서류 vs 종이
Korean word comparison
Listen to 서류
Listen to 종이
| 서류 | 종이 |
|---|---|
SEO-ryoo noun | jong-i noun |
| documents; papers used for official, business, or school purposes | paper; a sheet of paper |
How they differ
종이 is much more literal and physical than 서류. It refers to paper as a material or a sheet, not necessarily to official or business paperwork.
When to use each
When to use 서류: Use 서류 when you mean paperwork or documents in an official sense.
When to use 종이: Use 종이 when you are talking about the physical paper itself, not the information or legal role of the document.
Side-by-side examples
- 서류를 정리해서 가방에 넣었습니다.
(I organized the documents and put them in my bag.) - 종이가 부족해서 출력이 안 됩니다.
(We cannot print because we are short on paper.)
Register & nuance: 종이 is neutral and everyday, with no official-document meaning unless the context makes it clear.