Even though 중대하다 is considered a B1 level word, it is very helpful for beginners to understand its basic building blocks. In Korean, many words are made from old Chinese characters called Hanja. This word comes from two characters: 'jung' (重) which means 'heavy', and 'dae' (大) which means 'big'. So, when you put them together, it literally means something that is 'heavy and big'. However, we do not use this word to talk about a heavy elephant or a big house. Instead, we use it to talk about ideas, problems, or decisions. Imagine a problem that is so big and heavy that it is hard to carry. That is what 중대하다 means. It means something is extremely important or very serious. For A1 learners, you already know the word 중요하다 (important). You can think of 중대하다 as a much stronger, more serious version of 중요하다. If forgetting your homework is 'important' (중요하다), then a country deciding to go to war is 'grave' or 'crucial' (중대하다). You will not need to use this word when talking to your friends about daily life, but you might hear it if you watch a Korean news program or a serious movie. Just remember: heavy + big = super important!
At the A2 level, you are starting to express more detailed thoughts and understand slightly more complex situations. You already know how to say 'This is important' using 중요하다. Now, let's introduce a word that takes 'important' to the next level: 중대하다. This word means 'grave', 'crucial', or 'highly significant'. The difference between 중요하다 and 중대하다 is like the difference between a small daily task and a life-changing event. For example, eating vegetables is 중요하다 (important) for your health. But if someone is very sick and needs a special surgery to survive, that situation is 중대하다 (critical/grave). Because this word has such a strong meaning, it sounds very formal. You will usually hear it on the news, in formal speeches, or in business meetings. You will mostly see it used before a noun, in the form 중대한 (jungdaehan). For example, 중대한 문제 means 'a grave problem', and 중대한 결정 means 'a crucial decision'. Try not to use this word for small things like losing your pen or choosing a restaurant, because it will sound too dramatic. Save it for big, serious topics!
Welcome to the B1 level, where 중대하다 officially belongs! At this intermediate stage, you are expected to understand and participate in discussions about broader societal issues, news, and professional topics. 중대하다 is an essential adjective for these contexts. It translates to 'grave', 'crucial', 'momentous', or 'of great consequence'. The core nuance of this word is that the outcome of the situation will have a massive, often permanent impact. It is frequently collocated with abstract nouns such as 문제 (problem), 결정 (decision), 사안 (issue), and 영향 (influence/impact). Syntactically, you will most often use it as a noun modifier: 중대한. For example, '중대한 결정을 내리다' means 'to make a crucial decision'. You can also use it as an adverb, 중대하게, meaning 'gravely' or 'seriously', as in '문제를 중대하게 받아들이다' (to take a problem seriously). A common mistake at this level is overusing it in place of 중요하다. Remember the register: 중대하다 is highly formal and carries a heavy weight. It is the language of news anchors, politicians, and executives. Mastering this word will significantly elevate the sophistication of your Korean, especially in written essays or formal presentations.
At the B2 level, your goal is to express complex, abstract ideas with precision and appropriate register. 중대하다 is a perfect tool for this. While B1 learners focus on its basic meaning of 'crucial', B2 learners must understand its pragmatic weight in discourse. This word is not just about importance; it is about consequence and accountability. In professional and academic environments, using 중대하다 signals to your audience that the matter at hand requires absolute attention and rigorous analysis. You will frequently encounter this word in reading comprehension passages related to law, economics, and international relations. For instance, in legal contexts, a '중대한 과실' refers to 'gross negligence'—a legal term indicating a severe failure to exercise care. In business, a '중대한 계약 위반' is a 'material breach of contract'. Notice how the English translations shift depending on the professional context, yet the core Korean concept of 'heavy and big consequence' remains constant. At this level, you should also be comfortable using its predicate form in formal writing (e.g., 그 의미가 매우 중대하다) and contrasting it effectively with similar words like 심각하다 (serious/severe) and 막중하다 (heavy/enormous responsibility).
For C1 learners, fluency means navigating the subtle nuances of near-synonyms and employing high-level vocabulary in sophisticated, persuasive discourse. 중대하다 is a cornerstone of formal rhetoric in Korean. At this advanced stage, you must master its collocations and understand its role in shaping the tone of a text. When a journalist writes '국가적 차원의 중대한 위기' (a grave crisis at the national level), the word 중대한 does more than describe the crisis; it invokes a sense of urgency and demands a collective response. You should be able to seamlessly integrate this word into your own advanced writing, such as opinion editorials or academic papers. Furthermore, you must understand how it interacts with Korean grammar patterns to express complex conditions. For example, '사안이 중대한 만큼, 신중한 접근이 필요하다' (Given the gravity of the issue, a cautious approach is necessary). Here, the grammar pattern '-은/는 만큼' pairs perfectly with the weight of 중대하다. You should also be aware of its usage in fixed formal expressions and its ability to elevate the register of any sentence it occupies, distinguishing your Korean from that of an intermediate speaker.
At the C2 level, your command of Korean should rival that of an educated native speaker, demonstrating absolute mastery over lexical nuance, register, and stylistic variation. Your understanding of 중대하다 must transcend its dictionary definition and encompass its sociolinguistic applications. In high-level diplomatic, legal, and academic texts, this word is employed strategically to establish the absolute primacy of an argument or the catastrophic potential of a failure. You must recognize its precise legal definitions (e.g., how '중대재해' refers specifically to severe industrial accidents under Korean law) and its historical weight in political discourse (e.g., '중대한 결단', a momentous political decision often implying resignation or a radical policy shift). At this level, you are not just using the word; you are manipulating its rhetorical power. You should be able to critique texts based on their choice between 중요하다, 심각하다, and 중대하다, understanding exactly why an author chose one over the others to manipulate the reader's perception of risk and consequence. Your spoken and written production using this word should be flawless, characterized by perfect collocations, appropriate grammatical framing, and an innate sense of its profound gravity.

중대하다 در ۳۰ ثانیه

  • Means 'grave' or 'crucial'.
  • Stronger than 중요하다 (important).
  • Used in formal/serious contexts.
  • Often pairs with 'decision' or 'problem'.
The Korean adjective 중대하다 (jungdaehada) is a formal, highly expressive, and weighty term utilized to describe something of immense importance, profound significance, or extreme gravity. When we meticulously analyze its etymological Hanja roots, we discover that it is composed of 重 (jung), which translates to 'heavy,' and 大 (dae), which translates to 'big' or 'large.' Therefore, the literal translation points to a concept or situation that is simultaneously 'heavy and big' in a metaphorical, abstract sense. This particular vocabulary word is absolutely not used for trivial, everyday matters such as choosing what to eat for lunch, deciding what clothes to wear, or making minor scheduling adjustments; rather, it is strictly reserved for situations that carry severe, long-lasting consequences. Examples include matters of national security, life-altering medical diagnoses, monumental business decisions, or critical legal judgments. Understanding the precise nuance of this word requires a deep dive into Korean pragmatics and sociolinguistics. In casual, everyday conversation, native speakers often default to the much more common word 중요하다 (jungyohada), which simply means 'important.' However, when a news anchor reports on a sudden diplomatic crisis, or a senior surgeon explains a critical, high-risk surgery to a patient's family, 중대하다 is the overwhelmingly preferred choice because it effectively conveys the necessary gravity, seriousness, and potential for severe repercussions. Let us examine some specific contexts and structural examples to solidify this understanding.
Hanja Breakdown
重 (Heavy) + 大 (Big) = Grave/Crucial

이것은 국가 안보에 있어 매우 중대한 문제입니다.

Furthermore, the distinction between 'important' and 'grave' is a common hurdle for intermediate learners. While 'important' implies value, 'grave' implies consequence.
Semantic Field
Belongs to the category of critical consequence and high-stakes evaluation.

그의 결정은 회사에 중대한 영향을 미쳤다.

환자의 상태가 중대합니다.

To truly master this word, one must consistently expose oneself to formal Korean media, such as news broadcasts, political debates, and academic journals, where this term appears with high frequency.
Collocation Note
Frequently pairs with words like 문제 (problem), 결정 (decision), and 영향 (influence).

우리는 지금 중대한 기로에 서 있습니다.

법원은 이 사건을 중대하게 다루고 있다.

By internalizing these examples, learners can elevate their Korean proficiency from conversational to advanced, demonstrating a nuanced grasp of tone, register, and situational appropriateness.
Mastering the syntactic application of 중대하다 involves understanding its various morphological forms and how it interacts with different sentence structures in formal Korean. As a descriptive verb (adjective) ending in -하다, it follows standard conjugation rules, but its usage is heavily restricted to formal registers and specific noun collocations. The most frequent manifestation of this word is in its adnominal (noun-modifying) form: 중대한 (jungdaehan). In this form, it directly precedes and modifies nouns that inherently carry weight or consequence.
Adnominal Form
중대한 (Grave / Crucial) + Noun

대통령은 대국민 담화에서 중대한 발표를 했습니다.

Another common structural application is the adverbial form, 중대하게 (jungdaehage), which translates to 'gravely,' 'seriously,' or 'critically.' This form is utilized to describe the manner in which an action is performed, particularly cognitive actions like considering, treating, or evaluating.
Adverbial Form
중대하게 (Gravely) + Verb

경찰은 이번 사건을 매우 중대하게 받아들이고 있습니다.

이사회는 그 안건을 중대하게 논의했다.

When used as a predicate at the end of a sentence, it is almost exclusively conjugated in formal levels, such as the deferential form 중대합니다 (jungdaehamnida) or the plain formal form 중대하다 (jungdaehada) in written text. It is extremely rare and often sounds unnatural to hear it conjugated in the intimate or polite informal levels (중대해, 중대해요) during casual speech, because the gravity of the word clashes with the casualness of the speech level.
Predicate Form
Subject + 가/이 + 중대하다

사안이 사안인 만큼, 그 결과는 매우 중대하다.

현재 우리가 직면한 위기는 상상 이상으로 중대합니다.

Furthermore, learners should pay close attention to negative constructions. While one could technically say 중대하지 않다 (not grave), it is more common to use antonyms like 사소하다 (trivial) to express the opposite, as negating such a strong word can sometimes sound structurally clunky in eloquent writing. Understanding these syntactic boundaries ensures that your Korean sounds not only grammatically correct but also pragmatically sophisticated and native-like.
The contexts in which you will encounter the word 중대하다 are distinctly characterized by their formality, seriousness, and professional nature. Because this vocabulary item conveys a sense of profound gravity and critical consequence, it is heavily concentrated in specific domains of Korean society. The primary and most frequent environment where this word is utilized is in news broadcasting and journalism. Whether it is a television anchor delivering breaking news or a journalist writing an editorial for a major newspaper, this word is indispensable for describing events that impact the nation or the world.
Journalism Context
Used to describe national crises, diplomatic shifts, and major accidents.

오늘 아침, 정부는 경제 위기 극복을 위한 중대한 조치를 발표했습니다.

Another critical domain is the legal and judicial system. In courtrooms, legal documents, and police briefings, the severity of a crime or the importance of a piece of evidence is frequently described using this term. It helps establish the legal weight of the proceedings.
Legal Context
Used for serious crimes, crucial evidence, and landmark rulings.

피의자의 범행은 사회적으로 매우 중대한 범죄에 해당합니다.

재판부는 이 증거를 판결에 있어 중대하게 고려할 것입니다.

The corporate and business world also heavily relies on this vocabulary. During board meetings, shareholder presentations, and strategic planning sessions, executives use it to underscore the significance of corporate decisions, mergers, or market shifts.
Business Context
Used for strategic decisions, financial crises, and corporate milestones.

이번 인수합병은 우리 회사의 미래를 결정지을 중대한 사안입니다.

CEO는 직원들에게 중대한 책임감을 가질 것을 당부했습니다.

Finally, the medical field employs this term to communicate the critical nature of a patient's condition or the high stakes of a surgical procedure. In all these contexts, the word serves as a linguistic signal that the listener or reader must pay absolute attention, as the subject matter is of the utmost importance and carries significant, potentially irreversible consequences.
When Korean learners first encounter the word 중대하다, they frequently make a series of predictable pragmatic and semantic errors, primarily stemming from a misunderstanding of its register and its exact degree of intensity compared to similar words. The most ubiquitous mistake is using 중대하다 interchangeably with 중요하다 (important) in casual, everyday contexts. While both words share the Hanja character 重 (heavy/important), their usage environments are vastly different.
Register Error
Using a highly formal word for a trivial, everyday situation.

Incorrect: 아침을 먹는 것은 중대해요.

This mistake makes the speaker sound overly dramatic, as if eating breakfast is a matter of national security or life and death. Another frequent error involves incorrect noun collocations. Learners often try to use 중대하다 to describe people directly, which is generally unnatural unless referring to their role in a specific, critical event.
Collocation Error
Modifying inappropriate nouns like 'person' or 'friend' directly.

Incorrect: 그는 내게 매우 중대한 사람이다.

Correct: 그는 내게 매우 소중한 사람이다. (He is a precious person to me.)

Furthermore, learners often struggle with the adverbial form, incorrectly using 중대하게 when they mean 열심히 (hard/diligently) or 진지하게 (seriously/earnestly).
Adverbial Confusion
Confusing 'gravely' with 'earnestly' or 'diligently'.

Incorrect: 저는 한국어를 중대하게 공부합니다.

Correct: 저는 한국어를 열심히 공부합니다. (I study Korean hard.)

By carefully distinguishing between the gravity of 중대하다 and the general importance of 중요하다, and by paying strict attention to the types of nouns it naturally modifies, learners can avoid these common pitfalls and utilize the vocabulary with the precision and elegance of a native Korean speaker.
The Korean language boasts a rich tapestry of vocabulary related to importance, severity, and gravity, and distinguishing 중대하다 from its synonyms is crucial for achieving advanced fluency. The most immediate point of comparison is 중요하다 (jungyohada), which is the standard, everyday word for 'important.' While 중요하다 simply indicates that something has value or necessity, 중대하다 adds a layer of severe consequence and massive scale.
중요하다 vs. 중대하다
General importance vs. Critical, life-altering consequence.

시험 공부는 중요하지만, 건강 문제는 중대하다.

Another closely related term is 심각하다 (simgakhada), which translates to 'serious' or 'severe.' While 중대하다 focuses on the magnitude and importance of an event or decision, 심각하다 focuses more on the negative severity or worsening state of a situation, such as a disease, a conflict, or environmental pollution.
심각하다 vs. 중대하다
Negative severity (serious) vs. Consequential magnitude (grave).

환경 오염이 심각한 수준에 이르러, 중대한 결단이 필요하다.

환자의 부상이 심각하여 중대한 수술을 진행했다.

We must also consider 막중하다 (makjunghada), which means 'enormous' or 'heavy,' but is almost exclusively collocated with words related to responsibility, duty, or tasks (e.g., 책임이 막중하다 - the responsibility is enormous). While you can have a 중대한 책임 (grave responsibility), 막중한 책임 is a more fixed, idiomatic collocation.
막중하다 vs. 중대하다
Heavy burden/responsibility vs. Grave importance.

대통령이라는 자리는 책임이 막중하며, 매 순간 중대한 결정을 내려야 한다.

이 프로젝트의 성공 여부는 우리 팀의 중대한 과제이다.

By understanding these subtle semantic boundaries—the general utility of 중요하다, the negative focus of 심각하다, the burden-centric nature of 막중하다, and the consequence-driven gravity of 중대하다—learners can select the perfect word to convey their exact intended meaning in any sophisticated Korean discourse.

چقدر رسمی است؟

سطح دشواری

گرامر لازم

Noun Modifying Form for Adjectives (-은/ㄴ): 중대하다 -> 중대한

Adverbial Form (-게): 중대하다 -> 중대하게

Because/Since (-아/어서): 중대해서 (Often formal: 중대하여)

As much as / Given that (-은/는 만큼): 사안이 중대한 만큼

Noun Form (-성): 중대성 (Gravity/Importance)

مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

이것은 아주 중대한 문제입니다.

This is a very grave problem.

중대한 (grave) + 문제 (problem)

2

그것은 중대한 결정입니다.

That is a crucial decision.

중대한 (crucial) + 결정 (decision)

3

상황이 중대합니다.

The situation is grave.

중대합니다 (formal polite predicate)

4

중대한 일이 생겼어요.

A crucial event has happened.

일이 생기다 (an event happens)

5

이 뉴스는 중대해요.

This news is crucial.

뉴스 (news) + 중대하다

6

우리는 중대한 회의를 해요.

We are having a crucial meeting.

회의를 하다 (to have a meeting)

7

이것은 중대한 실수입니다.

This is a grave mistake.

실수 (mistake)

8

매우 중대한 시간입니다.

It is a very crucial time.

매우 (very) + 중대한

1

의사 선생님이 중대한 수술을 하십니다.

The doctor is performing a crucial surgery.

수술을 하다 (to perform surgery)

2

회사에서 중대한 발표가 있을 예정입니다.

There will be a crucial announcement at the company.

발표가 있다 (to have an announcement)

3

그 사고는 아주 중대한 문제였어요.

That accident was a very grave problem.

Past tense: 문제였어요

4

우리는 중대한 결정을 내려야 합니다.

We must make a crucial decision.

결정을 내리다 (to make a decision)

5

이 서류는 매우 중대하니까 조심하세요.

This document is very crucial, so please be careful.

-니까 (because)

6

경찰이 중대한 사건을 조사하고 있습니다.

The police are investigating a grave case.

사건을 조사하다 (to investigate a case)

7

그의 거짓말은 중대한 결과를 가져왔다.

His lie brought a grave consequence.

결과를 가져오다 (to bring a result)

8

이것은 내 인생에서 가장 중대한 순간이다.

This is the most crucial moment in my life.

가장 (most) + 중대한

1

정부는 경제 위기를 극복하기 위해 중대한 조치를 취했습니다.

The government took crucial measures to overcome the economic crisis.

조치를 취하다 (to take measures)

2

이번 선거는 우리나라의 미래를 결정할 중대한 선거입니다.

This election is a crucial election that will determine the future of our country.

미래를 결정하다 (to determine the future)

3

그 회사는 환경 오염이라는 중대한 문제에 직면해 있다.

The company is facing the grave problem of environmental pollution.

문제에 직면하다 (to face a problem)

4

법원은 피의자의 범죄를 매우 중대하게 판단했습니다.

The court judged the suspect's crime to be very grave.

중대하게 판단하다 (to judge gravely)

5

이사회는 회사의 매각이라는 중대한 안건을 논의 중이다.

The board of directors is discussing the crucial agenda of selling the company.

안건을 논의하다 (to discuss an agenda)

6

환자의 상태가 중대하여 즉각적인 치료가 필요합니다.

The patient's condition is critical, so immediate treatment is needed.

-아/어서 (because) -> 중대하여 (formal)

7

우리는 역사적으로 매우 중대한 시기를 지나고 있습니다.

We are passing through a historically very crucial period.

시기를 지나다 (to pass through a period)

8

그의 발언은 외교적으로 중대한 파장을 일으켰다.

His remarks caused a grave diplomatic repercussion.

파장을 일으키다 (to cause a repercussion)

1

기후 변화는 인류의 생존을 위협하는 가장 중대한 도전 과제 중 하나이다.

Climate change is one of the most grave challenges threatening the survival of humanity.

도전 과제 (challenge/task)

2

전문가들은 이번 정책 변화가 시장에 중대한 영향을 미칠 것으로 전망했다.

Experts predicted that this policy change will have a crucial impact on the market.

영향을 미치다 (to have an impact)

3

계약서의 해당 조항을 위반할 경우, 중대한 법적 책임을 질 수 있습니다.

If you violate that clause of the contract, you may bear grave legal responsibility.

책임을 지다 (to bear responsibility)

4

사안의 중대성을 고려할 때, 섣부른 판단은 금물이다.

Considering the gravity of the issue, hasty judgment is forbidden.

중대성 (gravity/importance - noun form)

5

그 사건은 그의 정치 생명에 중대한 타격을 입혔다.

That incident dealt a grave blow to his political career.

타격을 입히다 (to deal a blow)

6

양국은 국경 문제와 관련하여 중대한 합의에 도달했습니다.

The two countries reached a crucial agreement regarding the border issue.

합의에 도달하다 (to reach an agreement)

7

이 논문은 현대 물리학에 있어 중대한 발견을 다루고 있다.

This paper deals with a crucial discovery in modern physics.

발견을 다루다 (to deal with a discovery)

8

개인정보 유출은 기업의 신뢰도를 추락시키는 중대한 사안이다.

The leakage of personal information is a grave issue that plummets a company's credibility.

신뢰도를 추락시키다 (to plummet credibility)

1

검찰은 피의자의 혐의가 국가 안보를 위협하는 중대한 범죄라고 규정했다.

The prosecution defined the suspect's charges as a grave crime threatening national security.

규정하다 (to define/stipulate)

2

글로벌 공급망의 붕괴는 제조업 전반에 걸쳐 중대한 차질을 빚고 있다.

The collapse of the global supply chain is causing grave disruptions across the entire manufacturing sector.

차질을 빚다 (to cause a disruption)

3

해당 기업은 회계 장부를 조작하는 중대한 위법 행위를 저질렀다.

The company committed a grave illegal act of manipulating accounting books.

위법 행위를 저지르다 (to commit an illegal act)

4

대법원의 이번 판결은 향후 유사 사건의 판례로서 중대한 의미를 지닌다.

This Supreme Court ruling holds a crucial significance as a precedent for similar cases in the future.

의미를 지니다 (to hold significance)

5

인공지능의 윤리적 사용 기준을 마련하는 것은 현시대의 중대한 시대적 과제이다.

Establishing ethical usage standards for AI is a grave historical task of our current era.

시대적 과제 (historical/era's task)

6

그의 사퇴는 당내 권력 구도에 중대한 지각 변동을 예고하고 있다.

His resignation foreshadows a crucial seismic shift in the power structure within the party.

지각 변동 (seismic shift / massive change)

7

사측은 노조의 파업을 경영상 중대한 위기 상황으로 간주하고 비상 경영 체제에 돌입했다.

The management considered the union's strike a grave crisis situation for the business and entered an emergency management system.

간주하다 (to consider/regard)

8

이 유적지의 발굴은 고대사 연구의 공백을 메울 수 있는 중대한 단서를 제공한다.

The excavation of this historical site provides a crucial clue that can fill the gap in ancient history research.

단서를 제공하다 (to provide a clue)

1

헌법재판소는 해당 법률이 국민의 기본권을 침해하는 중대한 위헌적 요소를 내포하고 있다고 판시했다.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the law in question contains grave unconstitutional elements that infringe upon the basic rights of the people.

위헌적 요소 (unconstitutional element)

2

자본주의 체제의 구조적 모순을 극복하기 위한 중대한 패러다임의 전환이 촉구되는 시점이다.

It is a time when a crucial paradigm shift is urged to overcome the structural contradictions of the capitalist system.

패러다임의 전환 (paradigm shift)

3

그 조약의 파기는 양국 간의 신뢰를 근본적으로 훼손하는 중대한 외교적 결례로 평가받는다.

The abrogation of the treaty is evaluated as a grave diplomatic discourtesy that fundamentally undermines the trust between the two countries.

외교적 결례 (diplomatic discourtesy)

4

중대재해처벌법의 시행은 산업 현장의 안전 불감증에 경종을 울리는 중대한 계기가 되었다.

The enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act became a crucial turning point that sounded the alarm on the insensitivity to safety in industrial sites.

경종을 울리다 (to sound the alarm)

5

저자는 이 책을 통해 현대 사회의 병폐를 날카롭게 지적하며, 독자들에게 중대한 철학적 물음을 던진다.

Through this book, the author sharply points out the maladies of modern society and poses a grave philosophical question to the readers.

물음을 던지다 (to pose a question)

6

미증유의 감염병 사태는 인류에게 연대와 협력이라는 중대한 가치를 다시금 상기시켜 주었다.

The unprecedented infectious disease crisis reminded humanity once again of the crucial values of solidarity and cooperation.

미증유의 (unprecedented)

7

해당 기사의 오보는 언론의 공정성과 객관성을 훼손한 중대한 해악으로 기록될 것이다.

The misinformation in that article will be recorded as a grave harm that undermined the fairness and objectivity of the press.

해악 (harm/evil)

8

이러한 거시경제적 지표의 하락은 장기 침체의 전조일 수 있다는 점에서 그 의미가 자못 중대하다.

The decline of these macroeconomic indicators is exceedingly grave in its significance, in that it could be a precursor to a long-term recession.

자못 (exceedingly/very - literary)

ترکیب‌های رایج

중대한 문제
중대한 결정
중대한 영향
중대한 실수
중대한 사안
중대한 위기
중대한 범죄
중대한 발표
중대하게 받아들이다
사안이 중대하다

عبارات رایج

중대한 결정을 내리다
중대한 영향을 미치다
사안의 중대성
중대한 기로에 서다
중대한 책임을 지다
중대한 위기에 처하다
중대한 차질을 빚다
중대한 의미를 지니다
매우 중대하다
중대하게 고려하다

اغلب اشتباه گرفته می‌شود با

중대하다 vs 중요하다 (Important) - Used for general importance, not necessarily grave consequence.

중대하다 vs 심각하다 (Serious/Severe) - Focuses more on the worsening or negative state of a situation.

중대하다 vs 막중하다 (Heavy/Enormous) - Almost exclusively used with 'responsibility' (책임) or 'duty' (임무).

اصطلاحات و عبارات

"중대사를 치르다"
"국가적 중대사"
"일생일대의 중대사"
"중대한 국면을 맞다"
"중대한 시험대에 오르다"
"중대한 도전에 직면하다"
"중대한 결단이 필요하다"
"중대한 타격을 입다"
"중대한 국면에 접어들다"
"중대한 전환점을 맞이하다"

به‌راحتی اشتباه گرفته می‌شود

중대하다 vs

중대하다 vs

중대하다 vs

중대하다 vs

중대하다 vs

الگوهای جمله‌سازی

نحوه استفاده

nuance

Carries a tone of severe consequence, often negative or highly critical, unlike 중요하다 which is neutral.

frequency

High in formal written Korean and news media; low in casual spoken Korean.

اشتباهات رایج
  • Using 중대하다 instead of 중요하다 for daily, trivial matters (e.g., '아침 식사는 중대하다').
  • Using it to describe people directly (e.g., '그는 중대한 사람이다' instead of '소중한 사람이다').
  • Confusing the adverbial form 중대하게 with 열심히 (diligently) or 진지하게 (seriously in attitude).
  • Pairing it with inappropriate nouns like '물건' (object) or '음식' (food).
  • Conjugating it in casual speech levels (중대해) which clashes with its formal nuance.

نکات

Avoid for Trivial Matters

Never use 중대하다 for everyday choices like what to eat or wear. It sounds comical to native speakers. Always use 중요하다 for daily importance. Reserve 중대하다 for high-stakes situations.

Adnominal Form is King

You will use the form '중대한' (noun-modifying) much more often than the predicate form '중대하다'. Focus on memorizing chunks like '중대한 결정' (crucial decision) rather than the word in isolation. This builds natural fluency.

Pair with 'Influence'

A fantastic, advanced-sounding phrase is '중대한 영향을 미치다' (to have a grave/crucial impact). Use this in your TOPIK writing exams to instantly boost your vocabulary score. It shows a deep understanding of formal collocations.

Legal and Medical Weight

If you are watching a medical or legal K-drama, listen closely. When a doctor says '중대하다', it means the patient might die. When a judge says it, it means the crime is severe. It carries literal life-or-death weight.

Hanja Connection

Remember the Hanja: 重 (Heavy) + 大 (Big). Whenever you are unsure if you should use this word, ask yourself: 'Is this problem metaphorically heavy and big?' If yes, use it. If no, use 중요하다.

Elevate Your Essays

In formal essays, replacing '아주 중요한' (very important) with '매우 중대한' (very grave) instantly elevates the register of your writing. It demonstrates that you command academic-level vocabulary.

Match the Tone

If you use this word in speech, your tone of voice should match its gravity. Speak slightly slower and with a serious expression. Using it with a giggling, lighthearted tone creates a confusing mismatch.

Don't Confuse with 막중하다

While both mean heavy/important, 막중하다 is almost exclusively married to the word '책임' (responsibility). You have a '막중한 책임' (heavy responsibility) but make a '중대한 결정' (grave decision).

News Anchor Cue

Turn on Korean news. You are guaranteed to hear '중대한' within the first 5 minutes. Use the news as a listening exercise to catch the nouns that follow this adjective.

Use '중대성'

To sound incredibly fluent, use the noun form '중대성' (gravity). Phrases like '문제의 중대성' (the gravity of the problem) are perfect for debates and high-level discussions.

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Imagine a problem so HEAVY (중) and BIG (대) that you need a crane to lift it. That's a 중대하다 (grave) problem!

ریشه کلمه

Sino-Korean word from 重 (heavy) and 大 (big).

بافت فرهنگی

Do not use it to exaggerate minor personal inconveniences, as it may sound mocking or overly dramatic.

Highly formal. Suitable for public speaking, news, and professional writing.

تمرین در زندگی واقعی

موقعیت‌های واقعی

شروع‌کننده‌های مکالمه

"최근 뉴스에서 본 가장 중대한 사건은 무엇인가요?"

"인생에서 가장 중대한 결정을 내렸던 때는 언제인가요?"

"환경 문제가 얼마나 중대하다고 생각하시나요?"

"우리 사회가 직면한 가장 중대한 과제는 무엇일까요?"

"중대한 실수를 했을 때 어떻게 대처하는 편인가요?"

موضوعات نگارش

Write about a '중대한 결정' (crucial decision) you have to make in the near future.

Describe a historical event that had a '중대한 영향' (grave impact) on your country.

Discuss why climate change is a '중대한 문제' (grave problem).

Reflect on a time when you made a '중대한 실수' (grave mistake) and what you learned.

Imagine you are a CEO. Write a speech announcing a '중대한 변화' (crucial change).

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

No, you should not use 중대하다 for everyday habits. Breakfast is important, but it does not carry 'grave consequences' for the nation or your life in a dramatic way. For breakfast, use 중요하다 (jungyohada). Using 중대하다 here would sound very strange and overly dramatic to a native speaker. Save it for life-altering decisions or crises.

While both are used in serious situations, they have different focuses. 중대하다 (grave/crucial) focuses on the magnitude and consequence of an event or decision. 심각하다 (serious/severe) focuses on the negative, worsening state of a problem, like a disease or pollution. A problem can be both, but you make a '중대한 결정' (crucial decision), not a '심각한 결정'.

To use it as an adverb, you attach -게 to the stem, making it 중대하게. This translates to 'gravely' or 'seriously'. It is often used with verbs related to thinking or treating a situation. For example, '문제를 중대하게 받아들이다' means 'to take the problem seriously/gravely'. It shows the manner in which the action is performed.

Generally, no. You would not say 'He is a grave person' (그는 중대한 사람이다) to mean he is important to you. For people, you should use 소중하다 (precious) or 중요하다 (important). 중대하다 is almost exclusively used to modify abstract concepts, events, problems, or decisions.

'사안의 중대성' is a very common formal phrase. '사안' means 'issue' or 'matter', and '중대성' is the noun form of 중대하다, meaning 'gravity' or 'importance'. Together, it means 'the gravity of the issue'. You will often hear this in news or legal contexts, such as '사안의 중대성을 고려하여...' (Considering the gravity of the issue...).

Yes, absolutely. Like all Korean adjectives (descriptive verbs), it can be conjugated into the past tense. The formal past tense is 중대했습니다, and the plain written form is 중대했다. For example, '그 결정은 역사적으로 매우 중대했다' means 'That decision was historically very crucial'.

Yes, it is a Sino-Korean word, meaning it originates from Chinese characters (Hanja). It is made of 重 (jung), meaning 'heavy', and 大 (dae), meaning 'big'. Understanding these roots helps you remember that the word is used for 'heavy and big' matters, not literal physical objects.

The most direct antonyms are words that mean 'trivial' or 'minor'. 사소하다 (sasohada) is a great opposite, meaning trivial or insignificant. 경미하다 (gyeongmihada) is another good one, often used in formal contexts to mean 'slight' or 'minor', such as a '경미한 부상' (minor injury) versus a '중대한 부상' (grave injury).

Rarely. In casual, daily conversation with friends or family, native speakers almost always use 중요하다 (important) or 큰일 (big deal). 중대하다 is reserved for formal speech, news, writing, and professional environments. If you use it with friends, you might sound like a news anchor!

The most frequent collocations are abstract nouns related to events and consequences. These include 문제 (problem), 결정 (decision), 사안 (issue), 위기 (crisis), 영향 (influence/impact), and 실수 (mistake). Memorizing these pairs (e.g., 중대한 문제) is the best way to learn how to use the word naturally.

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