기대하다 vs 바라다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 기대하다
Listen to 바라다
| 기대하다 | 바라다 |
|---|---|
gi-DAE-ha-da verb | ba-ra-da verb |
| to look forward to; to expect something good to happen | to hope; to wish for |
How they differ
바라다 is broader and more general than 기대하다. It can express a wish, hope, or desire without the stronger sense of anticipating a likely good outcome that 기대하다 often carries.
When to use each
When to use 기대하다: Use 기대하다 when you are looking forward to something positive that you think is likely to happen.
When to use 바라다: Use 바라다 when you simply want something to happen, especially when the outcome is uncertain or depends on someone else's decision.
Side-by-side examples
- 이번 여행이 정말 기대된다.
(I’m really looking forward to this trip.) - 이번 여행이 잘 되기를 바란다.
(I hope this trip goes well.)
Register & nuance: 바라다 is neutral and very common in everyday Korean, and it often sounds a bit more direct and plain than 기대하다.