A2 verb 2 min read

따다

To pick or harvest something like a fruit, flower, or leaf from a plant.

ttada
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 따다 when you pick a fruit. For example, you pick an apple from a tree. You can also use it when you win a game. It is a very useful word for daily life in Korea.

At this level, you learn that 따다 is for harvesting plants. You can say 'I am picking strawberries.' It is also used for getting a driver's license. It is a very common action verb.

Intermediate learners should notice how 따다 works in abstract contexts. It isn't just for fruit; it's for 'gaining' something through effort, like a certificate. You can also use it for opening things like a bottle or a lock.

When you reach B2, you understand the nuance of 따다 in competitive settings. It implies an active effort to secure a win or a reward. It contrasts with '받다' (to receive), as 따다 emphasizes the active 'plucking' of the achievement.

In advanced usage, 따다 can be used in figurative expressions regarding social status or reputation. You might 'pluck' a compliment or 'pluck' a victory from the jaws of defeat. It reflects a proactive stance in achieving goals.

Mastery of 따다 involves understanding its role in traditional culture and modern professional life. It bridges the gap between ancient agricultural labor and the modern 'achievement-oriented' society. It is a word that carries the weight of effort and result.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used for picking fruit or flowers.
  • Used for earning licenses or medals.
  • Native Korean verb.
  • Requires sharp 'tt' pronunciation.

Hey there! Let's talk about the super common Korean verb 따다. At its core, it means to pluck or pick something from a plant. Think about walking through an orchard and grabbing a ripe peach—that's 따다!

But wait, it's not just for plants! You'll hear this word all the time when someone earns a license or wins a medal. It’s like 'plucking' success out of the air. Whether you are gardening or talking about your latest achievement, this word is your best friend.

The word 따다 has deep roots in native Korean vocabulary. Historically, it described the manual labor of harvesting crops, which was essential for survival in agrarian society. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from simple physical harvesting to the metaphorical 'harvesting' of success or knowledge.

It is fascinating how language evolves! Just as we 'reap what we sow' in English, Koreans use 따다 to describe the result of hard work—like 'plucking' a certificate after studying. It remains a purely native Korean term, distinct from Sino-Korean words, keeping it grounded in everyday life.

You will use 따다 in two main ways: physical and abstract. Physically, you use it with objects like 사과 (apple) or 꽃 (flower). Abstractly, you use it with things you 'gain,' such as 자격증 (license) or 점수 (score).

It is a casual to neutral verb. You can use it with friends, family, or even in semi-formal workplace discussions about project goals. Just remember, it isn't used for 'collecting' things in a general sense; it specifically implies an act of separation or acquisition.

1. 별을 따다: Literally 'to pluck a star,' meaning to do the impossible or achieve something incredibly difficult. 2. 입을 따다: Sometimes used in traditional medicine contexts, but metaphorically means to get someone to finally speak. 3. 점수를 따다: To score points or gain favor with someone. 4. 자격증을 따다: To earn a professional license. 5. 열매를 따다: To reap the fruits of one's labor.

따다 is a regular verb. In the past tense, it becomes 땄다 (ddat-da). It follows standard Korean verb conjugation rules. Pronunciation is tricky because of the tense consonant 'ㄸ'.

Make sure to press your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth and release with no aspiration—it should sound sharp and crisp. It rhymes with words like 가다 (to go) in its root form, though the 'ㄸ' gives it a completely different energy. Practice saying it by pushing air out sharply!

Fun Fact

The word has been used since the Middle Korean period to describe harvesting.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /t͈ada/

Tense 't' sound, sharp release.

US /t͈ada/

Short, crisp, no aspiration.

Common Errors

  • Aspirating the 't'
  • Making it sound like 'da'
  • Too long

Rhymes With

가다 나다 타다 바다 사다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Requires context

Speaking 2/5

Tense sound is tricky

Listening 2/5

Listen for the 'tt'

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

사과 꽃 공부

Learn Next

따내다 수확하다 획득하다

Advanced

성취 결실

Grammar to Know

Verb conjugation

따다 -> 따요

Past tense

따다 -> 땄어요

Object particle

사과를 따다

Examples by Level

1

사과를 따요.

Apple-object marker pick.

Simple present tense.

2

꽃을 따요.

Flower-object marker pick.

Standard object marking.

3

딸기를 따요.

Strawberry-object marker pick.

Verb stem + yo.

4

포도를 따요.

Grape-object marker pick.

Simple verb.

5

밤을 따요.

Chestnut-object marker pick.

Autumn activity.

6

감을 따요.

Persimmon-object marker pick.

Common in Korea.

7

배를 따요.

Pear-object marker pick.

Fruit harvest.

8

귤을 따요.

Tangerine-object marker pick.

Jeju island context.

1

운전면허를 따요.

2

자격증을 따요.

3

금메달을 따요.

4

점수를 따요.

5

상을 따요.

6

열매를 따요.

7

잎을 따요.

8

허브를 따요.

1

어려운 시험에 합격해서 자격증을 땄어요.

2

그는 경기에서 금메달을 땄습니다.

3

우리 팀이 이번 게임에서 승리를 땄어요.

4

정원에서 신선한 허브를 따왔어요.

5

그는 항상 선생님께 점수를 따려고 노력해요.

6

나무에서 잘 익은 사과를 땄어요.

7

그녀는 이번 대회에서 1등을 땄어요.

8

열심히 공부해서 자격증을 따고 싶어요.

1

그는 불가능해 보이는 목표를 따냈습니다.

2

그녀는 면접에서 좋은 인상을 따내어 합격했어요.

3

우리 회사는 큰 계약을 따냈습니다.

4

그는 별을 따다 줄 것처럼 말했어요.

5

이번 프로젝트에서 큰 성과를 따냈어요.

6

그는 사람들의 마음을 따는 법을 알아요.

7

오랜 노력 끝에 결국 자격증을 따냈어요.

8

그는 경기에서 승리를 따내기 위해 최선을 다했습니다.

1

그는 업계에서 최고의 명성을 따냈습니다.

2

이번 협상에서 유리한 조건을 따내는 것이 중요해요.

3

그는 경쟁자들 사이에서 기회를 따냈습니다.

4

그녀는 모두의 인정을 따내는 데 성공했어요.

5

그는 어려운 상황에서도 승리를 따냈습니다.

6

그는 사람들의 신뢰를 따내는 것이 가장 어렵다고 말했어요.

7

그는 이번 선거에서 승리를 따냈습니다.

8

그는 큰 프로젝트를 따내기 위해 밤새워 준비했어요.

1

그는 대중의 사랑을 따내는 데 탁월한 재능이 있습니다.

2

역사적인 승리를 따낸 그의 업적은 길이 남을 것입니다.

3

그는 불가능한 상황에서도 기회를 따내는 능력이 있습니다.

4

그녀는 예술적 성취를 따내기 위해 평생을 바쳤습니다.

5

그는 정계에서 확고한 지위를 따냈습니다.

6

그는 자신의 철학으로 많은 이들의 공감을 따냈습니다.

7

그는 어려운 여건 속에서도 성공을 따냈습니다.

8

그는 최고의 자리를 따내기 위해 끊임없이 노력했습니다.

Common Collocations

자격증을 따다
금메달을 따다
점수를 따다
사과를 따다
승리를 따다
상을 따다
계약을 따다
기회를 따다
마음을 따다
열매를 따다

Idioms & Expressions

"별을 따다"

Do the impossible

그는 별을 따다 줄 듯이 말해요.

casual

"점수를 따다"

To curry favor

상사에게 점수를 따려고 해요.

neutral

"입을 따다"

To force someone to speak

그의 입을 따는 게 쉽지 않네요.

casual

"승리를 따다"

To secure victory

결국 승리를 땄습니다.

neutral

"기회를 따다"

To seize an opportunity

그는 기회를 따냈습니다.

neutral

"성공을 따다"

To achieve success

그는 큰 성공을 따냈습니다.

formal

Easily Confused

따다 vs 뽑다

Both mean picking

뽑다 is for pulling out (weeds/hair), 따다 is for plucking (fruit).

꽃을 따다 vs 잡초를 뽑다.

따다 vs 받다

Both mean getting

받다 is receiving, 따다 is earning.

선물을 받다 vs 자격증을 따다.

따다 vs 사다

Both involve acquisition

사다 is buying, 따다 is earning.

사과를 사다 vs 사과를 따다.

따다 vs 줍다

Both mean picking up

줍다 is picking from the ground.

돈을 줍다 vs 사과를 따다.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + Object + 따다

그는 금메달을 땄어요.

A2

Subject + Place + Object + 따다

농장에서 사과를 땄어요.

B1

Subject + Effort + 따다

공부해서 자격증을 땄어요.

B2

Subject + Goal + 따내다

큰 계약을 따냈어요.

C1

Subject + Idiom + 따다

그는 별을 따다 주겠다고 했어요.

Word Family

Nouns

따기 The act of picking

Verbs

따내다 To successfully pluck/win

Related

수확 Harvest (noun)

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

Formal: 획득하다 Neutral: 따다 Casual: 따다

Common Mistakes

Using '따다' for buying → 사다
따다 is for picking/earning, not purchasing.
Using '따다' for receiving a gift → 받다
You receive gifts, you don't 'pluck' them.
Using '따다' for picking up an object from the floor → 줍다
Picking from a plant vs picking from the ground.
Confusing '따다' with '따라하다' → 따라하다
따라하다 means to follow/imitate.
Using '따다' for gathering people → 모으다
You gather people, not pluck them.

Tips

💡

The Harvest Rule

Think of harvest = 따다.

💡

Achievement Context

Use it for things you work hard to get.

🌍

Dating Culture

Use '점수 따다' to impress someone.

💡

Verb Stem

It is a regular verb.

💡

Sharp Start

Start with a tense sound.

💡

Don't confuse with 줍다

Picking vs gathering from ground.

💡

Star Plucking

It's a romantic idiom.

💡

Flashcards

Pair it with '자격증'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'TTA' (T-A) sound when you pluck a fruit.

Visual Association

A hand plucking a bright red apple.

Word Web

Harvest Victory License Fruit

Challenge

Try to use '따다' in three sentences today.

Word Origin

Native Korean

Original meaning: To detach from a stem

Cultural Context

None.

Similar to 'pick' or 'earn'.

Many K-pop songs use '점수 따다' in lyrics about dating.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Farm/Orchard

  • 사과를 따요
  • 딸기를 따요
  • 신선해요

School/Exam

  • 자격증을 따요
  • 점수를 따요
  • 합격했어요

Sports

  • 금메달을 따요
  • 승리를 따요
  • 1등을 했어요

Dating

  • 점수를 따요
  • 마음을 따요
  • 노력해요

Conversation Starters

"What fruit have you picked before?"

"What license do you want to earn?"

"Have you ever won a medal?"

"How do you score points with your friends?"

"Do you like picking flowers?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you worked hard to 'pluck' a success.

If you could 'pluck' a star, what would you wish for?

What is a skill you want to earn this year?

Write about a trip to a farm.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, it's also for licenses and wins.

Usually no, unless you 'win' it in a game.

땄어요.

It is neutral.

No, that is 뽑다.

Yes.

No, it is native Korean.

Press your tongue and release sharply.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

나는 사과를 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 따요

Picking an apple uses 따다.

multiple choice A2

Which means to earn a license?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 운전면허를 따다

Earning a license is expressed as 따다.

true false B1

You can use '따다' to say you bought a car.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

You buy a car (사다), you don't pluck it.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Both use the same verb.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject + Object + Verb.

Score: /5

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