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B2 noun #7,000 mais comum 9 min de leitura

도태

dotae Top 7,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas 도태 em 30 segundos

Explicação 도태 in your Level:

The word '도태' is quite difficult for beginners. It means when something or someone cannot keep up with others and is left behind or disappears. Think of a race where someone is so slow they have to stop playing. In Korean, we use this word when we talk about big things like animals in nature or big companies. For now, you don't need to use it, but remember it means 'to be left behind because you are not strong enough.' It is a very serious word.

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At the A2 level, you might see '도태' in simple stories about nature. It means a process where the weak are removed. For example, if a plant doesn't get water and other plants do, it might be '도태' (weeded out). It's usually used as '도태되다.' You can think of it as a very formal way to say 'to fail and be removed' from a group. It’s more common in books than in daily talking with friends.

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By B1, you should recognize '도태' in news headlines or school textbooks. It refers to the 'survival of the fittest.' If a company doesn't change its old ways and people stop buying its products, the company will be '도태' from the market. It’s an important word for discussing social issues or competition. Remember: '도태되다' (to be weeded out) is the most common form. It implies that the world is changing, and those who don't change with it will lose their place.

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At the B2 level, you should be able to use '도태' to explain complex situations. It’s not just about losing; it’s about 'evolutionary elimination.' You can use it to talk about technology (like how CDs were weeded out by streaming) or the job market (how certain skills are becoming obsolete). It carries a nuance of systemic inevitability. When you use '도태,' you are saying that the subject failed to adapt to a specific environment or competition. It is a key term for academic writing and professional discussions.

For C1 learners, '도태' is a tool for deep analysis. You should understand its Hanja origin (washing away sand to find gold) and how that metaphor applies to modern economics and sociology. You can use it to discuss 'structural obsolescence' or 'social Darwinism.' It’s also used in more abstract ways, such as the '도태' of certain cultural values or linguistic features. You should be able to distinguish it clearly from '탈락,' '낙오,' and '소멸,' using it specifically when the elimination is a result of a selection process.

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At the C2 level, '도태' is used with complete native-like precision. You can use it in high-level academic papers to discuss 'natural selection' (자연 도태) or 'artificial selection' (인위적 도태). You understand its rhetorical power in political discourse—how it can be used to justify or criticize harsh economic policies. You can also use it in literary contexts to describe the tragic but inevitable fading of old eras. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's inherent coldness and its focus on the 'system' rather than the 'individual.'

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

도태 em 30 segundos

도태 refers to the process of being weeded out or eliminated from a system due to a lack of competitiveness or failure to adapt.
It is commonly used in biological (natural selection) and economic (market elimination) contexts to describe inevitable systemic changes.
The word is typically paired with '되다' (to be eliminated) or '시키다' (to eliminate), appearing frequently in formal and academic Korean.
It differs from simple failure by implying that the subject has become obsolete or unfit for the current environment.

The Korean word 도태 (淘汰) is a sophisticated noun that describes the process of being weeded out, eliminated, or falling behind due to a lack of competitiveness or an inability to adapt to changing environments. At its core, it suggests a systemic or natural exclusion rather than a simple personal failure. Historically, the Hanja characters represent 'washing' (淘) and 'rinsing' (汰), originally referring to the process of washing away sand or impurities to find gold. In modern usage, this metaphor extends to any situation where the 'unfit' are separated from the 'fit.' For an English speaker, the closest conceptual match is 'natural selection' in biology, or 'obsolescence' and 'market elimination' in business. It is a word that carries a weight of inevitability and harsh reality.

Biological Context: In the natural world, 도태 refers to the survival of the fittest. Species that cannot adapt to climate change or new predators face 도태. This is often paired with '자연' (nature) to form the term '자연 도태' (natural selection).

환경에 적응하지 못한 생물은 자연스럽게 도태됩니다.

Translation: Creatures that fail to adapt to the environment are naturally eliminated.

Economic and Social Context: In the hyper-competitive Korean society, 도태 is frequently used to describe businesses that fail to innovate or individuals who fall behind in the fast-paced job market. It implies that if you don't keep up with technology or trends, the system will move on without you.

기술 혁신이 없는 기업은 시장에서 도태될 위험이 큽니다.

Translation: Companies without technological innovation face a high risk of being eliminated from the market.

Furthermore, 도태 is not just about physical death or business bankruptcy; it can also describe the loss of cultural traditions or obsolete ideas. When a new ideology takes over, the old ways are said to undergo 도태. It is a neutral but stern word, often used in academic, journalistic, or formal discussions to analyze trends and survival. Unlike 'failure' (실패), which can be personal and emotional, 도태 feels like a mechanical outcome of a larger system. Understanding this word helps you grasp the Korean perspective on competition and the constant pressure to evolve. In a society that values rapid growth (빨리빨리 culture), the fear of 도태 is a significant psychological driver. Whether it's the fear of being left behind by AI or the fear of a traditional craft disappearing, 도태 captures that specific anxiety of becoming irrelevant in the face of progress.

Using 도태 correctly requires understanding its grammatical partners. As a noun, it often functions as the head of a phrase, but its most common manifestations are in the passive form 도태되다 and the active form 도태시키다. Because it is a B2-level word, you will rarely see it in simple, everyday conversations about what to eat or where to go. Instead, you will find it in sentences discussing career paths, economic trends, and scientific theories. The nuance is always about the 'system' deciding who stays and who goes.

The Passive: 도태되다 (To be eliminated): This is the most frequent usage. It describes the subject falling behind or being 'washed away' by the tide of change. It often follows the particle '에서' (from) to indicate the arena of competition.

디지털 시대에 적응하지 못하면 사회에서 도태되기 십상이다.

Translation: If you cannot adapt to the digital age, you are likely to be weeded out from society.

The Active: 도태시키다 (To eliminate/weed out): This version is used when there is an active agent—like a market, a government, or nature—that is doing the weeding. It implies a deliberate or systemic action to remove the weak or the unnecessary.

정부는 비효율적인 기업들을 시장에서 도태시키기로 결정했다.

Translation: The government decided to weed out inefficient companies from the market.

When constructing your own sentences, think about the 'why' and the 'where.' Why is the subject being eliminated? Is it because of '치열한 경쟁' (fierce competition) or '급격한 변화' (rapid change)? Where is it happening? In the '주류' (mainstream), the '시장' (market), or '자연계' (the natural world)? Using these collocations will make your Korean sound more natural and academic. For example, '경쟁에서 도태되다' is a set phrase you should memorize. Also, notice that 도태 is rarely used for people being 'fired' from a job in a casual sense; for that, you would use '해고되다.' 도태 is for the bigger picture—when an entire class of workers or a whole industry becomes obsolete. It’s the difference between losing a game and being disqualified from the league forever. Use it when you want to emphasize the structural or evolutionary nature of the failure.

If you are watching Korean news (뉴스), particularly the economic or technology segments, you will hear 도태 constantly. Anchors use it to talk about how AI is threatening to replace certain jobs, or how traditional markets (재래시장) are struggling against giant online retailers. In these contexts, 도태 is used to sound objective and analytical. It frames the struggle not as a tragedy, but as a standard economic process. You will also encounter it in documentaries about nature (다큐멘터리), where the narrator describes how weak animals are '도태' by the harsh environment to ensure the survival of the species.

In Business Seminars: Speakers often use this word to motivate (or scare) their audience. '변화하지 않는 자는 도태된다' (Those who do not change will be weeded out) is a common mantra in corporate training sessions in Korea.

4차 산업혁명 속에서 우리는 도태되지 않기 위해 혁신해야 합니다.

Translation: In the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution, we must innovate to avoid being weeded out.

In literature and editorials, 도태 is used to discuss cultural loss. An author might lament how '순수 문학' (pure literature) is being 도태 by '웹소설' (web novels) or short-form content. Here, it takes on a slightly more melancholic tone, though it still retains its sense of an unstoppable tide. You might also hear it in political debates where one side argues that certain regulations will cause small businesses to be 도태. In university lectures, especially in biology, sociology, or economics, it is a key vocabulary term. If you are preparing for the TOPIK II exam, mastering 도태 is essential because it frequently appears in the reading and listening sections related to social issues. It signals that the text is moving into a discussion about competition, evolution, or systemic change. Pay attention to the surrounding words; if you hear '생존' (survival) or '경쟁' (competition), '도태' is likely just around the corner.

One of the biggest mistakes learners make is using 도태 in situations that are too small or personal. Since it translates to 'elimination' or 'weeded out,' a student might say '나는 시험에서 도태됐어' to mean 'I failed the test.' However, this sounds very strange to a native speaker. '도태' implies a permanent, systemic removal. Unless failing that test means you are literally being removed from the human race or the entire education system forever, '탈락' (elimination from a specific contest) or '불합격' (failing an exam) are much better choices.

Confusing 도태 with 탈락 (Tallak): '탈락' is for specific events: losing a round in a game, not making the cut for a team, or failing a job interview. '도태' is for the long-term process of becoming obsolete. You '탈락' from an audition, but an old technology '도태' from the market.

Another mistake is the confusion between '도태되다' and '퇴보하다' (to regress). '퇴보하다' means to go backward in quality or skill, whereas '도태되다' means to be removed entirely. A country's economy can '퇴보' (regress) during a recession, but a specific industry that no longer functions might be '도태' (eliminated). Finally, be careful with the Hanja. While you don't need to write them, knowing that '도' (淘) means washing helps you remember that this isn't just about 'losing'; it's about being 'washed away' by a larger force. Using 도태 to describe a simple mistake or a one-time loss is an overstatement that can make your Korean sound overly dramatic or slightly 'off.' Save it for discussions about trends, evolution, and long-term survival.

To truly master 도태, you need to know how it compares to its synonyms. Depending on the context, one might be more appropriate than the other. Here is a breakdown of words that occupy the same semantic space but have different 'flavors.'

도태 vs. 탈락 (Elimination): As mentioned, '탈락' is used for specific competitions or selections. If you are running a 100m race and trip, you are '탈락.' If your entire style of running becomes obsolete because everyone now uses jetpacks, you are '도태.'

도태 vs. 낙오 (Falling Behind): '낙오' (falling behind/straggling) is often used for individuals who can't keep up with a group's pace, like a soldier falling behind a marching unit. '도태' is more about being excluded by the environment itself. '낙오' has a more physical or personal feel, while '도태' is more conceptual and systemic.

도태 vs. 소멸 (Extinction/Disappearance): '소멸' is the end result—complete disappearance. '도태' is the process that leads to it. A language might undergo '도태' as fewer people speak it, eventually leading to its '소멸' (extinction).

In business contexts, you might also hear '퇴출' (expulsion/exit). This is usually an active, forced removal, like a bank being '퇴출' from the market by regulators. '도태' is more passive and natural—the bank simply couldn't compete and slowly faded away. Choosing the right word shows your level of Korean proficiency. If you want to sound like a professional analyst, use '도태.' If you are talking about a sports game, use '탈락.' If you are talking about a hiker who got lost from the group, use '낙오.' By understanding these subtle boundaries, you can use 도태 with precision and confidence.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The characters literally describe 'washing away the bad to keep the good.' In ancient times, this was a very practical term for farmers and miners before it became a biological and economic metaphor.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /do.tʰɛ/

US /do.tʰeɪ/

Both syllables are pronounced with equal weight, as is standard in Korean.

Rima com

모태 (motae) 상태 (sangtae) 형태 (hyeongtae) 생태 (saengtae) 낙태 (naktae) 사태 (satae) 자태 (jatae) 변태 (byeontae)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing '도' like 'due'. It should be a clear 'o' sound.
Failing to aspirate the 'ㅌ' in '태'. It needs a puff of air.
Confusing '태' (tae) with '대' (dae). '태' is much sharper.
Making the 'o' in '도' too long like 'dough'. Keep it short.
Pronouncing 'ae' like 'ee'. It should be an open 'e' sound.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 4/5

Common in news and books, but requires understanding of context.

Escrita 5/5

Hard to use correctly without sounding overly dramatic or academic.

Expressão oral 5/5

Rarely used in casual speech; sounds very formal.

Audição 4/5

Essential for understanding news and documentaries.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

경쟁 변화 제외 부족 실패

Aprenda a seguir

적자생존 약육강식 혁신 진화론 부실

Avançado

구조조정 사양산업 시대착오 낙오자

Gramática essencial

-게 되다 (To become/end up)

열심히 안 하면 도태되게 돼요.

-기 쉽다 (To be easy to...)

변화가 없으면 도태되기 쉬워요.

-지 않도록 (So that... not)

도태되지 않도록 준비하세요.

-ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (Have no choice but to)

실력이 없으면 도태될 수밖에 없어요.

-어/아 버리다 (To do completely - often with regret)

그 회사는 시장에서 도태되어 버렸다.

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Exemplos por nível

약한 동물은 도태됩니다.

Weak animals are weeded out.

도태됩니다 is the formal present tense of 도태되다.

도태는 슬픈 일이에요.

Elimination is a sad thing.

도태 is used here as a simple noun subject.

경쟁에서 도태되지 마세요.

Don't be weeded out from the competition.

-지 마세요 is 'don't do...'

나무가 도태되었어요.

The tree was weeded out.

Past tense of 도태되다.

그는 도태가 두려워요.

He is afraid of being weeded out.

두렵다 means to be afraid.

자연은 도태를 선택합니다.

Nature chooses elimination.

도태를 is the object of the sentence.

우리는 도태를 피하고 싶어요.

We want to avoid being weeded out.

-고 싶다 means 'want to'.

도태는 자연의 법칙입니다.

Elimination is a law of nature.

법칙 means 'law'.

실력이 없으면 도태될 수 있어요.

If you don't have skills, you can be weeded out.

-ㄹ 수 있다 indicates possibility.

오래된 기술은 시장에서 도태됩니다.

Old technology is weeded out from the market.

시장에서 means 'from the market'.

강한 자만이 도태되지 않아요.

Only the strong are not weeded out.

-만 means 'only'.

변화가 없으면 도태되기 쉬워요.

It is easy to be weeded out if there is no change.

-기 쉽다 means 'it is easy to...'

그 회사는 경쟁에서 도태되었어요.

That company was weeded out from the competition.

경쟁에서 indicates the location of failure.

도태되지 않으려고 노력해요.

I am trying not to be weeded out.

-으려고 노력하다 means 'trying to...'

도태는 무서운 현실입니다.

Elimination is a scary reality.

현실 means 'reality'.

많은 생물이 도태를 겪습니다.

Many creatures go through elimination.

겪다 means to experience/go through.

급변하는 사회에서 도태되는 것은 당연합니다.

It is natural to be weeded out in a rapidly changing society.

급변하는 means 'rapidly changing'.

그는 무리에서 도태되어 혼자 남았다.

He was weeded out from the group and left alone.

무리 means 'group/pack'.

새로운 모델이 나오면서 구모델은 도태되었다.

As new models came out, the old ones were weeded out.

-면서 means 'while/as'.

자연 도태설은 다윈의 이론입니다.

The theory of natural selection is Darwin's theory.

자연 도태설 is 'Theory of Natural Selection'.

혁신하지 않는 기업은 결국 도태될 것이다.

Companies that do not innovate will eventually be weeded out.

결국 means 'eventually/in the end'.

그들은 경쟁자를 시장에서 도태시켰다.

They weeded out their competitors from the market.

도태시켰다 is the active causative form.

도태의 위기에서 벗어나야 합니다.

We must escape from the crisis of being weeded out.

위기 means 'crisis'.

실력 위주의 사회에서는 도태가 빈번하다.

In a merit-based society, elimination is frequent.

빈번하다 means 'frequent'.

인공지능의 발달로 일부 직업이 도태될 위기에 처했다.

With the development of AI, some jobs are in danger of being weeded out.

위기에 처하다 means 'to be in a crisis/danger'.

전통 방식만 고집하다가는 시장에서 도태되기 십상이다.

If you insist only on traditional methods, you are likely to be weeded out from the market.

-다가는 indicates a negative result of a continued action.

이 제품은 경쟁력이 떨어져 시장에서 자연스럽게 도태되었다.

This product lost its competitiveness and was naturally weeded out from the market.

경쟁력이 떨어지다 means 'competitiveness drops'.

사회적 도태를 방지하기 위한 정책이 필요하다.

Policies are needed to prevent social elimination.

방지하기 위한 means 'in order to prevent'.

그는 시대의 흐름을 읽지 못해 도태되고 말았다.

He failed to read the trends of the times and ended up being weeded out.

-고 말았다 expresses a regrettable conclusion.

자연 도태는 생태계의 균형을 유지하는 과정이다.

Natural selection is a process that maintains the balance of the ecosystem.

균형을 유지하다 means 'to maintain balance'.

부적격자들을 도태시키는 과정이 너무 가혹했다.

The process of weeding out the unqualified was too harsh.

가혹하다 means 'harsh/cruel'.

기술적 도태는 피할 수 없는 시대적 숙명이다.

Technological obsolescence is an unavoidable fate of the times.

숙명 means 'fate/destiny'.

신자유주의 경제 체제는 약육강식에 따른 도태를 정당화하곤 한다.

Neoliberal economic systems often justify elimination based on the law of the jungle.

약육강식 means 'the law of the jungle' (weak are meat for the strong).

문화적 다양성이 사라지면 소수 문화는 도태될 수밖에 없다.

If cultural diversity disappears, minority cultures have no choice but to be weeded out.

-ㄹ 수밖에 없다 means 'to have no choice but to...'

그 학설은 새로운 증거들이 발견됨에 따라 학계에서 도태되었다.

That theory was weeded out from academia as new evidence was discovered.

-함에 따라 means 'according to / as...'

구조조정의 목적은 부실 기업을 도태시켜 경제의 건전성을 높이는 것이다.

The purpose of restructuring is to weed out insolvent companies and improve economic health.

건전성 means 'soundness/health'.

언어의 역사에서 쓰이지 않는 단어들은 자연스럽게 도태의 길을 걷는다.

In the history of language, words that are not used naturally walk the path of elimination.

도태의 길을 걷다 is a metaphorical expression for 'to be eliminated'.

그는 조직 내의 파벌 싸움에서 밀려나 비참하게 도태되었다.

He was pushed out in a factional struggle within the organization and miserably weeded out.

밀려나다 means 'to be pushed out'.

도태된 종들의 흔적은 화석을 통해 확인할 수 있다.

The traces of weeded-out species can be confirmed through fossils.

흔적 means 'trace/vestige'.

지나친 경쟁은 구성원들의 심리적 도태를 야기할 우려가 있다.

Excessive competition carries the risk of causing psychological withdrawal/elimination among members.

야기할 우려가 있다 means 'there is a concern it will cause...'

역사적 변곡점마다 구시대의 유물들은 필연적으로 도태의 수순을 밟아왔다.

At every historical inflection point, relics of the old era have inevitably followed the steps of elimination.

수순을 밟다 means 'to follow the procedures/steps'.

자본의 논리에 의한 인위적 도태가 생태계 파괴의 주범으로 지목되고 있다.

Artificial selection driven by the logic of capital is being pointed out as the main culprit of ecosystem destruction.

주범으로 지목되다 means 'to be pointed out as the main culprit'.

정보의 홍수 속에서 가치 없는 정보들은 순식간에 도태되고 만다.

In a flood of information, worthless information is weeded out in an instant.

정보의 홍수 means 'flood of information'.

기술적 우위가 없는 국가는 국제 사회에서 도태될 위험성을 항상 내포하고 있다.

A nation without technological superiority always harbors the risk of being weeded out from the international community.

내포하고 있다 means 'to involve/contain'.

사회 진화론은 강자의 지배와 약자의 도태를 정당화하는 논리로 악용되기도 했다.

Social Darwinism was sometimes misused as a logic to justify the dominance of the strong and the elimination of the weak.

악용되다 means 'to be misused'.

전통 시장의 도태는 단순한 경제적 현상을 넘어 공동체의 붕괴를 의미한다.

The elimination of traditional markets goes beyond a simple economic phenomenon and signifies the collapse of the community.

~을 넘어 means 'beyond ...'.

우리는 도태의 공포가 지배하는 사회에서 끊임없이 자기 계발을 강요받는다.

In a society ruled by the fear of elimination, we are constantly forced into self-development.

강요받다 means 'to be forced'.

생존을 위한 투쟁은 필연적으로 누군가의 도태를 전제로 한다.

The struggle for survival inevitably presupposes someone's elimination.

전제로 한다 means 'to presuppose'.

Sinônimos

낙오 탈락 제외 멸종 퇴출

Antônimos

생존 선발

Colocações comuns

자연 도태

시장에서 도태되다

사회적으로 도태되다

경쟁에서 도태되다

인위적 도태

도태를 면하다

도태의 위기

도태를 시키다

도태가 가속화되다

도태의 수순

Frases Comuns

도태될 수밖에 없다

— To have no choice but to be weeded out. Used when failure is inevitable.

변화하지 않으면 도태될 수밖에 없습니다.

도태의 길

— The path of elimination. Used to describe a declining trend.

그 기술은 이제 도태의 길을 걷고 있다.

도태를 막다

— To prevent elimination. Used in policy or strategy discussions.

정부는 소상공인의 도태를 막기 위해 노력한다.

도태의 원인

— The cause of elimination. Used in analytical contexts.

도태의 원인을 분석하는 것이 중요하다.

도태의 두려움

— The fear of being weeded out. Used in psychological contexts.

현대인은 도태의 두려움을 안고 산다.

도태 과정

— The process of elimination. Used in science or history.

생물의 진화는 도태 과정을 포함한다.

도태 대상

— The target of elimination. Used in restructuring.

수익성이 낮은 사업부가 도태 대상이 되었다.

도태를 극복하다

— To overcome elimination. Used in success stories.

그는 역경을 딛고 도태를 극복했다.

도태의 법칙

— The law of elimination. Used in philosophy or science.

세상에는 냉혹한 도태의 법칙이 존재한다.

도태를 강요하다

— To force elimination. Used in critical discussions.

지나친 경쟁은 도태를 강요하는 분위기를 만든다.

Frequentemente confundido com

도태 vs 탈락

Tallak is for single events; Dotae is for systemic obsolescence.

도태 vs 낙오

Nag-o is physically falling behind; Dotae is conceptually being weeded out.

도태 vs 실패

Silpae is a general failure; Dotae is a specific kind of failure to survive/adapt.

Expressões idiomáticas

"뒷방 늙은이 신세가 되다"

— To become like an old person in the back room. Often used when someone is socially '도태' and ignored.

기술을 안 배우면 뒷방 늙은이 신세가 되기 쉽다.

Informal

"찬밥 신세"

— Being treated like cold rice. Similar to being socially ignored or '도태' from a group.

그 프로젝트는 이제 팀 내에서 찬밥 신세다.

Informal

"물갈이"

— Changing the water. Refers to a massive '도태' and replacement of people in an organization.

선거 후에 대대적인 물갈이가 예상된다.

Neutral

"낙동강 오리알"

— A duck egg in the Nakdong River. Refers to someone who is left behind or '도태' and isolated.

그는 친구들 사이에서 낙동강 오리알이 되었다.

Informal

"도태의 늪"

— The swamp of elimination. A metaphorical place one cannot escape from once they start failing.

한번 도태의 늪에 빠지면 나오기 힘들다.

Literary

"시대의 뒤안길로 사라지다"

— To disappear into the back alleys of history. A poetic way to say something was '도태되었다'.

증기기관차는 이제 시대의 뒤안길로 사라졌다.

Literary

"구관이 명관이다"

— The old official is the good official. Used as a counter-argument to the idea that old things should be '도태'.

새 기계보다 옛날 게 낫네, 구관이 명관이야.

Informal

"새 술은 새 부대에"

— New wine in new bottles. Used to justify the '도태' of old systems for new ones.

조직 개편을 위해 새 술은 새 부대에 담아야 한다.

Neutral

"고인 물은 썩는다"

— Stagnant water rots. Used to explain why those who don't change will undergo '도태'.

혁신이 없으면 고인 물처럼 도태되고 만다.

Common

"강한 자가 살아남는 것이 아니라 살아남는 자가 강한 것이다"

— It's not the strong who survive, but those who survive are the strong. A famous saying about '도태'.

결국 도태되지 않고 살아남는 자가 승자다.

Neutral

Fácil de confundir

도태 vs 퇴보

Both imply a negative direction.

퇴보 is regressing in quality; 도태 is being eliminated entirely.

실력이 퇴보했다 (Skill worsened) vs 시장에서 도태됐다 (Eliminated from market).

도태 vs 멸종

Both relate to disappearing.

멸종 is for a whole species dying out; 도태 is the process of selection leading to it.

공룡이 멸종했다 (Dinosaurs went extinct).

도태 vs 폐지

Both mean 'getting rid of'.

폐지 is for laws or systems; 도태 is for entities or things that can't compete.

법이 폐지되었다 (The law was abolished).

도태 vs 해고

Both involve losing a position.

해고 is being fired; 도태 is being made irrelevant by the system.

그는 회사에서 해고당했다 (He was fired).

도태 vs 삭제

Both mean 'removal'.

삭제 is for data or text; 도태 is for abstract survival.

파일을 삭제했다 (Deleted the file).

Padrões de frases

N이/가 도태되다

약한 동물이 도태됩니다.

N에서 도태되다

경쟁에서 도태되었어요.

N을/를 도태시키다

경쟁자를 도태시켜요.

N으로 인해 도태되다

기술 변화로 인해 도태되다.

도태될 위기에 처하다

회사가 도태될 위기에 처했다.

도태의 수순을 밟다

그 산업은 도태의 수순을 밟고 있다.

도태를 면치 못하다

그는 결국 도태를 면치 못했다.

도태를 정당화하다

약자의 도태를 정당화해서는 안 된다.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

도태 (Elimination)

자연도태 (Natural Selection)

인위도태 (Artificial Selection)

Verbos

도태되다 (To be eliminated)

도태시키다 (To eliminate/weed out)

Relacionado

진화 (Evolution)

경쟁 (Competition)

생존 (Survival)

탈락 (Dropping out)

멸종 (Extinction)

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Como usar

frequency

Common in media, rare in casual chat.

Erros comuns

시험에서 도태됐어요. → 시험에서 떨어졌어요 / 불합격했어요.
도태 is too heavy for a simple exam failure.
그는 친구들 사이에서 도태됐다. → 그는 친구들 사이에서 소외됐다 / 낙오됐다.
Social isolation is better described by 소외 (alienation) or 낙오 (falling behind).
도태를 했어요. → 도태되었어요.
도태 is usually a passive process, so 도태되다 is used unless you are the one doing the weeding.
자연 도태가 일어났어요. → 자연 도태가 이루어졌어요.
While '일어나다' is okay, '이루어지다' (to be achieved/formed) sounds more natural for natural selection.
도태는 나쁜 거예요. → 도태는 냉혹한 현실이에요.
In academic settings, 도태 is seen as a 'reality' or 'process' rather than just 'bad'.

Dicas

Context is King

Only use 도태 when talking about long-term survival or competition. For one-time losses, use 탈락.

Passive vs Active

Remember that 도태되다 is much more common than 도태시키다. Use 되다 when the focus is on the one falling behind.

Learn the Pair

Always learn 도태 alongside '자연' (자연 도태) as it's the most common collocation.

Academic Tone

Use this word in TOPIK essays to show you have a high-level, analytical vocabulary.

Social Pressure

Understand that when Koreans use this word, they are often expressing a deep fear of being left behind by society.

Aspirate the T

Make sure the 'T' in 'Tae' has a strong puff of air, or it might sound like 'Dae' (great).

The Sieve Image

Keep the image of a sifter in your head. The things falling through the holes are undergoing 도태.

Dotae vs Nag-o

Dotae is 'removed from the system,' Nag-o is 'left behind on the path.'

Inevitability

Dotae implies that the elimination was almost bound to happen because of the environment.

News Keywords

If you hear '4차 산업혁명' (4th Industrial Revolution), listen for '도태' immediately after.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'DO-TAE' as 'DO-DIE'. If you don't adapt, you 'do' and then you 'die' (get weeded out).

Associação visual

Imagine a giant sieve (sifter) shaking a mix of gold and sand. The sand falling through is '도태'.

Word Web

Darwin Market Obsolete Weed out Competition Evolution Natural Selection Failure

Desafio

Try to find one technology from your childhood that has undergone 도태 and write a sentence about it using 도태되었다.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Hanja 淘汰. '淘' (도) means to wash or sift in water, and '汰' (태) means to rinse or wash away. Originally, it referred to the process of washing sand to find gold or cleaning grain.

Significado original: Sifting and washing to remove impurities.

Sino-Korean (Hanja)

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 도태 to describe people. Calling someone '도태된 사람' (a weeded-out person) is extremely insulting and implies they are a failure in the eyes of society or nature.

English speakers often use 'Natural Selection' or 'Survival of the Fittest.' In business, they use 'Obsolescence' or 'Creative Destruction.'

Charles Darwin's 'Origin of Species' (translated into Korean using 자연 도태). Korean news specials on 'AI and the Future of Jobs' often use 도태 as a central theme. The movie 'Parasite' subtly deals with social 도태.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Biology Class

자연 도태설
환경 적응
종의 생존
유전적 도태

Business Meeting

시장 경쟁력
혁신 전략
도태 위기
구조 개혁

News Report

일자리 상실
기술 혁명
전통 시장의 위기
도태되는 산업

Self-Help Book

자기 계발
변화의 필요성
도태되지 않는 법
미래 준비

History Lecture

시대의 흐름
구시대의 유물
문명의 도태
역사적 변화

Iniciadores de conversa

"인공지능 때문에 인간이 도태될까 봐 걱정되시나요?"

"요즘 시장에서 도태되고 있는 기술에는 무엇이 있을까요?"

"치열한 경쟁 사회에서 도태되지 않으려면 무엇이 가장 중요할까요?"

"전통 문화가 도태되는 것을 막기 위해 우리는 무엇을 해야 할까요?"

"자연 도태가 생태계에 꼭 필요한 과정이라고 생각하시나요?"

Temas para diário

내가 가진 기술 중 미래에 도태될 가능성이 있는 것은 무엇인지 써보세요.

사회가 너무 빠르게 변해서 도태될 것 같다는 느낌을 받은 적이 있나요?

경쟁에서 누군가가 도태되는 것이 정의로운 일인지에 대해 자신의 생각을 적으세요.

도태되지 않기 위해 내가 매일 실천하고 있는 노력들을 나열해 보세요.

과거에는 중요했지만 지금은 도태된 가치관에 대해 논해보세요.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

In a social context, yes, it implies failure. However, in biology, it is viewed as a neutral, necessary process for evolution.

Only in a very formal or abstract way (e.g., 'social elimination'). Using it for an individual person is very harsh and rude.

탈락 is like failing an audition. 도태 is like the entire profession of 'auditioning' becoming obsolete.

The standard term is '자연 도태' (Jayeon Dotae).

Rarely. You'll hear it on the news or in a lecture, but not usually when eating with friends.

Yes, old machines that are no longer useful are said to be 도태되었다.

Yes, 도태되다 (to be eliminated) and 도태시키다 (to eliminate).

Yes, 淘汰. It refers to washing away sand to find gold.

Yes, it's considered upper-intermediate because of its academic and formal usage.

No, use 탈락 for sports competitions.

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