맞추다
Explanation of 맞추다 at your level:
You use 맞추다 when you put things together. If you have a puzzle, you put the pieces in the right place. That is 맞추다. You can also use it when you set your clock to the right time. It is a very useful word for everyday life!
At this level, you will use 맞추다 for small tasks. For example, 'setting the alarm' is 알람을 맞추다. It also means to get an answer correct, like in a quiz. If you guess right, you 맞췄어요!
Now you can use it for more abstract ideas. You can 맞추다 your schedule with a friend's, meaning you coordinate your plans. It is also used when you try to understand someone's feelings or 'go along' with their mood to keep the peace.
In professional settings, 맞추다 describes calibration or meeting requirements. You might 맞추다 a deadline or 맞추다 your expectations with a client. It implies a delicate balance of adjustment and precision.
Advanced learners use 맞추다 in nuanced ways, such as in the phrase 비위를 맞추다 (to appease). It shows a sophisticated understanding of social dynamics and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal relationships through language.
At the mastery level, consider the etymological depth. The word bridges the gap between physical construction and cognitive alignment. It is used in literary contexts to describe the harmonization of disparate elements, reflecting a deep philosophical connection between 'correctness' and 'unity'.
맞추다 in 30 Seconds
- Used for fitting things
- Used for setting time
- Used for getting answers
- Used in social idioms
Hey there! 맞추다 is one of those super handy Korean verbs you will use every single day. At its core, it is all about alignment and agreement.
Think of it as the act of making two things 'talk' to each other correctly. Whether you are putting a puzzle together, setting your alarm, or giving the right answer on a test, you are 맞추다-ing! It is all about finding that perfect fit.
The word 맞추다 stems from the root '맞다' (to be correct/to fit). Historically, it evolved as the causative form of '맞다'. In ancient Korean, this concept was linked to the physical act of joining two separate pieces together.
Over centuries, the meaning expanded from purely physical objects—like joining wood—to abstract concepts like matching schedules or guessing the truth. It is a beautiful example of how a simple physical action became a versatile tool for describing logic and coordination in modern language.
You will hear 맞추다 in many contexts. Use it with 퍼즐 (puzzle) when you are building something, or with 시간 (time) when you are setting your watch.
It is also used in social situations. If you want to say you are 'going along with' someone's opinion, you use this verb. It is neutral in register, meaning you can use it with friends or in a polite business setting without sounding weird.
1. 비위를 맞추다: To cater to someone's mood or flatter them. Example: 'He always tries to cater to his boss's mood.'
2. 장단을 맞추다: To play along with someone. Example: 'Just play along with his jokes for now.'
3. 눈을 맞추다: To make eye contact. Example: 'We finally made eye contact across the room.'
4. 보조를 맞추다: To keep pace with someone. Example: 'Try to keep pace with the group.'
5. 답을 맞추다: To get the answer right. Example: 'Did you get the answer right on the test?'
As a regular verb, 맞추다 follows standard conjugation rules. In the present tense, it becomes 맞춥니다 or 맞춰요.
Pronunciation-wise, watch out for the double consonant 'ㅊ'. It is a crisp, aspirated sound. It rhymes loosely with words ending in '-u-da' sounds. Focus on the sharp stop at the beginning to sound like a native speaker!
Fun Fact
It is the causative form of '맞다'.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp aspirated ch sound
Clear vowel sounds
Common Errors
- Softening the ch
- Missing the double consonant
- Incorrect pitch
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Pronunciation practice needed
Clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Causative forms
맞다 -> 맞추다
Examples by Level
퍼즐을 맞추다.
Puzzle + to fit
Basic object-verb structure
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
알람을 7시에 맞췄어요.
정답을 맞췄어요.
시계를 맞추다.
온도를 맞추다.
친구와 시간을 맞추다.
옷을 맞춰 입다.
퍼즐 조각을 맞추다.
답을 맞추다.
상대방의 기분을 맞추기 어렵다.
우리는 보조를 맞추며 걸었다.
시험 문제를 다 맞췄다.
약속 시간을 맞추느라 힘들었다.
내 의견을 너에게 맞출게.
그들은 장단을 잘 맞춘다.
눈을 맞추고 이야기하자.
규격에 맞추어 제작하다.
고객의 요구사항에 맞추다.
예산에 맞추어 계획을 세우다.
그의 비위를 맞추는 것은 피곤하다.
시대의 흐름에 맞추다.
일정을 맞추기 위해 서둘렀다.
모든 조건을 완벽하게 맞췄다.
사회적 기준에 맞추다.
그의 말에 장단을 맞추어 주었다.
그의 비위를 맞추느라 진땀을 뺐다.
변화하는 시장 환경에 맞추어 전략을 수정했다.
그녀는 상대의 눈높이에 맞추어 설명했다.
우리는 서로의 보조를 맞추며 나아갔다.
그는 자신의 성격을 상황에 맞추어 바꾼다.
모든 퍼즐 조각이 딱 맞아떨어졌다.
예상치 못한 결과에 보조를 맞추다.
타협점을 찾기 위해 의견을 맞추다.
그는 권력자의 비위를 맞추는 데 능숙했다.
시대적 요구에 맞추어 제도를 개혁하다.
서로의 가치관을 맞추는 과정은 필수적이다.
그는 상황을 자신에게 유리하게 맞추었다.
수천 년의 역사가 한 점에 맞추어지다.
미묘한 감정의 결을 맞추다.
논리적 정합성을 맞추어 논문을 쓰다.
그의 행동은 사회적 통념에 맞추어져 있다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"비위를 맞추다"
to flatter/appease
상사의 비위를 맞추느라 힘들다.
casual""
""
""
""
""
Easily Confused
similar sound
맞히다 is for correct answers
정답을 맞혔다 vs 퍼즐을 맞췄다
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Object + 을/를 + 맞추다
나는 시계를 맞췄다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Tips
Puzzle Trick
Daily Tasks
Social Harmony
Causative
Aspiration
Don't confuse with 맞히다
Versatility
Flashcards
Verb Conjugation
Idioms
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of two puzzle pieces 'matching' (mat-chu-da).
Visual Association
A clock being set to the right time.
Word Web
Challenge
Set your alarm today and say '알람을 맞췄다'.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: To make two things match
Cultural Context
None.
Similar to 'adjust' or 'fit'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School
- 정답을 맞췄어요
- 문제를 맞추다
- 눈을 맞추다
Conversation Starters
"오늘 알람 몇 시에 맞췄어요?"
"퍼즐 맞추기 좋아하세요?"
"친구와 장단을 잘 맞추는 편인가요?"
"눈을 맞추고 말하는 게 중요할까요?"
"어떻게 시간을 맞추시나요?"
Journal Prompts
오늘 내가 맞춘 것은 무엇인가요?
누군가의 기분을 맞추느라 힘들었던 적이 있나요?
시간을 맞추기 위해 노력한 경험을 쓰세요.
퍼즐을 맞추는 과정에 대해 써보세요.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsTest Yourself
나는 퍼즐을 ___.
You use 맞추다 for puzzles.
Which means to set an alarm?
맞추다 is used for setting devices.
맞추다 can mean to flatter someone.
Yes, 비위를 맞추다.
Word
Meaning
Standard idiom.
Correct word order.
Score: /5
Summary
맞추다 is the essential verb for making things fit, whether they are physical objects or abstract plans.
- Used for fitting things
- Used for setting time
- Used for getting answers
- Used in social idioms
Puzzle Trick
Daily Tasks
Social Harmony
Causative
Example
시간을 시계에 맞춰야 해요.
