내주다

The Korean verb 내주다 is a multifaceted word that combines the concepts of 'putting something out' (내다) and 'giving' (주다). At its core, it describes an action where a person provides something to another, often from a place of authority, hospitality, or as a result of yielding one's own space or resources. Unlike the simple verb '주다', which is a generic term for giving, 내주다 carries specific nuances depending on the context.

Hospitality and Service

In a social or service setting, 내주다 is used when a host brings out food, drinks, or a room for a guest. It implies that the host is actively preparing and offering something from their own inventory to make the guest comfortable. For example, when a grandmother brings out snacks for her grandchildren, she is '내주는' those snacks. It suggests a sense of care and intentionality.

Educational Context

This is perhaps the most common use for students. When a teacher assigns homework or a task, they '내주다' the work. This usage stems from the idea of 'putting out' a requirement or a challenge for the students to meet. It is official and expected. If a teacher says, 'I will give you homework,' they use this verb to indicate the formal assignment of a task.

Yielding and Relinquishing

In competitive or physical contexts, 내주다 means to yield or give up something to an opponent or another person. This could be a seat on a bus (자리를 내주다), a point in a game (점수를 내주다), or even leadership of a company. It implies that you had possession of that space or advantage, but you have now allowed someone else to take it. It is often used in sports commentary when a team concedes a goal or a run.

Furthermore, 내주다 is frequently used in the context of money or time. To '내주다' time (시간을 내주다) means to carve out a portion of your busy schedule specifically for someone else. This is considered a very polite and appreciative way to describe someone making time for you. Similarly, paying out money from a budget or fund is often described with this verb, emphasizing the distribution from a central source.

In summary, 내주다 is not just 'giving.' It is the act of providing something that requires an effort of preparation, an act of authority, or a gesture of sacrifice. Whether it is a teacher assigning homework, a host serving tea, or a player losing a point, the word highlights the transition of something from the giver's domain to the receiver's domain.

Using 내주다 correctly involves understanding its grammatical structure and the specific particles that accompany it. Since it is a transitive verb, it typically requires an object marked by the particle ~을/를 and a recipient marked by ~에게 or ~한테. In honorific situations, ~께 is used for the recipient.

The 'Giving Out' Pattern

When the meaning is to distribute or assign, the structure is [Giver] + [Recipient]에게 + [Object]를 + 내주다. In a classroom, the teacher (giver) gives the students (recipients) a task (object). This pattern is very stable across formal and informal speech, though the verb ending will change to match the politeness level.

The 'Yielding' Pattern

When yielding space or a position, the object is usually the space itself (자리, 방, 길). For example, '길을 내주다' means to make way or step aside so someone else can pass. This is common in traffic descriptions or when walking in a crowded area. Here, the focus is on the act of relinquishing the space you currently occupy.

Using with Time and Effort

One of the most nuanced uses is with abstract concepts like 'time' (시간) or 'heart' (마음). To '내주다' one's heart means to open up or allow someone into one's inner life. When asking for someone's time, using '내주다' acknowledges that their time is valuable and that they are doing you a favor by allocating it to you. It sounds much more respectful than just using 'give' (주다).

In business or formal writing, you might see 내주다 used in the context of issuing permits or certificates. For example, '허가를 내주다' (to grant a permit) or '면허를 내주다' (to issue a license). This usage highlights the official capacity of the giver (the government or an institution) in providing a legal right or document to an individual.

Finally, consider the passive or involuntary nuance in sports. When a pitcher '내준다' a home run, it isn't a generous gift; it's a concession. The structure remains the same, but the context implies that the giver failed to keep the object (the run or the point) for themselves. Understanding these various 'flavors' of the verb will help you use it naturally in conversation.

You will encounter 내주다 in a wide variety of daily life scenarios in Korea. It is a word that bridges the gap between formal administration and warm, personal hospitality. Here are the most common environments where this word is spoken and heard.

In Schools and Academies (Hagwons)

Korean students hear this word daily. '숙제 내줄게' (I'll give you homework) or '과제 내줬니?' (Did [the teacher] give the assignment?) are standard phrases. It defines the relationship between the teacher (the provider of tasks) and the student (the recipient). If you are studying in Korea, this will be one of the first verbs you hear in a classroom setting.

At Restaurants and Cafes

While servers often say '나왔습니다' (It has come out) when bringing food, the act of a chef or a host specifically preparing and bringing something to your table can be described as 내주다. In high-end traditional Korean restaurants, the host might say they are '내주는' a special dish specifically for you, which emphasizes their hospitality and the value of the food being served.

In Sports Broadcasting

If you watch baseball or soccer in Korea, commentators use 내주다 constantly. When a pitcher gives up a walk (볼넷을 내주다) or a team allows a goal (골을 내주다), it highlights the loss of a point or position. It conveys the drama of the game—the struggle to hold onto something and the unfortunate moment of having to give it up to the opponent.

In the workplace, you might hear this in the context of budgets or permissions. A manager might '내주다' funds for a project, or a department might '내주다' space for a new employee. It is also used when someone 'gives up' their turn or priority to a colleague. In all these cases, the word implies a structured environment where resources and opportunities are being managed and distributed.

Finally, in literature and dramas, 내주다 is often used metaphorically. A character might '내주다' their heart or their life for a cause. This adds a poetic and heavy weight to the act of giving, suggesting that what is being given is not just an object, but a part of oneself. Listening for these different contexts will help you grasp the emotional temperature of the word.

While 내주다 might seem like a simple synonym for 'to give', using it incorrectly can lead to unnatural-sounding Korean. Here are the most common pitfalls learners encounter and how to avoid them.

Confusing '내주다' with '주다'

The most common mistake is using 내주다 for simple, everyday giving where no 'distribution' or 'yielding' is involved. For example, if you give a gift to a friend, you use '주다' (선물을 주다). If you use '내주다', it sounds like you are officially issuing the gift or yielding it from your inventory, which is too formal or strange for a personal friendship. Use '주다' for general transfers of items.

Incorrect Honorific Usage

Because 내주다 often involves a person of authority (like a teacher or boss), learners sometimes forget to apply the correct honorifics to the verb itself. If a teacher gives homework, you must use '내주시다'. Conversely, if you are giving something to a superior (like your time), you don't use '내주시다' for yourself; you use '내드리다' (the humble form). Mistaking these can sound disrespectful or self-important.

Misunderstanding the 'Yielding' Context

Sometimes learners use 내주다 when they mean 'to throw away' or 'to discard'. Remember, 내주다 always implies a recipient—someone else is getting the space or the object. If you are just getting rid of something, use '버리다'. If you are letting someone else have your spot, then 내주다 is correct. Using it without a clear intended recipient can leave the listener confused about who the 'beneficiary' is.

Another nuance to watch out for is the difference between '내주다' and '제공하다' (to provide). '제공하다' is more formal and often used in written reports or business contracts. '내주다' is more common in spoken language and carries a stronger sense of personal action or yielding. Using '제공하다' in a casual conversation about snacks can sound overly robotic.

Finally, be careful with the word '자리를 내주다'. While it usually means yielding a seat, in a professional context, it can mean resigning from a position. If you say this about yourself without meaning to quit your job, it could cause quite a misunderstanding! Always consider the stakes of the 'giving' when using this verb.

To truly master 내주다, it is helpful to compare it with other Korean verbs that involve giving, providing, or yielding. Each of these has a specific register and context that distinguishes it from 내주다.

주다 (Juda)

The most basic word for 'to give'. It is a neutral term used for almost any transfer of an object. 내주다 is more specific—it implies 'bringing something out' or 'assigning' it. Use '주다' for general favors and '내주다' for assignments, hospitality, or concessions.

양보하다 (Yangbo-hada)

This means 'to yield' or 'to concede' specifically in terms of manners or rights. While '자리를 내주다' and '자리를 양보하다' both mean giving up a seat, '양보하다' focuses on the virtue of the act (being considerate), whereas '내주다' focuses on the physical act of giving the space to the other person.

제공하다 (Jegong-hada)

A formal Sino-Korean word meaning 'to provide' or 'to supply'. It is used in news, business, and official documents. If a company provides a service, they '제공' it. 내주다 is the more natural, native Korean choice for spoken situations or when the 'giving' feels more personal.

배분하다 (Baebun-hada)

This means 'to distribute' or 'to allocate' specifically in terms of dividing something among many people. While 내주다 can mean distribution, 배분하다 is more mathematical or administrative, used when talking about shares, profits, or resources being split up.

When deciding which word to use, ask yourself: Is this an official assignment? (내주다). Is this a kind gesture of hospitality? (내주다). Am I losing something to an opponent? (내주다). Am I just handing a pen to a friend? (주다). Is this a formal business provision? (제공하다). By narrowing down the intention, you can choose the word that fits the 'vibe' of the situation perfectly.

For instance, in a restaurant, a waiter might say '음식을 내드리겠습니다' (I will serve the food - humble/formal), which uses the '내' root of 내주다 but combines it with the humble '드리다' to show respect to the customer. This shows how versatile the root word is when adapted to different levels of Korean politeness and social hierarchy.