고장나다 vs 파손되다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 고장나다
Listen to 파손되다
| 고장나다 | 파손되다 |
|---|---|
go-JANG-na-da verb (intransitive) | pa-son-doe-da verb (intransitive) |
| to break down; to be out of order; to stop working | to be damaged or broken (usually physically); to be fractured or destroyed (passive, formal) |
How they differ
파손되다 is a more formal, often passive expression used to describe physical damage (e.g., in reports, shipping, insurance) and implies damage caused by an external force; 고장나다 is more general and frequent in casual speech about malfunctions.
When to use each
When to use 고장나다: Use 고장나다 in everyday contexts to say a device or machine stopped working or is broken.
When to use 파손되다: Use 파손되다 in formal contexts, accident reports, shipping claims, or when describing physical damage in a neutral/legal tone.
Side-by-side examples
- 자동차가 고장났어요.
(The car broke down.) - 화물에서 물건들이 파손되었어요.
(Items in the cargo were damaged.)
Register & nuance: 파손되다 is formal and common in written, legal, or technical contexts rather than casual conversation.