승리하다

The word 승리하다 is the standard Korean verb for 'to win' or 'to achieve victory.' It is composed of the noun 승리 (victory) and the verb-making suffix 하다 (to do).

You will use this word whenever someone comes out on top in a competitive situation. Whether it is a sports match, a debate, or a difficult project, 승리하다 captures that feeling of success.

It is a very versatile word that works in both formal and informal contexts. Think of it as the ultimate way to describe triumphing over any kind of obstacle or rival.

Like many academic or formal Korean words, 승리하다 is rooted in Hanja (Chinese characters). The character 승 (勝) means 'to win' or 'to excel,' while 리 (利) means 'profit' or 'advantage.'

Historically, this term was used to describe military successes. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from battlefield dominance to include sports, personal achievement, and abstract struggles.

Because it is based on Sino-Korean roots, it carries a sense of gravity and significance that native Korean words for 'winning' might lack. It is the preferred term in news reports and formal speeches.

You use 승리하다 when you want to sound definitive about a win. It is frequently paired with nouns like 경기 (game) or 전쟁 (war).

In casual speech, people often use the shorter 이기다 (to win), but 승리하다 is your go-to for headlines, official records, or when you want to emphasize the magnitude of the win.

Common collocations include 압도적으로 승리하다 (to win overwhelmingly) or 최종적으로 승리하다 (to win in the end). It is a strong, action-oriented verb.

While 승리하다 is a direct verb, it appears in many set phrases. 1. 승리를 거두다 (to reap a victory). 2. 승리를 쟁취하다 (to fight for and win). 3. 승리를 맛보다 (to taste victory). 4. 승리를 자축하다 (to celebrate one's own victory). 5. 승리를 확신하다 (to be confident of victory).

These expressions add nuance, moving from simply 'winning' to the process of earning or enjoying that success.

As a regular 하다 verb, it conjugates easily. Use 승리합니다 for formal polite style and 승리했다 for the past tense.

Pronunciation-wise, be careful with the 'ng' sound in 승. It should be crisp. The word rhymes with other 하다 verbs, but the 'seung-ni' cluster is unique.

It is an intransitive verb in many contexts, meaning you don't always need an object, though you can use particles like 에서 (in) to specify where the victory happened.