도착하다 vs 도래하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 도착하다
Listen to 도래하다
| 도착하다 | 도래하다 |
|---|---|
do-CHAK-ha-da verb | do-rae-ha-da verb |
| to arrive; to reach a destination | to come or arrive, especially the advent/arrival of times, eras, events, or phenomena |
How they differ
도래하다 is typically used for the arrival or advent of periods, events, or phenomena (e.g., a new era or season) and is rarely used for people or vehicles, while 도착하다 is for concrete arrivals of people or objects.
When to use each
When to use 도착하다: Use 도착하다 when referring to the arrival of people, packages, or transport at a specific place.
When to use 도래하다: Use 도래하다 when referring to the coming/advent of an era, season, event, or large-scale phenomenon in formal or written contexts.
Side-by-side examples
- 택배가 오후에 집에 도착했다.
(The package arrived at the house in the afternoon.) - 새로운 시대가 도래했다.
(A new era has arrived.)
Register & nuance: 도래하다 is formal and literary, common in written, academic, or journalistic Korean, and is uncommon in casual conversation compared with 도착하다.