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B2 noun 9 min read

가용성

gayongseong
Examples 가용성 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 가용성 in your Level:
At the A1 level, the word 가용성 is quite difficult and not usually taught. Instead, you learn simpler ways to say 'can use.' For example, you might say '있어요?' (Is there?) or '할 수 있어요?' (Can I do it?). Think of 가용성 as a very formal way to say 'Is this thing ready to be used?' If you see this word on a sign or in a book, just remember it has to do with 'using' (용) and 'being possible' (가). It is like the 'Available' light on a taxi, but much more formal. You won't need to speak this word yet, but knowing that '용' means 'use' will help you later. At this stage, focus on the idea that some things are ready to use and some are not. If a toy is broken, it has no 'usability.' If a server is down, it has no 'availability.' That's the basic idea behind this big word.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to see more Sino-Korean words (words based on Chinese characters). 가용성 is one of those. You might see it in simple news clips or on websites. It means 'availability.' For example, if you are looking at a website and it says 'Service Availability,' it might use the word 가용성. It's important to know that this word is for 'things' and 'systems,' not for 'people.' If you want to say you are free to meet a friend, don't use this word! Use '시간이 있어요' (I have time). You can start to recognize 가용성 in contexts like 'water availability' or 'power availability.' It's a way to talk about whether we have enough of something and if we can use it right now. It's a 'Level Up' word from the basic '사용' (use).
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At the B1 level, you should be able to recognize 가용성 in semi-formal contexts like workplace emails or news articles. You are likely moving into more specific topics like technology, environment, or business. 가용성 is a key word here. It describes the reliability of a system. If a bank's website is always working, it has 'high availability.' If a factory has all the materials it needs, it has 'resource availability.' You should start to see how it combines with other words: 시스템 가용성 (system availability) or 자원 가용성 (resource availability). You might not use it in every conversation, but you should understand it when a boss or a news anchor mentions the 'availability of funds' or the 'availability of a network.' It’s a noun that describes a quality, so it often goes with adjectives like '높다' (high) or '낮다' (low).
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At the B2 level, 가용성 is a word you should be able to use actively in formal writing and professional discussions. This is the level where you distinguish between 가용성 (availability), 사용성 (usability/UX), and 유효성 (validity). You understand that 가용성 is a technical metric. In an IT context, you know it refers to 'uptime.' In economics, you know it refers to the 'supply readiness' of resources. You can construct complex sentences like 'To ensure the high availability of the system, we need a backup server.' You also understand the 'Availability Heuristic' (가용성 휴리스틱) in psychology. You are comfortable using this word in reports to sound more professional. You know that using this word instead of '사용 가능 여부' makes your Korean sound more 'polished' and 'expert-like.' It is a standard term in various professional domains in Korea.
At the C1 level, you understand the nuanced applications of 가용성 across multiple specialized fields. You can participate in deep technical discussions about 'High Availability' (고가용성) architectures, including concepts like failover, redundancy, and SLA (Service Level Agreements). In social sciences, you can discuss the 'availability' of social services and how it impacts public welfare. You are aware of the word's etymological roots and can compare it with similar concepts in other languages. You use the word naturally in academic papers or high-level business negotiations. You also recognize the rhetorical use of the word—how a politician might talk about 'increasing the availability of opportunities' to sound authoritative. Your mastery includes knowing when not to use it to avoid sounding overly pedantic, choosing instead more descriptive phrases when the context requires a more human touch.
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At the C2 level, your understanding of 가용성 is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. You grasp the philosophical and systemic implications of the word. You can discuss the 'availability' of information in the age of Big Data and how 'information availability' affects cognitive biases on a societal scale. You are familiar with historical shifts in how this term has been used in Korean law and technical standards. You can effortlessly switch between the technical definition in engineering and the abstract definition in cognitive psychology. You might even critique the '가용성' of certain government policies, analyzing whether the infrastructure truly supports the intended use. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item; it's a tool for complex systemic analysis. You can use it to explain intricate concepts like 'liquidity availability' in finance or 'biological availability' (생체 이용률/가용성) in pharmacology with precision.
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Examples

가용성 in 30 Seconds

  • 가용성 (可用性) means 'availability' and is used to describe systems, resources, or technical reliability in formal and professional Korean contexts.
  • It is a Sino-Korean word where '가' means possible, '용' means use, and '성' means quality or nature.
  • Commonly used in IT (High Availability), economics (Resource Availability), and psychology (Availability Heuristic) to indicate readiness for use.
  • Unlike the English 'availability,' it is rarely used for personal schedules; instead, it focuses on the operational status of abstract or physical systems.

The Korean word 가용성 (可用性 - gayongseong) is a sophisticated noun that translates primarily to 'availability' or 'usability.' At its core, it describes the state of being ready for use, accessible, or obtainable when needed. While English speakers often use the word 'availability' to describe their personal schedule (e.g., 'I have no availability on Friday'), 가용성 is more frequently employed in technical, economic, and formal contexts. It refers to the inherent quality of a system, resource, or material that allows it to be put into service effectively. In the modern era, this word has become a cornerstone of Information Technology and engineering, where 'High Availability' (고가용성) is a critical metric for server performance and reliability.

Hanja Breakdown
The word is composed of three Chinese characters: 可 (가 - possible/can), 用 (용 - use), and 性 (성 - nature/quality). Literally, it translates to 'the nature of being possible to use.'
Technical Nuance
In IT, it specifically refers to the percentage of time a system remains operational. A system with 99.9% 가용성 is considered highly reliable.
Economic Context
In economics, it refers to the availability of resources, such as labor or raw materials, within a specific market or timeframe.

서버의 가용성을 높이기 위해 이중화 작업을 진행했습니다.

Translation: We performed redundancy work to increase the server's availability.

Understanding 가용성 requires distinguishing it from simple 'existence.' Something might exist, but if it cannot be accessed or used due to technical failure or legal restrictions, its 가용성 is zero. For example, a library might have a rare book, but if that book is under restoration and cannot be borrowed, it lacks 가용성 for the public. This nuance is vital for B2-level learners who are moving beyond basic vocabulary into professional or academic Korean. You will encounter this word in news reports regarding energy resources, technical manuals for software, and academic papers discussing social capital or infrastructure.

자원의 가용성은 프로젝트의 성공 여부를 결정짓는 중요한 요소입니다.

Translation: The availability of resources is a critical factor that determines the success of a project.

데이터의 가용성이 확보되어야 분석이 가능합니다.

Furthermore, the term often appears in discussions about sustainability. The 가용성 of clean water or renewable energy is a recurring theme in environmental science. In this context, it implies not just that the resource exists, but that it is in a form and location that makes it practically usable for human needs. As you master this word, notice how it pairs with verbs like '확보하다' (to secure/ensure), '높이다' (to increase), and '평가하다' (to evaluate).

클라우드 서비스의 핵심은 높은 가용성을 보장하는 것입니다.

인력 가용성 문제를 해결하기 위해 신규 채용을 검토 중입니다.

Using 가용성 correctly involves understanding its role as a formal noun. It typically functions as the subject or object of a sentence, often modified by another noun to specify what kind of availability is being discussed. Because it is a technical term, the sentences it appears in tend to be structured formally, using endings like -습니다 or -ㄴ다. It is rarely found in casual, spoken conversations between friends unless they are discussing professional matters like work projects or computer systems.

Noun + 가용성
Common pairings include 시스템 가용성 (system availability), 자원 가용성 (resource availability), 데이터 가용성 (data availability), and 인력 가용성 (manpower availability).
Verbs used with 가용성
To describe actions taken: 가용성을 높이다 (to increase availability), 가용성을 확보하다 (to secure/ensure availability), 가용성을 저해하다 (to hinder availability).

네트워크 오류로 인해 서비스 가용성이 일시적으로 저하되었습니다.

Translation: Service availability was temporarily degraded due to a network error.

In a business proposal, you might use 가용성 to justify an investment. You could argue that by upgrading equipment, the company can improve the 'availability' of its production lines. In this sense, 가용성 acts as a professional metric. It conveys a sense of precision that more common words like '사용' (use) or '있음' (existence) lack. When writing, remember that 가용성 is an abstract quality; you don't 'buy' 가용성, you 'improve' or 'ensure' it.

이 모델은 부품의 가용성이 낮아 수리가 어렵습니다.

Translation: This model is difficult to repair because the availability of parts is low.

For advanced learners, using 가용성 in the context of 'Cognitive Availability' (가용성 휴리스틱 - Availability Heuristic) is a great way to show depth. This refers to a psychological phenomenon where people judge the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind. This usage demonstrates how the word bridges the gap between hard sciences and social sciences.

비상시를 대비하여 예비 전력의 가용성을 상시 점검해야 합니다.

신기술의 시장 가용성을 검토하는 보고서를 작성하세요.

토지 가용성의 한계로 인해 도시 확장이 지연되고 있습니다.

If you are working in an office in Seoul, particularly in Pangyo (Korea's Silicon Valley), you will hear 가용성 daily. It is ubiquitous in project management meetings and technical stand-ups. Engineers will debate 'High Availability' (고가용성) architectures, which involve setting up redundant servers so that if one fails, the other takes over instantly. In these settings, the word is often used as a direct translation of the English technical term 'availability.'

In the News
Economic news broadcasts frequently use the term when discussing global supply chains. For instance, '반도체 가용성' (semiconductor availability) was a major headline during the global chip shortage.
In Academic Lectures
Professors in fields like operations research, computer science, and social policy use 가용성 to discuss the distribution and accessibility of services or goods.

이번 분기에는 원자재 가용성이 개선될 것으로 보입니다.

Translation: Raw material availability is expected to improve this quarter.

You might also encounter this word in government policy documents. When the Korean government discusses public housing or medical services, they often refer to the 'service availability' for marginalized groups. Here, 가용성 implies a commitment to making sure these services are not just theoretically available, but practically reachable and usable by the citizens. It carries a weight of systemic reliability.

공공 데이터의 가용성을 확대하여 민간 활용을 장려하고 있습니다.

Translation: We are encouraging private use by expanding the availability of public data.

Finally, in the context of psychological tests or sociology, the 'Availability Heuristic' is translated as '가용성 휴리스틱'. If you watch documentaries or read popular science books in Korean, this term will appear when explaining how humans make biased decisions based on the most 'available' information in their memory.

재난 상황에서 통신 가용성의 확보는 생명과 직결됩니다.

약품의 가용성이 낮아 환자들이 치료에 어려움을 겪고 있습니다.

클라우드 컴퓨팅은 높은 가용성과 확장성을 제공합니다.

The most common mistake learners make with 가용성 is using it in place of simpler words for 'availability.' Because the English word 'availability' is so versatile, learners often try to force 가용성 into sentences where it sounds unnatural or overly robotic. For example, if you want to ask if a seat is available in a cafe, you should never use 가용성. Instead, you would ask '자리 있어요?' (Is there a seat?). Using 가용성 here would be like asking, 'Does this seating unit possess the quality of being usable at this juncture?'

Confusing with 가능성 (Possibility)
가능성 refers to the chance or probability of something happening. 가용성 refers to whether something is ready to be used. You can have the 'possibility' (가능성) of a server failing, but you measure the 'availability' (가용성) of the server to see how often it stays up.
Confusing with 유효성 (Validity)
유효성 means whether something is valid or effective. A coupon might be 'valid' (유효하다), but if the store is closed, its 'availability' (가용성) is zero.

[Wrong] 내일 미팅 가용성이 어떻게 되세요?

Note: This sounds like you are treating the person as a machine. Use '내일 미팅 시간 괜찮으세요?' instead.

Another mistake is failing to use the correct particles. Since 가용성 is a noun, it is often followed by markers like -이/가 (subject) or -을/를 (object). However, in compound nouns like '시스템 가용성,' learners sometimes mistakenly add a space or a particle where it isn't needed. In professional Korean, keeping these technical terms as tight compound nouns is standard practice.

예산의 가용성 범위를 확인해야 합니다.

Correct: We need to check the scope of budget availability.

Lastly, learners sometimes confuse 가용성 with 사용성 (Usability). While they are related, 사용성 specifically refers to how easy or user-friendly something is to use (UX - User Experience). 가용성 simply means it is there and ready to be used. A website could have 100% 가용성 (it never goes down) but terrible 사용성 (the buttons are hard to find).

장비의 가용성을 극대화하기 위한 유지보수 계획입니다.

정보 가용성이 보장되지 않으면 의사결정이 어렵습니다.

To truly master 가용성, you should know the words that surround it in the semantic web of Korean. Depending on the level of formality and the specific context, you might choose a different word to express the idea of 'being able to use something.'

이용 가능성 (Availability/Possibility of Use)
This is the closest synonym. It is slightly less technical than 가용성 and is used more frequently in general academic or descriptive contexts. While 가용성 is a single noun, 이용 가능성 is a phrase meaning 'the possibility of utilizing.'
사용 가능 (Available for use)
This is the adjective form. You will see signs that say '사용 가능' (Available) or '사용 중' (In use) on restrooms or fitting rooms. You would never see a sign saying '가용성 있음'.
접근성 (Accessibility)
This refers to how easy it is to reach or access something. A service might have high 가용성 (it's always running) but low 접근성 (it's too expensive or the UI is too hard to use).

인터넷의 보급으로 정보의 이용 가능성이 획기적으로 높아졌습니다.

Comparison: Here '이용 가능성' is used for general information access.

When choosing between these words, consider the 'systemic' nature of your subject. If you are talking about a machine, a server, or a large-scale resource pool, 가용성 is the professional choice. If you are talking about a person's schedule or a single object's status, use 시간 or 사용 가능. In economics, 가용 자원 (available resources) is a standard term, whereas 이용 가능한 자원 sounds slightly more descriptive and less like a fixed term.

이 소프트웨어는 높은 가용성을 자랑하지만 사용성은 떨어집니다.

Comparison: Distinguishing between 'always online' (가용성) and 'easy to use' (사용성).

In summary, 가용성 is your 'power word' for professional stability and resource readiness. Use it to sound like an expert in technology, logistics, or economics. For everything else, stick to the simpler '가능' or '이용' variants.

부품의 가용성을 확인한 후 수리 일정을 잡겠습니다.

시스템 가용성 보고서를 매달 제출해야 합니다.

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Examples by Level

1

이 물은 가용성이 낮아요.

This water has low availability (hard to get/use).

가용성 (noun) + 이 (subject marker) + 낮아요 (is low).

2

가용성이 중요해요.

Availability is important.

Simple subject-predicate structure.

3

시스템 가용성을 보세요.

Look at the system availability.

Compound noun + 을 (object marker).

4

가용성이 뭐예요?

What is availability?

Asking for a definition.

5

컴퓨터 가용성이 좋아요.

Computer availability is good.

Using '좋다' to describe quality.

6

가용성이 없어요.

There is no availability.

Using '없다' to show absence.

7

돈의 가용성이 작아요.

The availability of money is small.

Possessive '의' connecting two nouns.

8

가용성을 높여요.

Increase the availability.

Imperative/suggestive form of '높이다'.

1

인터넷 가용성이 아주 높습니다.

Internet availability is very high.

Formal ending -습니다.

2

전기 가용성을 확인하세요.

Please check the electricity availability.

Honorific imperative -세요.

3

자원 가용성이 부족합니다.

Resource availability is insufficient.

Formal adjective '부족하다'.

4

이 서비스는 가용성이 떨어집니다.

This service's availability is dropping.

Idiomatic use of '떨어지다' for quality.

5

가용성 문제를 해결합시다.

Let's solve the availability problem.

-읍시다 (let's) ending.

6

높은 가용성이 필요합니다.

High availability is needed.

Modifier '높은' before the noun.

7

데이터 가용성이 좋아졌어요.

Data availability has become better.

-아/어지다 (to become).

8

가용성을 어떻게 측정해요?

How do you measure availability?

Adverb '어떻게' (how).

1

서버 가용성을 유지하는 것이 중요합니다.

It is important to maintain server availability.

Nounizing with -는 것.

2

부품 가용성 때문에 수리가 늦어지고 있습니다.

Repair is being delayed because of parts availability.

Reasoning with '때문에'.

3

우리는 시스템의 가용성을 보장해야 합니다.

We must guarantee the availability of the system.

-아야 하다 (must).

4

인력 가용성을 고려하여 일정을 짭시다.

Let's make a schedule considering manpower availability.

-하여 (considering/doing).

5

가용성 수치가 목표보다 낮게 나왔습니다.

The availability figures came out lower than the target.

Comparative '보다'.

6

기술적 가용성을 먼저 검토해야 합니다.

We must first review the technical availability.

Adjective '기술적' (technical).

7

가용성이 확보되지 않으면 시작할 수 없습니다.

If availability is not secured, we cannot start.

Conditional -면.

8

에너지 가용성에 대한 보고서를 작성했습니다.

I wrote a report regarding energy availability.

-에 대한 (regarding).

1

고가용성 시스템은 장애 발생 시 즉시 복구됩니다.

High availability systems recover immediately upon failure.

Compound word 고가용성 (High Availability).

2

가용성 휴리스틱은 판단 오류를 일으킬 수 있습니다.

The availability heuristic can cause errors in judgment.

Psychological terminology.

3

자금 가용성을 확보하기 위해 대출을 신청했습니다.

We applied for a loan to secure fund availability.

-기 위해 (in order to).

4

클라우드 서비스의 핵심 지표는 가용성입니다.

The core metric of cloud services is availability.

Focusing on '핵심 지표' (core metric).

5

생산 설비의 가용성을 극대화하는 방안을 찾으세요.

Find a way to maximize the availability of production facilities.

Verb '극대화하다' (to maximize).

6

정보 가용성이 높아지면 투명성도 향상됩니다.

When information availability increases, transparency also improves.

Parallel increase with -면... -도.

7

네트워크 가용성 저하로 인해 큰 손실이 발생했습니다.

A large loss occurred due to a decrease in network availability.

Noun '저하' (decline/degradation).

8

가용성 테스트를 통해 시스템의 안정성을 확인했습니다.

We confirmed the system's stability through an availability test.

-를 통해 (through/via).

1

공공 서비스의 가용성은 사회적 형평성과 직결되는 문제입니다.

The availability of public services is a matter directly linked to social equity.

Advanced connective '직결되는' (directly linked).

2

데이터 가용성을 저해하는 요인들을 철저히 분석해야 합니다.

We must thoroughly analyze the factors that hinder data availability.

Verb '저해하다' (to hinder/impede).

3

이 아키텍처는 가용성과 비용 효율성 사이의 균형을 맞췄습니다.

This architecture strikes a balance between availability and cost-efficiency.

Noun '균형' (balance).

4

자원 가용성의 한계로 인해 프로젝트 범위 축소가 불가피합니다.

Due to limits in resource availability, narrowing the project scope is inevitable.

Adjective '불가피하다' (inevitable).

5

가용성 보장을 위한 SLA(서비스 수준 협약)를 체결했습니다.

We signed an SLA (Service Level Agreement) to guarantee availability.

Business term '체결하다' (to sign/conclude).

6

비상 대응 계획은 시스템 가용성을 최우선으로 고려해야 합니다.

Emergency response plans must prioritize system availability.

Adverb '최우선으로' (as top priority).

7

토지 가용성 부족이 도시 개발의 주요 걸림돌이 되고 있습니다.

Lack of land availability is becoming a major obstacle to urban development.

Metaphor '걸림돌' (stumbling block).

8

정보의 가용성이 의사결정의 질을 결정하는 핵심 요소입니다.

The availability of information is a key factor determining the quality of decision-making.

Complex noun phrase as subject.

1

고가용성 아키텍처 설계 시 단일 장애점(SPOF)을 제거하는 것이 필수적입니다.

When designing high-availability architectures, removing Single Points of Failure (SPOF) is essential.

Technical jargon '단일 장애점'.

2

가용성 휴리스틱에 의한 인지적 편향은 합리적 판단을 방해할 수 있습니다.

Cognitive biases caused by the availability heuristic can interfere with rational judgment.

Abstract academic structure.

3

자본 가용성의 변동성은 거시 경제 지표에 지대한 영향을 미칩니다.

Volatility in capital availability has a profound impact on macroeconomic indicators.

Advanced verb '영향을 미치다' (to influence).

4

시스템의 가용성을 정량적으로 평가하기 위해 가동 시간 비율을 산출합니다.

To quantitatively evaluate system availability, the uptime ratio is calculated.

Adverb '정량적으로' (quantitatively).

5

공급망 내에서의 원자재 가용성 불확실성이 제조업 전반에 위기를 초래했습니다.

Uncertainty in raw material availability within the supply chain has caused a crisis across the manufacturing industry.

Verb '초래하다' (to cause/bring about).

6

지속 가능한 발전을 위해서는 천연 자원의 가용성 보존이 선행되어야 합니다.

For sustainable development, preserving the availability of natural resources must come first.

Passive verb '선행되다' (to precede/be a prerequisite).

7

정보 가용성의 비대칭성은 시장의 비효율성을 야기하는 원인이 됩니다.

Asymmetry in information availability becomes a cause of market inefficiency.

Noun '비대칭성' (asymmetry).

8

재난 관리 시스템의 가용성 극대화는 국가 안보의 핵심 과제 중 하나입니다.

Maximizing the availability of disaster management systems is one of the key tasks of national security.

Complex multi-noun subject.

Synonyms

이용 가능성 유효성

Antonyms

불가능 결핍

Common Collocations

가용성을 높이다
가용성을 확보하다
가용성이 낮다
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