복사하다

The word 복사하다 is a fundamental verb in Korean that translates to 'to copy.' It is derived from the Hanja characters 複 (double/repeat) and 寫 (write/copy).

You will use this word daily in both professional and casual settings. Whether you are at a copy machine in the office or saving a file on your computer, this is the go-to term for duplication.

The term is rooted in Sino-Korean vocabulary. The character '복' (複) implies repetition or layering, while '사' (寫) refers to the act of writing or capturing an image.

Historically, this referred to the manual transcription of texts. As technology evolved, the word seamlessly transitioned to include mechanical printing and modern digital 'copy-paste' functions.

In daily life, it is most often used with 문서 (document) or 파일 (file). When you are at an office, you might say '이 서류를 복사해주세요' (Please copy this document).

It is a versatile verb that fits perfectly into technical, administrative, and casual contexts without sounding overly formal or slangy.

While not an idiom, the phrase 복사판이다 (to be a carbon copy) is used to describe someone who looks exactly like another person. It carries the nuance of 'they are identical.'

Another common usage is 복사해서 붙여넣기, which is the direct translation of 'copy and paste' in computing.

복사하다 follows the standard -하다 verb conjugation pattern. In the present tense, it becomes 복사해요, and in the past tense, 복사했어요.

The pronunciation is straightforward, with the stress falling naturally on the first and third syllables. It rhymes loosely with other -하다 verbs like 조사하다 (to investigate).