기르다

The Korean verb 기르다 is a fundamental word you will encounter early in your language journey. At its core, it means to nurture or raise something until it reaches maturity. Whether you are talking about a child, a pet, or a garden, this is the go-to verb.

Think of it as the process of care. It is not just about having something; it is about the active effort you put into its growth. You can also use it for abstract things, like 기량을 기르다 (to develop one's skills) or 습관을 기르다 (to form a habit). It is a very versatile and positive word in the Korean language.

The word 기르다 has deep roots in Middle Korean. Historically, it evolved from the verb '길다' (to be long), which makes sense when you consider that growth is essentially an increase in length or size over time. This etymological connection highlights how ancient speakers viewed growth as an extension.

Over centuries, the word solidified into its current form. It shares conceptual space with other verbs of growth, but 기르다 specifically emphasizes the agent (the person) doing the work of raising. It is a native Korean word, not a Sino-Korean loanword, which gives it a warm, natural feel in daily conversation.

You will use 기르다 in many daily scenarios. When talking about animals, you might say '강아지를 기르다' (raising a puppy). For plants, it is '화초를 기르다' (growing a houseplant). In a professional or self-improvement context, it is common to hear '실력을 기르다' (to build up one's ability).

The register is neutral. You can use it with friends, family, or in professional settings without sounding strange. Just remember that for children, while 기르다 is correct, people often use '키우다' interchangeably, as they are synonyms in most contexts.

1. 수염을 기르다: To grow a beard. Example: '그는 멋진 수염을 기르고 있다.' (He is growing a cool beard.)

2. 습관을 기르다: To form a habit. Example: '매일 운동하는 습관을 기르세요.' (Try to form a habit of exercising daily.)

3. 실력을 기르다: To build/improve skills. Example: '더 많은 연습을 통해 실력을 기르자.' (Let's build our skills through more practice.)

4. 꿈을 기르다: To nurture a dream. Example: '아이들이 큰 꿈을 기를 수 있게 도와주세요.' (Help the children nurture big dreams.)

5. 정성을 들여 기르다: To raise with great care. Example: '그녀는 꽃을 정성을 들여 기른다.' (She grows flowers with great care.)

Grammatically, 기르다 is a regular verb. In the present tense, it becomes '기릅니다' (formal) or '길러요' (polite). Notice the slight vowel change in the conjugation: the 'ㅡ' drops and 'ㅓ' is added to form '길러'.

Pronunciation is straightforward. The '기' is crisp, and the '르다' flows smoothly. There is no complex batchim (final consonant) to worry about. It rhymes with words like '흐르다' (to flow) or '찌르다' (to poke), though the meanings are completely different.