At the A1 level, the word '독해하다' might be a bit advanced, as beginners usually focus on the simple verb '읽다' (to read). However, it is helpful to know that '독해' exists as a concept. At this stage, you are just starting to recognize Korean characters (Hangul). You might 'read' (읽다) a word like '우유' (milk) or '학교' (school). '독해하다' would describe the very first time you look at a short sentence and realize what it means. For an A1 learner, '독해' is the 'aha!' moment when the sounds you are reading turn into a real thought in your head. You won't use this word often in conversation yet, but you might see it in your textbook instructions, such as '지문을 읽고 독해하세요' (Read the passage and comprehend it). It's a formal way of saying 'understand what you read'.
As an A2 learner, you are beginning to read longer sentences and short paragraphs. You are moving from just 'reading' (voicing words) to 'comprehending' (understanding the story). This is where '독해하다' becomes more relevant. You might use it to describe your study process. For example, '저는 매일 짧은 한국어 동화를 독해해요' (I read and comprehend short Korean fairy tales every day). At this level, you start to encounter '독해' as a category in your study materials. You might have a '독해' workbook that helps you practice finding the main subject of a sentence. You are learning that reading is not just about knowing the letters, but about 'untieing' (해) the meaning of the words (독). You will also start to notice that '독해' is used more in school-like settings than in casual talk with friends.
At the B1 level, '독해하다' is a word you should be using and encountering regularly. You are now reading news articles, longer stories, and more complex instructions. You are likely preparing for exams like TOPIK II, where '독해' is a major section. At this stage, '독해하다' means more than just understanding the basic meaning; it involves understanding the relationship between sentences and the author's purpose. You might say, '이 신문 기사는 어휘가 어려워서 독해하기가 힘들어요' (This newspaper article is hard to comprehend because the vocabulary is difficult). You are also learning to pair '독해하다' with adverbs like '정확하게' (accurately) or '빠르게' (quickly). This level is where you transition from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn,' and '독해하다' is the primary verb for that intellectual activity.
By the B2 level, you are expected to '독해하다' a wide variety of texts, including those with abstract concepts or technical language. You use this word to describe the analysis of literature, editorial pieces, or professional documents. You understand that '독해' is a skill that can be improved with practice. You might discuss '독해 전략' (reading comprehension strategies) like skimming and scanning. At this level, you can distinguish between '독해하다' and '해독하다' (to decode) or '파악하다' (to grasp). You might say, '작가의 의도를 독해하는 것이 이 문제의 핵심입니다' (Comprehending the author's intention is the key to this problem). You are comfortable using the word in formal discussions about education, media, or complex topics, and you recognize it in academic lectures and high-level news broadcasts.
At the C1 level, '독해하다' takes on a more analytical and critical nuance. You aren't just understanding the text; you are 'reading' between the lines. You might use the word to describe the interpretation of subtle social cues in a text or the deconstruction of a philosophical argument. You can '독해하다' complex legal codes or academic papers with high precision. At this stage, you might even use the word metaphorically, such as '사회적 현상을 독해하다' (to read/interpret social phenomena). Your '독해력' (reading comprehension power) is now at a level where you can handle nuances, irony, and cultural references without much external help. You use '독해하다' in scholarly writing and professional presentations to describe the rigorous analysis of source materials.
At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of '독해하다'. You use it to describe the highest levels of textual analysis, such as interpreting classical literature written with heavy Hanja influence or contemporary post-modern texts. You might engage in '비판적 독해' (critical reading comprehension), where you question the validity and bias of a text as you read it. The word is a tool for you to discuss the deep structures of language and thought. You can appreciate the '독해' of others, such as a critic's interpretation of a complex novel. For you, '독해하다' is not a struggle but a sophisticated cognitive exercise. You might even use the term in discussions about artificial intelligence and its ability (or inability) to truly '독해' human language with all its emotional and cultural baggage.

독해하다 in 30 Sekunden

  • 독해하다 means 'to read and comprehend.' It focuses on the mental process of understanding meaning rather than just the physical act of reading words.
  • This verb is highly formal and academic. You will mostly find it in school settings, language exams like TOPIK, or when discussing complex documents.
  • It is a compound of the Hanja '독' (read) and '해' (untie/understand). It implies 'unlocking' the meaning of a text through careful analysis and thought.
  • Commonly used with objects like '지문' (passage) or '계약서' (contract), and paired with adverbs like '정확하게' (accurately) to describe the quality of comprehension.

The Korean verb 독해하다 (讀解--) is a sophisticated term that goes beyond the simple physical act of reading. While the common verb '읽다' refers to the action of looking at words and voicing them or processing them mentally, 독해하다 specifically emphasizes the cognitive process of comprehension, analysis, and interpretation of written text. It is composed of two Hanja characters: 독 (讀), meaning 'to read,' and 해 (解), meaning 'to untie, explain, or understand.' Therefore, to '독해하다' is to 'read and untie' the meaning hidden within the sentences. This word is most frequently encountered in academic, professional, and formal contexts, particularly when discussing literature, complex reports, or standardized testing.

Academic Context
In the Korean education system, '독해' is a core pillar of language learning. Students don't just 'read' English or Korean; they '독해' passages to find main ideas, inferences, and logical structures. If you are taking the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) or the CSAT (Suneung), you will spend a significant amount of time practicing your '독해 능력' (reading comprehension skills).

수험생들은 복잡한 비문학 지문을 빠르고 정확하게 독해해야 합니다. (Examinees must read and comprehend complex non-literary passages quickly and accurately.)

Beyond the classroom, this verb is used when dealing with difficult materials like legal documents, philosophical treatises, or technical manuals. It implies a level of effort and mental engagement. You wouldn't typically use 독해하다 for a simple text message from a friend or a grocery list; those are just '읽다'. You use 독해하다 when the text requires you to 'crack the code' or deeply process the information to grasp the author's intent.

Professional Usage
In a corporate setting, an analyst might need to 독해하다 a market trend report that is several hundred pages long. This involves synthesizing data and understanding the underlying implications, not just seeing the words on the page.

전문적인 법률 용어로 가득 찬 계약서를 독해하는 것은 쉽지 않은 일입니다. (Comprehending a contract full of professional legal terminology is not an easy task.)

Culturally, Koreans value '독해력' (reading comprehension ability) as a sign of high intelligence and education. Since Korean history and language have been deeply influenced by Classical Chinese (Hanja), being able to read and interpret dense texts has long been a mark of the scholarly class. Today, this translates into the heavy emphasis on reading sections in various certification exams.

Nuance Comparison
While '이해하다' (to understand) can apply to spoken words, feelings, or situations, '독해하다' is strictly reserved for written text. You can understand (이해하다) a friend's sadness, but you read and understand (독해하다) their long, complex letter.

고전 문학을 깊이 있게 독해하기 위해서는 당시의 시대적 배경을 알아야 합니다. (In order to deeply comprehend classical literature, one must know the historical background of that time.)

Using 독해하다 correctly requires placing it in contexts where 'understanding' is the primary goal of the reading. It is an active verb that often takes an object—the material being read. Common objects include 지문 (passage), 문장 (sentence), 글 (writing), 서적 (books), and 계약서 (contracts). Because it is a formal word, it is often conjugated in the polite (해요) or formal (합니다) styles, though it can appear in plain form in written essays.

Objective Usage
When you want to say you are studying for a reading test, you say '독해 공부를 하다' or '독해 문제를 풀다'. When you are actually in the process of reading the text to find the answer, you are '독해하고 있다'.

저는 매일 아침 영문 뉴스를 한 편씩 독해하며 실력을 쌓고 있습니다. (I am building my skills by reading and comprehending one English news article every morning.)

In a sentence, 독해하다 often pairs with adverbs that describe the quality of comprehension. Adverbs like '정확하게' (accurately), '빠르게' (quickly), '심도 있게' (deeply), or '비판적으로' (critically) are frequently used to specify how the person is reading. This highlights that the action is not just passive but a targeted skill.

Passive vs. Active
While '독해하다' is active, you might hear '독해되다' (to be comprehended/readable) when referring to the text itself. If a text is too hard, you might say '독해가 안 돼요' (Comprehension isn't happening/I can't understand it).

이 문장은 구조가 너무 복잡해서 독해하기가 매우 힘듭니다. (This sentence structure is so complex that it is very difficult to read and comprehend.)

When discussing language proficiency, particularly for English learners in Korea, you will see '독해' used as a subject name. In a sentence like '영어 독해 실력이 늘었어요' (My English reading comprehension skills have improved), the noun form is used to describe a specific domain of language ability. It is distinct from '회화' (conversation) or '청취' (listening).

Adverbial Pairings
Commonly paired with '완벽하게' (perfectly) or '대충' (roughly/cursorily). '대충 독해하다' suggests you got the gist but didn't look closely at the details.

철학적인 텍스트를 독해할 때는 단어 하나하나의 의미를 곱씹어 보아야 합니다. (When reading and comprehending philosophical texts, one must chew over the meaning of every single word.)

You will encounter 독해하다 in very specific environments. It is not a word you would use while chatting with a friend about a webtoon, but it is a word you will hear constantly if you are a student, a researcher, or a professional dealing with documentation. The most common place is the Korean classroom or 'Hagwon' (private academy). Teachers will frequently say, '자, 이 지문을 독해해 봅시다' (Now, let's read and comprehend this passage).

In Language Exams
If you look at the cover of a TOPIK workbook, you will see sections labeled '듣기' (Listening), '쓰기' (Writing), and '읽기' (Reading). Within the '읽기' section, the instructions often ask you to '독해' specific parts to answer questions. It's the technical term for the skill being tested.

이번 시험의 독해 지문은 예년보다 훨씬 길고 까다로웠습니다. (The reading comprehension passages in this exam were much longer and more difficult than in previous years.)

In the news and media, experts might talk about the 'literacy crisis' or '독해력 저하' (decline in reading comprehension skills) among the younger generation. In these discussions, 독해하다 represents the ability to think critically about information in an era of short-form content. You might hear a news anchor say that people can read the words but cannot 독해하다 the context or the hidden meaning.

In the Legal and Medical Fields
Lawyers and doctors often use this term when referring to the analysis of complex case files or medical journals. It implies a professional level of scrutiny. '판례를 독해하다' means to read and interpret legal precedents.

변호사는 의뢰인에게 유리한 증거를 찾기 위해 방대한 자료를 독해해야 했다. (The lawyer had to read and comprehend vast amounts of data to find evidence favorable to the client.)

Finally, in the world of literature and arts, '독해' can be used metaphorically. A critic might '독해하다' a film or a painting, meaning they are 'reading' the visual signs and interpreting the symbols. This uses the word in a broader sense of semiotic analysis, though the literal 'reading of text' remains the primary usage.

Common Collocation
'독해의 정석' (The standard of reading comprehension) is a common phrase used in titles of study guides, implying a definitive method for understanding texts.

현대 미술의 난해한 작품들을 어떻게 독해할 것인가는 비평가들의 주요 과제입니다. (How to read and interpret the difficult works of contemporary art is a major task for critics.)

The most frequent mistake learners make with 독해하다 is overusing it in casual situations. Because English speakers often use the word 'read' for everything, they might be tempted to use '독해하다' where '읽다' is much more natural. For instance, if you are reading a comic book or a casual blog post, saying '블로그를 독해하고 있어요' sounds incredibly stiff and slightly strange, as if you are performing a rigorous linguistic analysis of a simple post.

Mistake 1: Confusing with '읽다'
Use '읽다' for the general act of reading. Use '독해하다' only when there is a clear goal of comprehension or when the material is difficult. You '읽다' a novel for fun, but you '독해하다' a novel for a literature exam.

❌ 만화책을 독해하고 있어요. (Sounds like you're analyzing a comic book for a thesis.)
✅ 만화책을 읽고 있어요. (Natural: I'm reading a comic book.)

Another mistake is confusing 독해하다 with 이해하다 (to understand). While they overlap, 이해하다 is much broader. You can understand a concept, a person's feelings, or a spoken explanation. 독해하다 is specifically tied to the written word. If someone explains something to you verbally, you cannot say you '독해'd it.

Mistake 2: Using it for Spoken Language
If you are listening to a lecture and understand it, use '이해하다'. If you are reading the transcript of that lecture later to study it deeply, then you can use '독해하다'.

❌ 선생님의 말씀을 잘 독해했어요. (Wrong usage for listening.)
✅ 선생님의 말씀을 잘 이해했어요. (Correct: I understood what the teacher said.)

A third common error involves the particle usage. Since '독해하다' is a transitive verb, it needs the object particle '을/를'. However, sometimes people use the subject particle '이/가' with '독해' when they mean 'comprehension is difficult.' In that case, you must use the noun form: '독해가 안 돼요' (Comprehension isn't happening) rather than '독해를 안 돼요' (incorrect).

Mistake 3: Misusing with '알다'
'알다' means to know. '독해하다' is the process of getting to know through text. You don't '독해' a fact; you '독해' a text to learn the fact.

❌ 저는 그 사실을 독해했어요. (Wrong.)
✅ 저는 그 사실을 알고 있어요. (I know that fact.)

While 독해하다 is the standard term for reading comprehension, several other words share its semantic space. Choosing the right one depends on the level of intensity, the medium, and the specific goal of the reading. Understanding these nuances will make your Korean sound much more natural and precise.

1. 읽다 (To Read)
This is the most general term. It covers everything from reading a sign to reading a novel. It doesn't necessarily imply deep understanding—you can '읽다' something without understanding a word of it (like reading a foreign language phonetically).

그는 신문을 읽고 있다. (He is reading the newspaper—focus on the action.)

2. 파악하다 (To Grasp/Identify)
This word is often used interchangeably with '독해하다' in academic settings. It means to grasp the core meaning, the situation, or the main point. While '독해하다' is the process, '파악하다' often feels like the result—reaching the point of understanding.

글의 주제를 정확히 파악하는 것이 중요합니다. (It is important to accurately grasp the theme of the writing.)

3. 해독하다 (To Decode/Decipher)
This is a much stronger version of '독해하다'. It is used for codes, ancient scripts, or incredibly messy handwriting. It implies that the text was initially unreadable or hidden, and you had to 'crack' it.

고대 비문을 해독하는 데 수십 년이 걸렸다. (It took decades to decipher the ancient inscription.)

4. 감상하다 (To Appreciate)
When reading poetry or literature for emotional or aesthetic enjoyment, '감상하다' is more appropriate than '독해하다'. '독해하다' sounds too clinical for enjoying a beautiful poem.

시를 감상하며 여유로운 시간을 보냈다. (I spent a relaxing time appreciating poetry.)

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The character 解 (해) depicts a knife (刀) being used to split a cow's (牛) horns (角). This original meaning of 'splitting' or 'dissecting' evolved into the concept of 'understanding' something by breaking it down into its parts—which is exactly what you do when you '독해하다' a difficult text.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /tok.ʰɛ.ɦa.da/
US /dok.he.ha.da/
The stress is relatively even across syllables, as is typical in Korean, but a slight emphasis often falls on the first syllable '독'.
Reimt sich auf
소개하다 (sogaehada - to introduce) 오해하다 (ohaehada - to misunderstand) 항해하다 (hanghaehada - to sail) 방해하다 (banghaehada - to disturb) 화해하다 (hwahaehada - to reconcile) 공해 (gonghae - pollution) 동해 (donghae - East Sea) 서해 (seohae - West Sea)
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing '독' as 'dog' with a heavy 'g' sound at the end. It should be a stopped 'k'.
  • Over-aspirating the 'ㅎ' in '해' or '하'. It should be light.
  • Pronouncing '해' as 'hee'. It should be an 'ae' sound like in 'bed'.
  • Merging '해' and '하' into one sound. Keep them distinct.
  • Pronouncing '다' like 'the'. It should be a clear 'da' with an 'ah' vowel.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

The word itself is easy to read, but the texts it refers to are usually difficult.

Schreiben 4/5

Requires understanding of '하다' verb conjugation and Hanja-based vocabulary.

Sprechen 3/5

Used in formal or academic speech; not common in casual slang.

Hören 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but usually appears in dense academic lectures.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

읽다 (to read) 이해하다 (to understand) 글 (writing/text) 문장 (sentence) 단어 (word)

Als Nächstes lernen

분석하다 (to analyze) 추론하다 (to infer) 요약하다 (to summarize) 비판하다 (to criticize) 해석하다 (to interpret)

Fortgeschritten

문해력 (literacy) 함축적 (implicit) 맥락 (context) 담론 (discourse) 텍스트성 (textuality)

Wichtige Grammatik

하다 Verbs (Noun + 하다)

독해(Noun) + 하다(Verb) = 독해하다

Object Particle 을/를

지문을(Object) 독해하다

Adverbial form -게

정확하게(Accurately) 독해하다

Ability -ㄹ 수 있다

독해할 수 있다 (Can comprehend)

Difficult to do -기 어렵다/힘들다

독해하기 힘들다 (Is hard to comprehend)

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

저는 한국어 문장을 독해해요.

I read and understand Korean sentences.

'독해해요' is the polite present tense.

2

이 글을 독해하세요.

Please read and understand this writing.

'-하세요' is a polite command/request.

3

독해는 재미있어요.

Reading comprehension is fun.

'독해' is used here as a noun (subject).

4

단어를 알면 독해할 수 있어요.

If you know the words, you can comprehend.

'-ㄹ 수 있어요' means 'can do'.

5

선생님이 독해를 도와주세요.

The teacher helps with reading comprehension.

'-아/어 주다' means to do something for someone.

6

쉬운 책을 독해해요.

I read and understand easy books.

'쉬운' is the adjective form of '쉽다' (easy).

7

매일 독해 연습을 해요.

I practice reading comprehension every day.

'연습' means practice.

8

이 문장을 독해할 수 없어요.

I cannot comprehend this sentence.

'-ㄹ 수 없어요' means 'cannot do'.

1

짧은 이야기를 독해하고 있어요.

I am reading and comprehending a short story.

'-고 있다' is the present progressive tense.

2

어제는 뉴스 제목을 독해했어요.

Yesterday, I read and understood the news headlines.

'-았/었' is the past tense marker.

3

독해 공부가 조금 힘들어요.

Reading comprehension study is a bit difficult.

'공부' (study) is the noun being described.

4

이 지문을 정확하게 독해하세요.

Please read and comprehend this passage accurately.

'정확하게' is an adverb meaning accurately.

5

사전을 보면서 독해해요.

I read and comprehend while looking at a dictionary.

'-면서' means 'while doing'.

6

친구와 함께 독해를 했어요.

I did reading comprehension together with a friend.

'함께' means together.

7

독해 실력을 키우고 싶어요.

I want to improve my reading comprehension skills.

'-고 싶어요' means 'want to'.

8

이 편지를 독해해 보세요.

Try to read and understand this letter.

'-아/어 보다' means 'to try doing'.

1

시험을 위해 긴 지문을 독해해야 합니다.

I must read and comprehend long passages for the exam.

'-해야 합니다' expresses necessity/obligation.

2

모르는 단어가 많아서 독해하기 어려워요.

It's hard to comprehend because there are many unknown words.

'-기 어렵다' means 'is difficult to (do)'.

3

이 기사를 독해한 후에 요약해 보세요.

After reading and comprehending this article, try to summarize it.

'-ㄴ 후에' means 'after (doing)'.

4

독해 능력을 향상시키기 위해 매일 읽습니다.

I read every day to improve my reading comprehension ability.

'-기 위해' means 'in order to'.

5

문맥을 통해 단어의 의미를 독해할 수 있습니다.

You can comprehend the meaning of words through the context.

'통해' means 'through' or 'via'.

6

그녀는 복잡한 소설도 잘 독해합니다.

She comprehends even complex novels well.

'-도' means 'even' or 'also'.

7

독해 문제집을 한 권 다 풀었습니다.

I finished a whole reading comprehension workbook.

'다' means 'all' or 'completely'.

8

이 글의 핵심 내용을 독해해 봅시다.

Let's read and comprehend the core content of this writing.

'-자/ㅂ시다' is a propositive ending (let's).

1

전문적인 학술 논문을 독해하는 것은 시간이 오래 걸립니다.

Comprehending professional academic papers takes a long time.

'-는 것' turns the verb into a noun phrase (subject).

2

작가의 숨은 의도를 독해하는 능력이 필요합니다.

The ability to comprehend the author's hidden intention is necessary.

'숨은' is the modifier form of '숨다' (to hide).

3

비판적인 시각으로 뉴스를 독해해야 합니다.

One must read and comprehend the news with a critical perspective.

'-로' indicates a method or perspective.

4

그 보고서는 데이터 위주라서 독해하기가 수월했습니다.

That report was data-oriented, so it was easy to comprehend.

'-기(가) 수월하다' means 'is easy/convenient to do'.

5

번역기 없이 원서를 독해하는 것이 제 목표입니다.

Reading and comprehending original books without a translator is my goal.

'-없이' means 'without'.

6

법률 문서를 독해할 때는 단어의 정의가 중요합니다.

When comprehending legal documents, the definition of words is important.

'-ㄹ 때' means 'when (doing)'.

7

그의 글은 너무 난해해서 독해하기가 불가능에 가깝습니다.

His writing is so abstruse that it's nearly impossible to comprehend.

'불가능에 가깝다' means 'to be close to impossible'.

8

신문의 사설을 독해하며 논리적인 사고를 기릅니다.

I develop logical thinking by reading and comprehending newspaper editorials.

'-며' is a connective meaning 'while' or 'and'.

1

고전 문학의 함축적인 의미를 독해하기란 쉬운 일이 아니다.

Comprehending the implicit meanings of classical literature is no easy task.

'-기란' is a contraction of '-기는' used for emphasis in subjects.

2

현대 사회의 복잡한 현상을 텍스트처럼 독해할 수 있어야 한다.

One must be able to 'read' the complex phenomena of modern society like a text.

'텍스트처럼' means 'like a text'.

3

그 비평가는 감독의 의도를 아주 날카롭게 독해해냈다.

That critic managed to comprehend the director's intention very sharply.

'-어 내다' indicates completing a difficult task.

4

철학적 텍스트를 독해할 때는 배경 지식이 필수적이다.

Background knowledge is essential when comprehending philosophical texts.

'필수적이다' means 'is essential'.

5

이 계약서의 독소 조항을 정확히 독해하지 못하면 큰 손해를 볼 수 있다.

If you fail to accurately comprehend the 'poison pill' clauses in this contract, you may suffer great losses.

'-지 못하면' means 'if (one) cannot'.

6

그는 행간을 독해하는 능력이 탁월하여 남들이 놓치는 부분을 찾아낸다.

He has an excellent ability to read between the lines, finding parts others miss.

'행간' literally means 'between the lines'.

7

심리학 서적을 독해하면서 인간의 본성에 대해 깊이 성찰하게 되었다.

While comprehending psychology books, I came to reflect deeply on human nature.

'-게 되다' indicates a change in state or result.

8

외국어 텍스트를 모국어처럼 자연스럽게 독해하는 경지에 올랐다.

He reached the level of comprehending foreign language texts as naturally as his mother tongue.

'경지에 오르다' means 'to reach a high level/stage'.

1

해당 문헌의 서술 방식은 고도의 독해력을 요구한다.

The narrative style of the literature in question demands a high level of reading comprehension.

'요구하다' means 'to demand' or 'to require'.

2

포스트모더니즘 텍스트는 독자에 따라 다르게 독해될 여지가 충분하다.

Post-modernist texts have plenty of room to be comprehended differently depending on the reader.

'-ㄹ 여지가 있다' means 'there is room/possibility for'.

3

담론의 기저에 깔린 이데올로기를 독해하는 것은 지식인의 책무이다.

Comprehending the ideology underlying the discourse is the responsibility of an intellectual.

'기저에 깔린' means 'underlying' or 'at the base'.

4

그의 문체는 워낙 독특해서 일반적인 방식으로는 독해하기가 만만치 않다.

His style is so unique that it is not easy to comprehend in a general way.

'만만치 않다' means 'is not easy' or 'is tough'.

5

텍스트의 역사적 맥락을 독해하지 않고서는 진정한 의미를 알 수 없다.

Without comprehending the historical context of the text, one cannot know the true meaning.

'-지 않고서는' means 'without (doing) first'.

6

언어의 상징성을 어떻게 독해하느냐에 따라 작품의 가치가 달라진다.

The value of a work changes depending on how one comprehends the symbolism of the language.

'-느냐에 따라' means 'depending on how...'.

7

인공지능이 텍스트의 감정과 뉘앙스까지 완벽히 독해할 수 있을지는 미지수다.

It remains to be seen whether AI can perfectly comprehend even the emotions and nuances of a text.

'미지수다' means 'is an unknown' or 'is uncertain'.

8

비문학 지문의 논리적 구조를 독해하는 과정에서 사고의 확장을 경험한다.

In the process of comprehending the logical structure of non-literary passages, one experiences the expansion of thought.

'확장' means expansion.

Häufige Kollokationen

독해 능력
지문을 독해하다
정확하게 독해하다
독해 실력
비판적으로 독해하다
독해 문제
심도 있게 독해하다
독해의 정석
빠르게 독해하다
독해 전략

Häufige Phrasen

독해를 잘하다

— To be good at reading comprehension. It means you understand what you read quickly and accurately.

그는 영어 독해를 정말 잘해요.

독해가 안 되다

— To not be able to comprehend. Used when a text is too difficult or confusing.

머리가 복잡해서 독해가 안 돼요.

독해 위주의 수업

— A class focused on reading comprehension. Common in Korean English education.

우리 학원은 독해 위주의 수업을 해요.

문맥을 독해하다

— To read/understand the context. Understanding the situation around the words.

문맥을 잘 독해해야 실수를 안 해요.

행간을 독해하다

— To read between the lines. To understand the hidden or implied meaning.

시인의 의도를 알기 위해 행간을 독해했다.

독해력이 부족하다

— To lack reading comprehension skills. Often used in academic feedback.

그는 어휘력이 좋지만 독해력이 부족해요.

철저히 독해하다

— To comprehend thoroughly. Leaving no part unexamined.

계약서를 서명하기 전에 철저히 독해하세요.

독해 비법

— Secret tips for reading comprehension. Often found in study guide titles.

선생님만의 독해 비법을 알려주셨다.

독해에 집중하다

— To concentrate on reading comprehension.

시끄러운 곳에서는 독해에 집중하기 힘들다.

독해의 즐거움

— The joy of reading comprehension. The pleasure found in understanding complex texts.

어려운 책을 끝내고 독해의 즐거움을 느꼈다.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

독해하다 vs 읽다

'읽다' is general reading; '독해하다' is specific comprehension of complex texts.

독해하다 vs 이해하다

'이해하다' is understanding in general; '독해하다' is understanding written text.

독해하다 vs 해석하다

'해석하다' usually implies translation or a specific interpretation/explanation, whereas '독해하다' is the internal process of comprehension.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"행간을 읽다"

— To read between the lines. While '읽다' is used here, it is the idiomatic equivalent of deeply '독해하다' the hidden meaning.

그녀의 짧은 답장에서 행간을 읽어냈다.

Common
"눈에 들어오다"

— To catch one's eye or to be easily understood at a glance. Used when a text is easy to '독해'.

이 책은 글씨가 커서 내용이 눈에 잘 들어와요.

Informal
"머리에 쏙쏙 들어오다"

— To be understood very clearly and easily. Used when comprehension is effortless.

선생님의 설명이 머리에 쏙쏙 들어와요.

Informal
"까막눈이다"

— To be illiterate. The literal opposite of being able to '독해하다'.

예전에는 글을 모르는 까막눈이 많았다.

Informal/Old-fashioned
"글을 깨치다"

— To become literate. The starting point of being able to '독해하다'.

아이가 드디어 글을 깨쳤어요.

Neutral
"책을 씹어 먹다"

— To study a book so thoroughly that you know every detail. An extreme form of '독해하다'.

그는 시험 합격을 위해 기본서를 씹어 먹었다.

Slang/Informal
"귀가 뚫리다"

— To start understanding a spoken language. The listening version of '독해' proficiency.

한국에 온 지 1년 만에 드디어 귀가 뚫렸다.

Informal
"맥을 짚다"

— To find the pulse (the point). Used when someone correctly '독해's the main point of a situation or text.

그는 토론의 맥을 정확히 짚었다.

Neutral
"손바닥 보듯 하다"

— To know something as well as the palm of one's hand. To have completely '독해'd a subject.

그는 이 지역의 역사를 손바닥 보듯 한다.

Common
"일자무식이다"

— To be completely ignorant or illiterate. Not being able to '독해' even the simplest character.

그는 일자무식이라 이름도 못 쓴다.

Neutral/Strong

Leicht verwechselbar

독해하다 vs 해독하다

Both involve understanding text and start with '해'.

'해독하다' is for codes or unreadable scripts (deciphering). '독해하다' is for standard (but complex) text (comprehending).

암호를 해독하다 vs. 지문을 독해하다.

독해하다 vs 파악하다

Both mean 'to get it'.

'파악하다' is grasping the point or situation. '독해하다' is the act of reading to reach that understanding.

상황을 파악하다 vs. 글을 독해하다.

독해하다 vs 낭독하다

Both involve reading.

'낭독하다' is reading aloud. '독해하다' is reading to understand (usually silent).

시를 낭독하다 vs. 철학책을 독해하다.

독해하다 vs 통독하다

Both are formal types of reading.

'통독하다' means to read through from beginning to end. '독해하다' focuses on the depth of understanding.

책을 통독하다 vs. 문장을 독해하다.

독해하다 vs 정독하다

Both imply careful reading.

'정독하다' is to read carefully and thoroughly. '독해하다' is the cognitive result of that careful reading.

교과서를 정독하다 vs. 내용을 독해하다.

Satzmuster

A2

N을/를 독해해요.

책을 독해해요.

B1

N을/를 정확하게 독해해야 해요.

지문을 정확하게 독해해야 해요.

B1

V-기 위해 독해해요.

공부하기 위해 독해해요.

B2

N은/는 독해하기가 수월해요/어려워요.

이 글은 독해하기가 어려워요.

B2

N을/를 독해하는 과정에서 ~

신문을 독해하는 과정에서 새로운 사실을 알았다.

C1

N의 의도를 독해해 내다.

작가의 의도를 독해해 냈다.

C1

N을/를 비판적으로 독해하다.

정보를 비판적으로 독해하다.

C2

N을/를 어떻게 독해하느냐에 따라 ~

법을 어떻게 독해하느냐에 따라 판결이 달라진다.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

독해 (Reading comprehension)
독해력 (Reading comprehension ability)
독해자 (Reader/Interpreter)
독해집 (Reading comprehension workbook)

Verben

독해하다 (To read and comprehend)
독해되다 (To be comprehended)

Verwandt

읽기 (Reading)
이해 (Understanding)
문해력 (Literacy)
해석 (Interpretation)
분석 (Analysis)

So verwendest du es

frequency

High in academic and professional contexts; low in daily casual conversation.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using '독해하다' for listening comprehension. 선생님의 설명을 이해했어요.

    You '이해' (understand) what you hear. You '독해' (comprehend) what you read.

  • Using '독해하다' for reading a simple menu. 메뉴를 읽었어요.

    Simple reading tasks don't require the heavy cognitive load implied by '독해하다'.

  • Saying '독해를 못 해요' when you just can't read the letters. 글자를 못 읽어요.

    '독해' implies you can read the letters but can't get the meaning. If you can't read the alphabet, use '읽다'.

  • Confusing '독해' with '해석' in translation contexts. 이 문장을 한국어로 해석해 주세요.

    '해석' is used for translating or giving an explanation. '독해' is the act of understanding it yourself.

  • Using '독해하다' without an object particle when one is needed. 지문을 독해했어요.

    It is a transitive verb; it usually needs '을/를' to show what you are comprehending.

Tipps

Build Hanja Knowledge

Since '독해' is a Hanja word, learning other words with '독' (read) and '해' (understand) will help you remember it and expand your vocabulary.

Focus on Context

For '독해' questions, don't get stuck on one word. Try to '독해' the whole sentence to guess the meaning of unknown words.

Summarize

After you '독해' a paragraph, try to say the main idea in one simple Korean sentence. This builds your '독해력'.

Pair with Adverbs

Practice using '독해하다' with adverbs like '정확하게' (accurately) to sound more like a native speaker in academic settings.

Use in Essays

When writing a formal essay about a book or article, use '독해하다' to show you are analyzing the content deeply.

Identify Key Terms

In news clips about education, listen for '독해력 저하' (decline in comprehension) to understand current social issues in Korea.

Professionalism

Use '독해' when talking about contracts or business reports to sound professional and serious.

The Key Analogy

Think of 'Hae' (해) as the 'Solution' or 'Key' to the 'Dok' (독/Reading). You need the key to truly comprehend.

Suneung Context

Understand that for Koreans, '독해' often brings up memories of intense studying for the national exams.

Daily Practice

Try to '독해' one short editorial every day. Consistency is the only way to build high-level comprehension skills.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'DOK' as 'Document' and 'HAE' as 'Handle'. You 'Handle' a 'Document' by understanding it: DOK-HAE-HADA.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person holding a key (해/understanding) and using it to open a locked book (독/reading). To '독해하다' is to unlock the book's secrets.

Word Web

독서 (Reading books) 독자 (Reader) 구독 (Subscription) 해답 (Answer/Solution) 해결 (Resolution) 해설 (Explanation) 해부 (Anatomy/Dissection) 해체 (Dismantling)

Herausforderung

Try to find a short Korean news article today. Don't just scan it; try to '독해하다' the first three sentences and write down the main idea in your own words.

Wortherkunft

Derived from Sino-Korean (Hanja) roots. 讀 (독) + 解 (해) + 하다.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: 讀 (독) means 'to read' or 'to recite'. 解 (해) means 'to loosen', 'to untie', 'to explain', or 'to understand'.

Sino-Korean (Chinese characters used in Korean).

Kultureller Kontext

There are no major sensitivities, but be aware that calling someone's '독해력' (comprehension) low can be taken as an insult to their intelligence.

In English-speaking countries, we often just say 'reading' or 'comprehension.' The Korean '독해' specifically combines these into one formal action.

TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) - The '읽기' (Reading) section is essentially a '독해' test. Suneung (CSAT) - The English section is famous for having passages so difficult that even native speakers find them hard to '독해'. EBS (Educational Broadcasting System) - Offers hundreds of lectures titled '독해의 원리' (Principles of Comprehension).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Exam Preparation

  • 독해 문제를 풀다
  • 지문을 분석하며 독해하다
  • 시간 안에 독해하다
  • 독해 오답 노트를 만들다

Academic Research

  • 사료를 독해하다
  • 논문의 핵심을 독해하다
  • 텍스트를 비판적으로 독해하다
  • 원서를 독해하다

Legal Affairs

  • 계약서를 독해하다
  • 법령을 독해하다
  • 판례를 정확히 독해하다
  • 약관을 독해하다

Language Learning

  • 외국어 뉴스를 독해하다
  • 사전 없이 독해하다
  • 독해 실력을 향상시키다
  • 문법을 활용해 독해하다

Literature Appreciation

  • 고전 소설을 독해하다
  • 작가의 의도를 독해하다
  • 시의 은유를 독해하다
  • 행간의 의미를 독해하다

Gesprächseinstiege

"한국어 독해 공부는 어떻게 하고 계세요? (How are you studying Korean reading comprehension?)"

"이 지문을 독해하는 데 얼마나 걸렸나요? (How long did it take you to comprehend this passage?)"

"독해할 때 가장 어려운 점이 무엇인가요? (What is the hardest part when you are comprehending a text?)"

"요즘 학생들의 독해력이 떨어진다는 뉴스 보셨나요? (Have you seen the news about students' reading comprehension skills declining?)"

"이 계약서 내용을 정확히 독해하신 게 맞나요? (Is it correct that you have accurately comprehended this contract?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

오늘 독해한 글 중에서 가장 인상 깊었던 문장을 적고 그 이유를 설명해 보세요. (Write the most impressive sentence from the text you comprehended today and explain why.)

독해 능력을 높이기 위해 앞으로 어떤 노력을 할 것인지 계획을 세워 보세요. (Make a plan for what efforts you will make in the future to improve your reading comprehension skills.)

어려운 텍스트를 독해해 냈을 때의 기분을 묘사해 보세요. (Describe how you feel when you have managed to comprehend a difficult text.)

나만의 독해 비법이 있다면 무엇인지 공유해 보세요. (If you have your own secret tip for reading comprehension, please share it.)

독해와 읽기의 차이점에 대해 본인의 생각을 정리해 보세요. (Organize your thoughts on the difference between 'reading' and 'comprehending'.)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Technically you could, but it sounds very strange. It's like saying 'I am performing a semantic analysis of your text message' in English. Just use '읽다' for casual things.

It means 'reading comprehension ability.' It's a very common noun used to describe how well someone can understand what they read.

Yes, although the section title is '읽기' (Reading), the tasks you perform are '독해' tasks. You will see the word in study guides and lectures.

'독해' is the mental act of understanding. '해석' is often used when you translate a sentence (like from English to Korean) or provide a specific explanation for a passage.

The best way is to read widely, increase your vocabulary (especially Hanja-based words), and practice summarizing paragraphs in your own words.

Yes, in a metaphorical sense. Critics often '독해' a painting or a movie to find its hidden symbols and meanings.

Both are correct. '독해하다' is the verb form, while '독해를 하다' uses '독해' as a noun. They are interchangeable.

Not really. It's mostly used in education, tests, and professional work involving documents.

No, it usually implies silent, mental processing. If you are reading out loud, you use '낭독하다' or '소리 내어 읽다'.

We usually use '지도를 보다' (look at a map) or '지도를 읽다' (read a map). '독해하다' is almost exclusively for text-based language.

Teste dich selbst 200 Fragen

writing

Write a sentence using '독해하다' about studying for an exam.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'I want to improve my reading comprehension skills.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence using '정확하게' and '독해하다'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'This contract is difficult to comprehend.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about reading a news article.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'Reading comprehension is a necessary skill.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Use '독해하다' in a formal way (ending with -습니다).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about an author's intention.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'I am reading between the lines.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about a student in a library.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'Please read and understand this passage accurately.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence using '독해가 안 되다'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'He is good at reading comprehension.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about non-fiction reading.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'I finished the workbook.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about a philosophy book.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'Background knowledge helps with comprehension.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about a legal precedent.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'Logical thinking is required for comprehension.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence about a high-level reading skill.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

How would you say 'I am studying reading comprehension'?

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Ask a teacher: 'How do I comprehend this sentence?'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I can't understand this passage.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Tell a friend: 'My reading skills improved.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Ask: 'Is this book easy to comprehend?'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I read the news every day for practice.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Formal: 'I will accurately comprehend the contract.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Suggest: 'Let's read this together.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Express frustration: 'This is too hard to comprehend!'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Ask: 'Do you have a reading comprehension workbook?'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I need to find the main idea.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Tell a tutor: 'I have trouble with long sentences.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I read between the lines.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Ask: 'What is your reading strategy?'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I want to reach a high level.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I am reading a novel for class.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'The dictionary is helpful for comprehension.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Ask: 'Can you help me understand this?'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I spend 1 hour on reading every day.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say: 'I am taking a TOPIK reading class.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '지문을 독해하세요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '독해 능력이 중요합니다.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '정확하게 독해했나요?'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '독해가 안 돼요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '독해 실력을 키우세요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '행간을 독해해 보세요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '시험 지문이 너무 길어요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '매일 독해 연습을 합니다.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '작가의 의도를 독해하세요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '독해 문제집을 샀어요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '비판적 독해가 필요해요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '문맥을 독해하는 게 어려워요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '독해의 정석을 공부해요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '법률 문서를 독해합니다.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen and write: '독해를 잘하고 싶어요.'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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