).

§ 사귀다 in News or General Conversations

While less common in news headlines for romantic relationships (they often use terms like '열애 중' meaning 'in a passionate relationship'), you might see 사귀다 in a more general sense of forming connections or alliances.

• When talking about international relations, a country might 'form ties' or 'establish relations' with another. While not a direct translation, the underlying meaning of forming a relationship is there.
• In general conversation, if someone is known for being friendly and easily making friends, people might say '그는 사람들을 잘 사귀는 편이에요' (He's good at making friends).

So, 사귀다 is a versatile verb. Pay attention to the context, and you’ll easily understand its meaning!