수리하다 vs 수선하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 수리하다
Listen to 수선하다
| 수리하다 | 수선하다 |
|---|---|
soo-ree-HA-da verb | su-seon-ha-da verb |
| to repair or fix something that is broken | to mend, repair, or alter clothing or small items |
How they differ
수선하다 is especially associated with clothing, shoes, and similar personal items, and it often means mending or altering them. Compared with 수리하다, it is narrower in scope and less commonly used for machines or general mechanical repair.
When to use each
When to use 수리하다: Use 수리하다 for general repair of broken objects, machines, or appliances.
When to use 수선하다: Use 수선하다 when you are talking about mending clothes, hemming, or fixing something fabric-based.
Side-by-side examples
- 라디오를 수리하다
(to repair a radio) - 바지를 수선하다
(to mend or alter pants)
Register & nuance: 수선하다 is somewhat formal and is commonly used in tailoring or alteration contexts.