Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'put up with' to describe enduring something unpleasant without complaining, even when you don't like it.
- Always keep 'put', 'up', and 'with' together; never split them with an object.
- Follow 'with' with a noun or a gerund (-ing form), never a base verb.
- Use it for people, situations, or behaviors that are annoying but unavoidable.
Overview
put up with는 일상생활과 비즈니스 환경을 막론하고 빈번하게 사용되지만, 많은 한국인 학습자가 단순히 '참다'라는 한국어 단어 하나로 치환해 버리는 우를 범하곤 합니다. 하지만 이 표현은 단순한 인내를 넘어, 불쾌하거나 짜증 나는 상황, 혹은 도저히 바꿀 수 없는 열악한 환경을 '어쩔 수 없이' 또는 '전략적으로' 받아들인다는 깊은 뉘앙스를 담고 있습니다.put up with라는 하나의 구동사로 압축하여 표현하곤 합니다. 예를 들어, 층간소음으로 고통받는 상황이나 직장 상사의 까다로운 성격을 견뎌야 할 때, 원어민들은 I have to put up with it.이라고 말합니다. 이는 단순히 고통을 참는 것뿐만 아니라, 그 상황을 해결할 마땅한 대안이 없거나 혹은 더 큰 목적을 위해 불편함을 감내하고 있다는 심리적 상태를 반영합니다.put up with의 구조적 특징부터 한국인 학습자가 특히 자주 실수하는 포인트, 그리고 다른 유사 표현들과의 미세한 차이점까지 심도 있게 다루어 보겠습니다.put up with는 '동사(put) + 부사(up) + 전치사(with)'가 결합된 3단어 구동사(Three-word phrasal verb)입니다. 한국어는 '참다'라는 동사 하나에 어미를 붙여 의미를 확장하는 교착어적 특성을 지니지만, 영어는 이처럼 개별 단어들이 모여 완전히 새로운 의미 단위를 형성하는 분석어적 특징을 보입니다.put은 무언가를 '두다'라는 의미이고, up은 '완료'나 '대면'의 느낌을 주며, with는 '대상'을 나타냅니다. 이들이 합쳐져 '어떤 대상을 내 앞에 두고(up) 그대로 유지하다(put)'라는 물리적 개념이 '불편함을 감내하다'라는 추상적 의미로 전이된 것입니다.put과 up with 사이에 그 목적어를 끼워 넣을 수 없습니다. 한국어에서는 목적어를 자주 생략하지만(«그냥 참아»), 영어에서는 반드시 무엇을 참는지(it, him, the noise 등)를 명시해야 합니다.put up with의 문장 구조는 주어 + put (시제 변화) + up with + 목적어의 형태를 따릅니다. 여기서 put은 불규칙 동사이지만, 다행히 현재-과거-과거분사 형태가 모두 put-put-put으로 동일하여 형태 변화 자체는 어렵지 않습니다. 다만, 3인칭 단수 현재형에서의 -s와 진행형에서의 putting 형태에 유의해야 합니다.- 명사구:
I can't put up with this constant rain.(이 끊임없는 비를 더는 못 참겠어.) - 대명사:
How do you put up with him?(너는 그 사람을 어떻게 견디니?) - 동명사(V-ing):
We had to put up with waiting for three hours.(우리는 3시간 동안 기다리는 것을 감수해야 했다.)
She puts up with a lot of stress at work. |They put up with the noise during the renovation. |I am putting up with a temporary office for now. |We have put up with this issue for far too long. |put up with는 절대로 분리할 수 없습니다. put it up with (X)와 같은 형태는 존재하지 않으며, 반드시 put up with it (O)으로 써야 합니다. 이는 pick it up이나 turn it off처럼 대명사 목적어를 중간에 넣을 수 있는 2단어 구동사들과 명확히 구분되는 지점입니다.In Seoul, many commuters have to put up with extremely crowded subways during rush hour.(서울의 많은 직장인은 출퇴근 시간의 극심한 혼잡을 견뎌야 합니다.)
I don’t know how she puts up with her husband’s constant complaining.(그녀가 남편의 끊임없는 불평을 어떻게 다 받아주는지 모르겠어.)
Start-up employees often put up with lower salaries in exchange for potential stock options.(스타트업 직원들은 잠재적인 스톡옵션을 기대하며 낮은 급여를 감수하곤 합니다.)
To achieve mastery in a language, you must put up with the frustration of making mistakes.(언어를 마스터하기 위해서는 실수를 연발하는 좌절감을 견뎌내야만 합니다.)
put up with를 사용할 때 범하기 쉬운 가장 대표적인 실수 세 가지를 짚어보겠습니다. 이는 한국어와 영어의 구조적 차이에서 기인하는 경우가 많습니다.put up with는 타동사 구동사이므로 반드시 목적어가 필요합니다.- 잘못된 예:
I can't put up with anymore!(X) - 올바른 예:
I can't put up with it anymore!(O) - 이유: 영어의 타동사 구조는 동작의 대상을 명확히 요구합니다. 특히 대명사
it을 활용해 앞서 언급된 상황을 받아주는 습관을 들여야 합니다.
put up with는 한 덩어리입니다. 한국인 학습자들은 pick it up 같은 구조에 익숙해져 대명사를 중간에 넣으려는 경향이 있습니다.- 잘못된 예:
How do you put him up with?(X) - 올바른 예:
How do you put up with him?(O) - 이유: 3단어 구동사는 대개 분리 불가능한 특성을 가집니다. 이를 하나의 긴 동사 단어처럼 취급하는 연습이 필요합니다.
put up과의 혼동 (Confusing with 'put up')with가 빠진 put up은 완전히 다른 의미를 가집니다. put up은 '게시하다', '세우다', 혹은 '숙박시키다'라는 의미입니다.- 잘못된 예:
My friend put up with me for the weekend.(내 친구가 주말 동안 나를 참아주었다 - 부정적 뉘앙스) - 올바른 예:
My friend put me up for the weekend.(내 친구가 주말 동안 나를 재워주었다 - 긍정/중립적 뉘앙스) - 이유: 전치사 하나가 문장 전체의 의미와 뉘앙스를 완전히 바꿉니다. 손님을 재워주는 호의적인 상황에서
with를 붙여버리면, 손님이 아주 귀찮은 존재였다는 실례되는 표현이 됩니다.
put up with를 비교해 보겠습니다. C1 레벨에서는 이 미묘한 차이를 아는 것이 핵심입니다.can't stand)으로 쓰이며, 감정적인 거부감이 강함. | 도저히 못 봐주겠는 행동, 혐오스러운 것 |I can't stand this music.(이 음악 정말 끔찍해서 못 듣겠어! - 감정적 폭발)I have to put up with this music.(이 음악이 좀 거슬리긴 하지만, 카페에 있으려면 어쩔 수 없지. - 현실적 수용)The patient tolerated the treatment well.(환자가 치료 과정을 잘 견뎌냈습니다. - 의학적/객관적 보고)They endured years of hardship.(그들은 수년간의 고난을 인내했습니다. - 숭고하고 무거운 인내)
put up with는 항상 부정적인 상황에서만 쓰나요?enjoy, appreciate 등을 사용하세요.put up with와 stand의 차이가 정확히 무엇인가요?stand는 주로 can't stand 형태로 쓰여서 당장 눈앞의 상황에 대한 강한 거부감을 나타냅니다. 반면 put up with는 불만족스럽더라도 일정 기간 그 상황을 유지하며 견디고 있다는 상태에 초점을 맞춥니다.put up with는 다소 구어체적인 느낌이 있습니다. 공식적인 비즈니스 서신에서 고객이나 상사에게 사용하면 상황에 따라 불평하는 것처럼 들릴 수 있습니다. 격식을 차려야 하는 상황에서는 tolerate나 accommodate, 혹은 be patient with와 같은 표현을 고려해 보세요.put up with 뒤에 사람(him, her)이 오면 무례한 표현인가요?How do you put up with him?)라고 할 때는 흔히 쓰이는 농담 섞인 표현이 될 수 있지만, 당사자 앞에서나 공식적인 자리에서는 그 사람이 '참아줘야 하는 존재(민폐)'라는 뜻이 되므로 매우 무례할 수 있습니다. 사용 시 주의가 필요합니다.2. Negatives and Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
do not put up with
|
don't put up with
|
I don't put up with lies.
|
|
does not put up with
|
doesn't put up with
|
He doesn't put up with it.
|
|
did not put up with
|
didn't put up with
|
We didn't put up with it.
|
|
cannot put up with
|
can't put up with
|
I can't put up with this!
|
Conjugating 'Put up with'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I / You / We / They
|
put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Present Simple
|
He / She / It
|
puts up with
|
the noise
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Present Continuous
|
I
|
am putting up with
|
the noise
|
|
Present Perfect
|
She
|
has put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Future (Will)
|
They
|
will put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Gerund
|
N/A
|
putting up with
|
the noise
|
|
Infinitive
|
N/A
|
to put up with
|
the noise
|
Meanings
To accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining, despite not liking it.
Tolerating People
Enduring the difficult personality, habits, or presence of another individual.
“She has to put up with her boss's mood swings every morning.”
“I can't put up with roommates who don't do their dishes.”
Enduring Conditions
Accepting physical environments or circumstances that are uncomfortable.
“We had to put up with freezing temperatures during the hike.”
“The commuters put up with daily delays on the subway line.”
Accepting Behavior
Allowing a certain type of conduct to continue without intervention.
“The school will not put up with bullying of any kind.”
“I've put up with your excuses for three months now.”
Reference Table
| 상황 | 표현 | 뉘앙스 | 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
짜증 나는 소음
|
Put up with
|
마지못한 수용
|
I can't put up with their loud parties anymore.
|
|
까다로운 상사
|
Tolerate
|
공식적인 인내
|
Many employees tolerate poor management.
|
|
오랜 고난
|
Endure
|
고통을 겪어냄
|
She had to endure years of separation.
|
|
불쾌한 진실
|
Accept
|
체념적인 이해
|
He accepted the harsh reality of the job.
|
|
강한 혐오
|
Can't stand
|
강한 혐오
|
I can't stand people who are always late.
|
|
사소한 불편함
|
Put up with
|
일상적인 인내
|
You just have to put up with the wait.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
I am obliged to tolerate my colleague's unprofessional conduct. (Workplace)
I have to put up with my coworker's behavior. (Workplace)
I've got to deal with my coworker's crap. (Workplace)
I'm just vibing through my coworker's drama. (Workplace)
Put Up With: 인내의 거미줄
'무엇을' 참는가
- Noise Loud sounds
- Behavior Annoying actions
- Conditions Difficult circumstances
'왜' 참는가
- No Choice Lack of alternative
- Consequences Avoid worse outcome
- Love/Loyalty For relationships
'어떤' 감정인가
- Resignation Accepting fate
- Annoyance Irritation felt
- Patience Ability to wait
인내를 나타내는 구동사 비교
'Put Up With'를 사용해야 할까?
상황이나 사람이 불쾌하거나 짜증 나나요?
그것을 바꿀 선택권이 있나요?
불평하거나 바꾸려 하지 않고 그것을 받아들이거나 견디고 있나요?
사람들이 'Put Up With'하는 것들
직장
- • Unfair workload
- • Bad coffee
- • Annoying colleagues
- • Slow computer
사회생활
- • Flaky friends
- • Loud parties
- • Awkward silences
- • Bad dates
가정생활
- • Messy roommates
- • Loud neighbors
- • Household chores
- • Partner's habits
공공장소
- • Crowded transport
- • Long queues
- • Bad service
- • Public noise
수준별 예문
I put up with the rain.
I tolerate the rain.
She puts up with the cat.
She tolerates the cat.
Do you put up with the noise?
Do you tolerate the noise?
They do not put up with it.
They do not tolerate it.
I have to put up with my noisy neighbors.
I have to tolerate my noisy neighbors.
He puts up with a lot of work.
He endures a lot of work.
We put up with the small kitchen.
We accepted the small kitchen.
She didn't put up with the bad food.
She didn't tolerate the bad food.
I can't put up with your constant complaining anymore.
I can't tolerate your constant complaining anymore.
How long have you put up with that old car?
How long have you tolerated that old car?
She puts up with working on weekends because she needs the money.
She tolerates working on weekends because she needs the money.
The teacher won't put up with students being late.
The teacher won't tolerate students being late.
I don't know why she puts up with such a disrespectful partner.
I don't know why she tolerates such a disrespectful partner.
We've had to put up with a lot of bureaucracy to get this permit.
We've had to endure a lot of bureaucracy to get this permit.
If you want the promotion, you'll have to put up with some extra stress.
If you want the promotion, you'll have to tolerate some extra stress.
The residents are refusing to put up with the construction noise at night.
The residents are refusing to tolerate the construction noise at night.
In this industry, you're expected to put up with a certain degree of instability.
In this industry, you are expected to tolerate a certain degree of instability.
I'm amazed at the sheer volume of nonsense he's willing to put up with for that salary.
I am amazed at how much nonsense he is willing to tolerate for that salary.
The local government can no longer put up with the blatant disregard for environmental regulations.
The local government can no longer tolerate the clear ignoring of environmental rules.
Having to put up with his condescending tone was the final straw for me.
Having to tolerate his condescending tone was the last thing I could take.
The diplomatic corps must put up with a myriad of cultural idiosyncrasies to maintain peace.
The diplomatic corps must tolerate many cultural quirks to keep peace.
Whether the public will continue to put up with these austerity measures remains to be seen.
It is uncertain if the public will continue to tolerate these economic cuts.
She has stoically put up with years of systemic neglect within the organization.
She has patiently endured years of being ignored by the organization.
To succeed in academia, one often has to put up with the 'publish or perish' mentality.
To succeed in academia, one often has to tolerate the pressure to publish constantly.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often forget the 'with' and think 'put up' means tolerate.
Both mean tolerate, but 'stand' is almost always negative.
Both are three-part phrasal verbs starting with a verb and 'up with'.
자주 하는 실수
I put with the noise.
I put up with the noise.
I put up the noise.
I put up with the noise.
I put up with.
I put up with it.
He put up withs the rain.
He puts up with the rain.
I put up with to wait.
I put up with waiting.
I putted up with it.
I put up with it.
I am put up with it.
I am putting up with it.
I put it up with.
I put up with it.
I can't put up with his late.
I can't put up with his lateness.
I put up with him to smoke.
I put up with his smoking.
I will no longer put up with you to treat me like this.
I will no longer put up with you treating me like this.
The situation was put up with by me.
I put up with the situation.
I put up with his behavior, but I don't tolerate it.
I put up with his behavior (which means I tolerate it).
문장 패턴
I can't put up with ___ anymore.
How do you put up with ___?
It's something you just have to put up with when you ___.
I'm not sure how much longer I can put up with ___.
Real World Usage
I'm able to put up with high-pressure environments and tight deadlines.
I can't put up with his drama anymore, honestly.
Why do we have to put up with these ads every 5 seconds?!
We had to put up with a 4-hour delay at the airport.
I won't put up with cold food when I'm paying for delivery.
I can put up with a small bedroom if the rent is cheap.
문맥이 정말 중요해요!
Using it for a positive situation will sound very sarcastic or just plain wrong!
절대로 분리하지 마세요!
'왜' 참는지 그 이유를 담아보세요!
영국과 미국 영어의 미묘한 차이
동명사(-ing)를 활용해 보세요!
Smart Tips
Replace 'I don't like' with 'I can't put up with'. It sounds more specific and idiomatic.
Always check for the -ing. If you say 'put up with to...', it's a major giveaway that you're translating from your native language.
Use 'put up with' to describe your resilience, but follow it with a positive result.
Consider switching 'put up with' back to 'tolerate' or 'endure' for a more academic tone.
발음
Stress Pattern
In 'put up with', the primary stress is usually on 'up'.
Linking
The 't' in 'put' often links to the 'u' in 'up', sounding like a soft 'd' in American English (flap T).
Rising-Falling on 'UP'
I can't put UP with it. ↘
Conveys frustration or a limit being reached.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'Putting' a heavy box 'Up' on a shelf and staying 'With' it even though your arms hurt.
시각적 연상
Imagine yourself standing in the pouring rain with a small, broken umbrella. You aren't moving; you are just standing there, 'putting up with' the water hitting your face.
Rhyme
When things are bad and you must stay, you put up with them every day.
Story
John moved to a city with a lot of traffic. At first, he hated it. But he needed his job, so he decided to put up with the two-hour commute. He put up with the noise, he put up with the smog, and eventually, he just got used to it.
Word Web
챌린지
Write down three things you currently 'put up with' in your daily life (e.g., a slow computer, a long line at the coffee shop).
문화 노트
Often associated with the 'stiff upper lip'—the idea of enduring hardship without complaining.
Frequently used in the context of 'customer service' and what a consumer should or should not have to endure.
Used to describe 'soft skills' and the ability to work in difficult teams.
The phrase 'put up' has many meanings in English dating back to the 1400s, often related to 'storing' or 'placing'. The specific idiom 'put up with' emerged in the mid-1800s.
대화 시작하기
What is one thing about your city that you have to put up with?
Is there a habit of a friend that you find hard to put up with?
In your opinion, what should a professional never have to put up with at work?
How much noise can you put up with when you are trying to study?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
I can't ___ his constant complaining.
Find and fix the mistake:
She has to put her annoying roommate up with.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesShe has been ___ her noisy neighbors for three years.
Find and fix the mistake:
I can't put the cold weather up with anymore.
Choose the correct option:
I cannot tolerate his rudeness.
A: Your boss is so mean! How do you do it? B: ___
Select the valid object:
Match 'Put up with' to:
won't / I / that / with / up / put
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesHow much noise can you ___ while studying?
We can't put anymore up with his rude comments.
Which sentence is correct?
No puedo tolerar el tráfico de la mañana.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the situations with common things to 'put up with':
Are you willing to ___ a difficult work environment for a good salary?
He's putting up with to much pressure at his new job.
Select the correct usage:
Tuve que soportar el comportamiento grosero de los clientes durante todo el turno.
Form a complete sentence:
Match the reasons for enduring with the situations:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, 'put up with' is a transitive verb, meaning it always needs an object. You must put up with *something* or *someone*. If the object is obvious, use 'it' (e.g., 'I can't put up with it').
It is neutral. It is perfectly acceptable in business meetings, emails, and casual conversation. 'Tolerate' is more formal/academic.
'Bear' is more formal and often used for heavy emotional suffering (e.g., 'I can't bear the pain'). 'Put up with' is for everyday annoyances.
No. Unlike some phrasal verbs, three-part phrasal verbs are always inseparable. The object must come after 'with'.
Quite the opposite! It implies you *don't* like it, but you are choosing (or forced) to accept it without complaining.
No, it is only used for unpleasant or annoying things. You wouldn't say 'I put up with this delicious cake'.
The meaning and grammar are identical in both dialects. It is a very stable idiom across the English-speaking world.
It is 'put up with'. The verb 'put' does not change in the past tense (e.g., 'Yesterday, I put up with his nonsense').
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In Other Languages
aguantar / soportar
English uses a three-word phrase; Spanish uses one word.
supporter / tolérer
The English 'support' means to help, while 'put up with' means to tolerate.
aushalten / sich abfinden mit
German word order changes significantly in subordinate clauses, unlike English phrasal verbs.
我慢する (gaman suru)
Japanese doesn't use particles like 'up' to modify the verb's core meaning.
يتحمل (yatahammal)
The metaphor in Arabic is 'carrying' a burden, while English is 'putting' it 'up'.
忍受 (rěnshòu)
Chinese grammar is isolating; English phrasal verbs are a major hurdle for Chinese speakers.
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