Explanation at your level:
You use 세우다 when you want to stop your car. If you are driving and see a store, you say, 'Here, stop the car!' In Korean, that is '여기 차를 세우세요!' It is a very important word for travel.
At this level, you learn that 세우다 is not just for cars. You can use it to park a bike or even stop a bus. It is the go-to word for 'stopping' something that is moving.
Moving into intermediate, you will notice 세우다 is used in many abstract ways. You don't just park cars; you 'park' your plans or your goals. It is a vital verb for expressing intention and structure in your life.
At the upper-intermediate level, you recognize the nuance between 멈추다 (to stop/cease) and 세우다 (to cause to stand/park). While 멈추다 is about the cessation of movement, 세우다 implies the active placement of an object.
In advanced contexts, 세우다 appears in formal writing regarding policy or strategy. You might 'establish' a new framework or 'erect' a monument. The versatility of this verb allows it to bridge the gap between physical mechanics and intellectual construction.
Mastery of 세우다 involves understanding its deep etymological roots in 'standing'. Whether referring to the erection of a building, the establishing of a reputation, or the parking of a luxury vehicle, the core concept of 'bringing to a vertical or stationary state' remains constant across all registers.
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- Means to stop/park.
- Causative of 'stand'.
- Used for plans too.
- Very common verb.
When you are driving and decide it is time to stop, you use the verb 세우다. It is a very common word in daily Korean life because everyone who drives needs to know how to say 'park the car' or 'pull over'.
Think of it as the act of making something stand still. Just as you might stand a person up, you 'stand' a vehicle in a specific place. It is a versatile verb, but when we talk about cars, it is almost exclusively about stopping or parking.
The word 세우다 is the causative form of the verb 서다, which means 'to stand'. Historically, this makes perfect sense; if something is moving, it is not 'standing'. By making it 'stand', you are effectively stopping its motion.
Over centuries, the usage expanded from literally making a person stand up to making inanimate objects stand, and eventually to the mechanical context of stopping vehicles. It reflects a logical evolution of language where physical actions define abstract or mechanical concepts.
You will mostly hear this in phrases like 차를 세우다 (stop/park the car). It is used in both formal and informal settings, making it a very safe word for learners to use.
Whether you are asking a taxi driver to stop or telling a friend where to park, 세우다 fits perfectly. It is neutral in register, meaning it is neither overly polite nor overly slangy, just standard, useful Korean.
1. 계획을 세우다: To make a plan (literally 'stand up a plan').
2. 공을 세우다: To achieve a merit or feat.
3. 기강을 세우다: To establish discipline.
4. 가설을 세우다: To form a hypothesis.
5. 명분을 세우다: To establish a justification or cause.
As a regular verb, 세우다 follows standard conjugation rules. In the present tense, it becomes 세워요, and in the past tense, 세웠다.
Pronunciation is straightforward: 'se-oo-da'. The 'u' sound is similar to the 'oo' in 'boot'. Focus on the clear 's' sound at the beginning to ensure you are understood clearly by native speakers.
Fun Fact
It is the causative form of 'stand'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear s-sound, oo-sound, da.
Same as UK.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'u'
- Dropping the 'da'
- Wrong pitch
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Causative Verbs
서다 -> 세우다
Examples by Level
차를 여기에 세우세요.
Car-object marker here stop-polite.
Imperative form.
Example 2
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Example 8
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Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
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Example 7
Example 8
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"공을 세우다"
To achieve a great feat.
그는 큰 공을 세웠다.
formal""
""
""
""
""
Easily Confused
Both mean stop.
멈추다 is cessation of motion; 세우다 is placement.
차를 멈추다 vs 차를 세우다
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Object + 를/을 + 세우다
나는 차를 세웠다.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Verwandt
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
멈추다 is for stopping motion; 세우다 is for parking/placing.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize your car parking.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a car standing up like a soldier.
Visual Association
A car parked on a street.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to say 'park the car' in Korean today.
Wortherkunft
Korean
Original meaning: To cause to stand
Kultureller Kontext
None
Directly maps to 'park' or 'stop'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Driving
- 차를 세워주세요
- 여기에 세우세요
- 잠시 세우다
Conversation Starters
"어디에 차를 세울까요?"
"계획을 세웠어요?"
"왜 차를 세웠어요?"
"공을 세우고 싶어요."
"기둥을 세워요."
Journal Prompts
오늘 세운 계획은?
차를 세우기 좋은 곳은?
어떤 공을 세우고 싶나요?
무엇을 세우고 싶나요?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, to make someone stand.
Teste dich selbst
차를 ___.
We stop cars.
What does 세우다 mean?
It means to park/stop.
세우다 can mean to make a plan.
Yes, 계획을 세우다.
Word
Bedeutung
Common collocation.
Subject-Object-Verb.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
세우다 is your go-to verb for stopping vehicles and establishing plans.
- Means to stop/park.
- Causative of 'stand'.
- Used for plans too.
- Very common verb.
Memory Palace
Visualize your car parking.
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