준비시키다

The Korean verb 준비시키다 is a causative form of the word 준비하다 (to prepare). While 준비하다 means you are preparing yourself, adding the suffix -시키다 changes the meaning to making someone else prepare or getting someone ready.

Think of it as a bridge between a person and their readiness. If a coach helps an athlete get ready, the coach is 준비시키다. It is a very common word in daily life, especially when one person has a responsibility to guide another toward a goal.

Using this word shows that you are taking an active, supportive role in someone's success. It is not just about doing the work, but about empowering others to be ready for their challenges.

The word 준비 originates from the Hanja characters 準備 (prepare/ready). In historical context, these characters were used to denote the stockpiling of resources or the strategic readiness of troops.

The suffix -시키다 is a productive causative marker in the Korean language. It evolved from the verb 하다 (to do) combined with the causative function, allowing speakers to turn almost any noun or verb into a causative expression. This linguistic evolution allowed Korean to become highly efficient at describing social hierarchies and mentorship roles.

Interestingly, while the root is Sino-Korean, the causative structure is purely Korean, showing how the language blends imported concepts with native grammatical logic to express complex social interactions.

You will hear 준비시키다 in many professional and educational settings. It is frequently used when a teacher prepares students for an exam or a manager prepares a team for a project.

Common collocations include 시험을 준비시키다 (to prepare someone for an exam) and 발표를 준비시키다 (to prepare someone for a presentation). The register is generally neutral to formal, making it suitable for both workplace instructions and classroom settings.

Remember that this verb requires an object (the person being prepared). You are always 준비시키다 someone for something. It is a transitive verb that highlights the causative relationship between the subject and the object.

While there aren't many fixed idioms using this exact verb, it is often part of set phrases. 1. 마음을 준비시키다: To prepare someone mentally. 2. 만반의 준비를 시키다: To make someone fully prepared for everything. 3. 실전처럼 준비시키다: To prepare someone as if it were the real deal. 4. 기초를 준비시키다: To prepare someone by building their foundation. 5. 끝까지 준비시키다: To see someone through the entire preparation process.

Grammatically, 준비시키다 functions as a causative verb. The base structure is [Object] + [Object Marker] + [준비시키다]. For example, 학생들을 준비시키다.

Pronunciation follows standard Korean rules. The -시키다 part is pronounced clearly, with the k sound being slightly aspirated. It rhymes with other causative verbs like 작동시키다 (to operate/make work) or 이해시키다 (to make someone understand).

The stress in Korean is usually flat, but emphasize the 준 and 시 syllables for clarity. Practice saying it slowly: jun-bi-si-ki-da. It is a regular verb, so it conjugates easily into 준비시켰다 (past) or 준비시킵니다 (formal present).