넓어지다 30秒で
- 넓어지다 means 'to become wide' and is used for physical expansion like roads or rooms getting bigger.
- It is also frequently used metaphorically to describe broadening one's perspective, knowledge, or social circle.
- This is an intransitive verb, meaning the subject itself undergoes the change (e.g., 'The road widened').
- It is formed from the adjective 넓다 (wide) and the grammar -어지다 (to become).
The Korean verb 넓어지다 is a compound verb formed by combining the adjective 넓다 (wide, spacious) with the auxiliary grammatical structure -어지다, which denotes a change in state or a process of becoming. At its most fundamental level, it describes the physical expansion of an object's width or the increase in the area of a space. Imagine a narrow path being paved into a multi-lane highway; in this scenario, the road is literally 넓어지다-ing. This physical transformation is a common sight in urban development and natural phenomena alike. However, the linguistic utility of 넓어지다 extends far beyond the physical realm, permeating abstract concepts such as knowledge, perspective, social influence, and economic gaps.
- Physical Dimension
- Refers to the literal increase in width or area, such as a room feeling larger after removing furniture or a river widening after heavy rain.
- Abstract Perspective
- Describes the broadening of one's mind, horizons, or understanding through experience, education, or travel.
- Social & Economic Scope
- Used to describe expanding social networks, increasing market share, or the widening gap between different social classes.
"공사를 해서 도로가 훨씬 넓어졌다." (The road became much wider due to the construction.)
In a metaphorical sense, when Koreans talk about '시야가 넓어지다' (one's view/perspective becoming wider), they are referring to personal growth. It suggests that a person has moved past a narrow, limited way of thinking and has gained a more comprehensive understanding of the world. This is often used in the context of traveling abroad or reading diverse literature. Similarly, '발이 넓어지다' (literally 'one's foot becomes wide') is an idiom meaning to become more well-connected or to have a broader social circle. The verb captures the dynamic nature of growth and expansion, making it a cornerstone for describing progress in both the material and spiritual worlds.
"책을 많이 읽으면 생각이 넓어집니다." (If you read many books, your thoughts will broaden.)
The word is also crucial in discussing social issues. For example, the '빈부 격차' (gap between rich and poor) is often described as 넓어지고 있다 (is widening). This highlights the verb's ability to convey negative trends of separation or divergence, not just positive growth. Whether it is the physical widening of a crack in a wall or the metaphorical widening of a generational gap, 넓어지다 provides the necessary linguistic framework to describe increasing distance or size. Its versatility is further seen in technical fields like medicine, where it might describe the dilation of blood vessels, or in fashion, where it describes the flare of a skirt or trousers.
- Context: Urban Planning
- Used to describe the expansion of parks, sidewalks, and residential zones.
- Context: Personal Development
- Used to describe the increase in one's capacity for empathy or intellectual depth.
"나이가 들면서 이해의 폭이 넓어지는 것 같아요." (I feel like the breadth of my understanding is widening as I get older.)
Using 넓어지다 correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation and its relationship with the subject of the sentence. Since it ends in -지다, it follows the standard conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -아/어지다. In the present tense, it becomes 넓어져요 (polite) or 넓어져 (informal). In the past tense, it is 넓어졌어요. Because it describes a process of change, it is very frequently used in the past tense to describe a completed expansion, or in the progressive form (넓어지고 있다) to describe an ongoing process.
"강폭이 점점 넓어지고 있어요." (The river width is gradually becoming wider.)
One of the most important distinctions to make is between 넓어지다 (to become wide) and 넓히다 (to widen). 넓어지다 is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. The thing that is widening is the subject of the sentence, marked with -이/가. For example, '방이 넓어졌다' (The room became wide). Conversely, 넓히다 is transitive and requires an object marked with -을/를. For example, '방을 넓혔다' (I widened the room/made the room wider). Confusing these two is a common mistake for intermediate learners.
In formal writing or academic contexts, 넓어지다 is often used to describe statistical trends or societal changes. You will see it in news reports discussing the '격차' (gap) between different groups. For instance, '세대 간의 갈등이 넓어지다' (The conflict between generations is widening). In these cases, it carries a weight of seriousness and objective observation. In casual conversation, it's often used when talking about clothes that have stretched out ('옷이 넓어졌다') or when moving to a larger apartment ('집이 넓어져서 좋아요').
- With Nouns of Space
- 방, 집, 도로, 마당, 운동장
- With Nouns of Abstract Concepts
- 시야, 생각, 이해, 지식, 범위
- With Nouns of Relationship
- 인맥, 인간관계, 사이, 간격
You will encounter 넓어지다 in a variety of daily and professional settings. In the news, it is a staple word for reporting on infrastructure and urban development. News anchors often report on '도로 확장 공사' (road expansion construction) and how the '도로가 넓어질 예정' (the road is expected to widen). This usage is very literal and pertains to the physical landscape of the city. It is also common in weather reports when discussing the '일교차' (temperature range) widening as seasons change.
"오늘 뉴스를 보니 서울의 녹지 공간이 더 넓어진다고 하네요." (I saw on the news today that green spaces in Seoul will become wider/larger.)
In educational settings, teachers frequently use this word to encourage students. A common phrase is '지식의 폭을 넓히다' (to widen the breadth of knowledge), but from the student's perspective, they might say '공부를 하니 아는 것이 많아지고 생각이 넓어지는 것 같아요' (As I study, I know more and feel my thoughts broadening). It is a positive word associated with growth and maturity. In literature and self-help books, 넓어지다 is used to describe the journey of the soul or the expansion of one's capacity for love and tolerance.
In the workplace, 넓어지다 appears in discussions about market reach and business strategy. A manager might note that '우리 회사의 영향력이 해외로 넓어지고 있습니다' (Our company's influence is expanding/widening abroad). It is also used in human resources when discussing '인맥' (networking). Employees are often encouraged to attend workshops so that their '인적 네트워크가 넓어질' (human network will widen) can happen. Finally, in fashion and retail, sales associates might use it to describe the fit of a garment: '이 바지는 입을수록 통이 넓어지는 스타일이에요' (These pants are a style where the leg width becomes wider as you wear them).
The most frequent error learners make with 넓어지다 is confusing it with its transitive counterpart, 넓히다. This is a classic 'intransitive vs. transitive' struggle in Korean grammar. 넓어지다 describes a change that happens naturally or as a result of something, focusing on the state of the subject. 넓히다 describes an action performed by an agent to change the width of an object. If you say '나는 도로를 넓어졌다', it is grammatically incorrect because '넓어졌다' cannot take the object '도로를'.
- Incorrect Usage
- "정부가 공원을 넓어졌다." (The government 'became wide' the park.)
- Correct Usage
- "정부가 공원을 넓혔다." (The government widened the park.)
- Correct Usage (Intransitive)
- "공원이 넓어졌다." (The park became wider.)
Another mistake involves the misuse of the particle -게 with 되다. While '넓게 되다' is technically possible, it sounds much less natural than 넓어지다 in most contexts. The -어지다 form is the standard way to express 'to become [adjective]' in Korean. Using '넓게 되다' can make your speech sound stiff or translated directly from another language. Learners should practice the -어지다 pattern until it becomes second nature for all descriptive verbs.
Lastly, learners sometimes over-apply 넓어지다 to situations where '커지다' (to become big) or '많아지다' (to become many/much) would be more appropriate. While '넓어지다' specifically refers to width or area, '커지다' is more general for size. For example, if a problem gets worse, you should say '문제가 커지다' (the problem became big/serious), not '문제가 넓어지다', unless you are specifically talking about the geographical area the problem covers. Understanding the specific dimension of 'width' is key to using this word accurately.
To truly master 넓어지다, it is helpful to compare it with other words that describe expansion or increase. The most direct synonym in many contexts is 확장되다 (to be expanded). However, 확장되다 is a Sino-Korean word (Hanja: 擴張) and sounds more formal or technical. It is used for business expansion, file extensions in computing, or urban planning. While 넓어지다 can be used in these contexts too, it feels more native and descriptive.
- 확장되다 (Expansion)
- More formal, often used for systems, businesses, or buildings. "사업이 확장되다" (The business expanded).
- 커지다 (To become big)
- General size increase. "목소리가 커지다" (Voice gets louder), "꿈이 커지다" (Dreams get bigger).
- 트이다 (To be opened up/cleared)
- Used for views or paths. "전망이 확 트이다" (The view opened up widely).
Another related word is 광활해지다, which means to become vast or immense. This is a much stronger word than 넓어지다 and is usually reserved for landscapes like deserts, oceans, or the universe. If you say a room is 광활해졌다, it sounds like an exaggeration or poetic license. On the other hand, 번지다 (to spread) is used when something like a fire, a rumor, or an ink stain expands. While 넓어지다 focuses on the dimension, 번지다 focuses on the movement of spreading across a surface.
"시야가 넓어지는 것과 시야가 트이는 것은 비슷하지만 느낌이 다릅니다." (Broadening one's view and having one's view open up are similar but feel different.)
Finally, consider 증대되다 (to be increased/augmented). This is often used for abstract quantities like '효율' (efficiency) or '국력' (national power). While 넓어지다 might describe the physical area of a country expanding, 증대되다 would describe its power growing. Choosing between these words depends on whether you want to emphasize the physical width, the formal expansion, the general size, or the specific increase in volume or power.
How Formal Is It?
難易度
知っておくべき文法
-아/어지다 (to become...)
-게 되다 (to end up...)
-이/가 되다 (to become [noun])
-을수록 (the more... the more...)
-기 시작하다 (to start to...)
レベル別の例文
방이 넓어졌어요.
The room became wide/spacious.
Past tense of 넓어지다.
길이 넓어져요.
The road is becoming wide.
Present tense.
공원이 넓어졌습니다.
The park became wider.
Formal polite style.
마당이 넓어져서 좋아요.
I like it because the yard became wider.
-어서 (reason) connector.
책상이 넓어지면 좋겠어요.
It would be nice if the desk became wider.
-면 좋겠다 (hope/wish).
학교가 넓어졌어요?
Did the school become wider/larger?
Question form.
치마가 넓어져요.
The skirt becomes wide (flares out).
Describing shape.
여기가 넓어졌네요!
It's become wider here!
-네요 (surprise/discovery).
공사를 해서 도로가 넓어졌어요.
The road became wider because of construction.
Reason + Result.
이사를 가니 집이 넓어졌어요.
The house became wider (larger) since I moved.
-니까 (discovery/reason).
바지가 넓어지는 스타일이에요.
These are a style of pants that get wider (wide-leg).
Noun modifying form.
강폭이 점점 넓어지고 있어요.
The river width is gradually becoming wider.
-고 있다 (progressive).
운동장이 넓어져서 축구를 하기 좋아요.
The playground became wider, so it's good for playing soccer.
Adjective + -아/어지다.
가게가 넓어지면 손님이 더 많이 올 거예요.
If the shop becomes wider, more customers will come.
Future probability.
창문이 넓어지니 방이 밝아요.
Since the window became wider, the room is bright.
Cause and effect.
길이 넓어져서 운전하기 편해요.
The road became wider, so it's easy to drive.
Convenience/Result.
여행을 하면 시야가 넓어집니다.
Traveling broadens your perspective.
Abstract usage.
책을 읽을수록 생각이 넓어져요.
The more you read, the broader your thoughts become.
-을수록 (the more... the more...).
사회 생활을 하면서 인맥이 넓어졌어요.
My social network broadened while working.
Idiomatic usage.
기술이 발전하면서 선택의 폭이 넓어졌다.
As technology develops, the range of choices has widened.
Formal ending.
그의 영향력이 점점 넓어지고 있다.
His influence is gradually expanding.
Abstract expansion.
강물이 바다와 만나며 넓어집니다.
The river widens as it meets the sea.
Natural process.
도시가 커지면서 주거 지역이 넓어졌다.
As the city grew, the residential area widened.
Urban development context.
공부를 더 하면 이해의 폭이 넓어질 거예요.
If you study more, the breadth of your understanding will widen.
Future tense.
빈부 격차가 점점 넓어지는 것이 문제입니다.
The widening gap between rich and poor is a problem.
Social issue context.
시장이 해외로 넓어지면서 경쟁이 치열해졌다.
As the market expanded abroad, competition became fierce.
Economic context.
인터넷 덕분에 정보의 공유 범위가 넓어졌다.
Thanks to the internet, the scope of information sharing has widened.
Technological context.
그 사건 이후로 두 사람 사이의 간격이 넓어졌다.
After that incident, the distance between the two people widened.
Relational distance.
환경 보호 구역이 작년보다 훨씬 넓어졌습니다.
The environmental protection zone has become much wider than last year.
Environmental context.
나이가 들수록 포용력이 넓어지는 것 같아요.
I feel like my tolerance/capacity for others widens as I get older.
Psychological growth.
수출 시장이 넓어지면서 매출이 증가했다.
As the export market widened, sales increased.
Business result.
교육의 기회가 모든 계층으로 넓어져야 합니다.
Educational opportunities must widen to all social classes.
Necessity/Obligation.
학문의 경계가 허물어지며 연구 분야가 넓어지고 있다.
As academic boundaries collapse, research fields are widening.
Academic context.
민주주의의 외연이 넓어지면서 인권 의식도 높아졌다.
As the extension of democracy widened, human rights awareness also rose.
Political/Philosophical context.
이 이론의 적용 범위가 과학 전반으로 넓어졌다.
The scope of application for this theory has widened to all of science.
Technical scope.
문화적 다양성이 존중받으면서 예술의 지평이 넓어졌다.
As cultural diversity is respected, the horizon of art has widened.
Cultural horizon.
경제적 불평등이 심화되어 계층 간의 괴리가 넓어졌다.
Economic inequality intensified, widening the alienation between classes.
Sociological context.
우주 팽창 이론에 따르면 우주는 계속 넓어지고 있다.
According to the expansion theory, the universe is continuously widening.
Scientific fact.
디지털 기술의 발달로 가상 세계의 영토가 넓어졌다.
The territory of the virtual world has widened with digital development.
Modern technology context.
법의 해석이 넓어지면서 보호받는 대상이 늘어났다.
As the interpretation of the law widened, the number of protected subjects increased.
Legal context.
인간 이성의 한계가 넓어짐에 따라 철학적 사유도 깊어졌다.
As the limits of human reason widened, philosophical thought also deepened.
Philosophical depth.
언어의 의미망이 넓어지는 과정은 문화의 진화와 궤를 같이한다.
The process of a language's semantic network widening aligns with cultural evolution.
Linguistic evolution.
자아의 지평이 타자와의 만남을 통해 무한히 넓어진다.
The horizon of the self widens infinitely through encounters with the 'other'.
Existential context.
역사적 통찰이 넓어질수록 현재를 보는 눈이 달라진다.
The wider one's historical insight, the different the eye that sees the present.
Insight/Wisdom.
기술 문명의 발달은 인간 활동의 반경을 우주로 넓어지게 했다.
The development of technological civilization caused the radius of human activity to widen to space.
Causative-like result.
미적 감각의 범주가 넓어지면서 추함조차 예술의 영역에 들어왔다.
As the category of aesthetic sense widened, even ugliness entered the realm of art.
Aesthetic theory.
사회적 합의의 토대가 넓어질 때 비로소 진정한 개혁이 가능하다.
True reform is possible only when the foundation of social consensus widens.
Political strategy.
생태계의 파괴로 인해 멸종 위기종의 서식지가 좁아지는 반면, 황폐한 토지는 넓어지고 있다.
While habitats for endangered species shrink due to ecosystem destruction, desolate lands are widening.
Contrast/Comparison.
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
よく混同される語
慣用句と表現
間違えやすい
文型パターン
使い方
It usually carries a positive nuance of growth, except when describing gaps or distances.
Always remember it is intransitive. The thing widening is the subject.
While it literally means 'to become wide', its abstract usage is equally common in daily life.
- Using -를 instead of -가 (e.g., 도로를 넓어졌다 X).
- Confusing with 넓히다 (transitive action).
- Using it for height (should be 높아지다).
- Using it for length (should be 길어지다).
- Using it for quantity (should be 많아지다).
ヒント
Subject-Verb Agreement
Always ensure the subject is the thing changing. Never use an object with 넓어지다. It describes a state change, not an action.
Abstract Pairs
Learn it with '시야' (view) and '생각' (thought). These are the most common abstract pairings you will hear in conversation.
Natural Flow
Use '점점' (gradually) before '넓어지다' to sound more like a native speaker when describing a process.
Formal Contexts
In essays, use '범위가 넓어지다' to describe the expanding scope of a topic or a study.
News Keywords
When you hear '도로' (road) or '격차' (gap), expect '넓어지다' to follow in news reports.
The 'Foot' Idiom
Master '발이 넓다' and its change '발이 넓어지다'. It's a very common way to talk about social influence.
Width vs. Size
Remember that '넓어지다' is specifically about area and width. Use '커지다' for general volume or height.
Visualizing Expansion
Visualize a rubber band being pulled sideways. That sideways expansion is exactly what '넓어지다' describes.
Avoid -게 되다
While '넓게 되다' is okay, '넓어지다' is much more common. Stick to the -어지다 form for adjectives.
Home Talk
Use it when you clean up a room. '청소를 하니 방이 넓어졌어요!' (The room became wider/spacious after cleaning!)
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of 'Null' (넓) becoming 'Big' (어지다). When something is null and then expands, it gets wider!
語源
Native Korean
文化的な背景
Studying abroad is often described as a way to make one's '시야' (view) 넓어지다.
Being 'broad-minded' is a Confucian-influenced virtue of a 'Gunja' (noble person).
The widening of roads in Seoul is a symbol of the 'Miracle on the Han River'.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
会話のきっかけ
"이사를 가니까 집이 좀 넓어졌나요? (Did your house become wider/larger since you moved?)"
"요즘 길이 넓어져서 운전하기 편하지 않아요? (Isn't it easier to drive now that the roads have widened?)"
"외국에 살면서 시야가 많이 넓어졌어요? (Did your perspective broaden a lot while living abroad?)"
"어떻게 하면 인맥이 더 넓어질 수 있을까요? (How can I broaden my social network?)"
"책을 읽으면 정말 생각이 넓어지는 것 같아요? (Do you really feel like your thoughts broaden when you read books?)"
日記のテーマ
최근에 내 시야가 넓어졌다고 느낀 순간은 언제인가요? (When was a moment recently when you felt your perspective broadened?)
내가 더 넓어지고 싶은 분야는 무엇인가요? (In what area do I want to expand/widen more?)
우리 동네에서 넓어진 곳이 있나요? (Is there a place in my neighborhood that has widened?)
인맥이 넓어지는 것이 항상 좋은 일일까요? (Is it always a good thing for one's social network to widen?)
나이가 들면서 내 마음이 더 넓어지고 있나요? (Is my heart becoming wider/more generous as I get older?)
よくある質問
10 問No, for weight or body size, use '뚱뚱해지다' or '살이 찌다'. However, you can say '어깨가 넓어지다' if someone's shoulders get broader from exercise.
넓어지다 is a native Korean word and sounds more natural in daily life. 확장되다 is a formal Sino-Korean word used in business or official contexts.
Not necessarily. It can describe a '격차' (gap) widening, which is often seen as a negative social trend.
You should use the transitive verb '넓히다': '내가 도로를 넓혔다'.
No, for time, use '길어지다' (to get longer) or '늘어나다' (to increase).
Yes, '구멍이 넓어지다' is correct if the opening of the hole is getting wider.
Yes, if clothes stretch out and become wider, you can say '옷이 넓어졌다'.
The subject particle -이/가 is used with the thing that is becoming wide.
Yes, '입가가 넓어지다' can poetically describe a widening smile.
You can say '넓어지셨어요' if you are talking about something belonging to a respected person, like '선생님의 마음이 넓어지셨어요'.
自分をテスト 180 問
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
넓어지다 is a versatile verb that captures the essence of expansion. Whether you are talking about a newly renovated apartment, a growing business, or a person becoming more open-minded, this word is the perfect choice to describe a positive increase in width or scope.
- 넓어지다 means 'to become wide' and is used for physical expansion like roads or rooms getting bigger.
- It is also frequently used metaphorically to describe broadening one's perspective, knowledge, or social circle.
- This is an intransitive verb, meaning the subject itself undergoes the change (e.g., 'The road widened').
- It is formed from the adjective 넓다 (wide) and the grammar -어지다 (to become).
Subject-Verb Agreement
Always ensure the subject is the thing changing. Never use an object with 넓어지다. It describes a state change, not an action.
Abstract Pairs
Learn it with '시야' (view) and '생각' (thought). These are the most common abstract pairings you will hear in conversation.
Natural Flow
Use '점점' (gradually) before '넓어지다' to sound more like a native speaker when describing a process.
Formal Contexts
In essays, use '범위가 넓어지다' to describe the expanding scope of a topic or a study.
関連コンテンツ
natureの関連語
~에 대한
A2「〜に関する」「〜についての」という意味の文法表現です。
~게
A2形容詞を副詞に変える接尾辞で、日本語の「〜く」や「〜に」に相当します。
공기
A1私たちが吸う空気。「山の空気はとても澄んでいます。」
몽땅
B1몽땅 は「すべて」「完全に」を意味します。何かが完全に消費されたり、なくなったり、関わったりする場合に使用されます。全体性を強調します。
온갖
B1あらゆる、ありとあらゆる。名詞の前に置いて、非常に多様な種類があることを示す。
~을/를 따라서
A2何かに沿って移動したり、何かの指示に従って行動したりすることを示します。「川に沿って歩く」や「指示に従って行う」などです。
동물
A1植物に対して、動いたり感覚を持ったりする生き物。韓国語の「動物」は漢字で「動く物」を意味します。
개미
A1コロニーと呼ばれる大きな集団で生活する、小さくて一般的な昆虫。非常に忙しく勤勉なことで知られています。
주위에
A2家の周りに公園がたくさんあります。 (주위에)
그대로
A2そのまま。状態を変えずに、あるいは示された通りに物事を行うことを表す副詞。
