늦다 vs 지각하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 늦다
Listen to 지각하다
| 늦다 | 지각하다 |
|---|---|
NEUT-da verb | ji-gak-ha-da verb |
| to be late; not arriving or happening at the expected time | to be late for a class, work, appointment, or other scheduled commitment |
How they differ
지각하다 is more specific than 늦다: it usually means arriving after a set time for an obligation, especially school or work. 늦다 is broader and can describe anything happening later than expected, including time itself, seasons, replies, or departures.
When to use each
When to use 늦다: Use 늦다 when you mean something happened later than expected in a general way.
When to use 지각하다: Use 지각하다 when you mean someone arrived late to a scheduled place or event, especially school, work, or a meeting.
Side-by-side examples
- 지하철이 늦어서 회의에 늦었어요.
(The subway was delayed, so I was late for the meeting.) - 오늘은 수업에 지각했어요.
(I was late to class today.)
Register & nuance: 지각하다 is the standard everyday word for being late to an appointment and is more concrete than 늦다.