준비하다 vs 챙기다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 준비하다
Listen to 챙기다
| 준비하다 | 챙기다 |
|---|---|
jun-BEE-ha-da verb | chaeng-gi-da verb |
| to prepare; to get something ready | to pack, take care of, or make sure to bring something; to attend to someone's needs in a practical way |
How they differ
챙기다 is informal and focuses on physically packing, carrying, or personally ensuring an item is brought or attended to (e.g., snacks, passport, medication), whereas 준비하다 covers broader preparation tasks including planning and arranging. 챙기다 often implies a personal, hands-on action.
When to use each
When to use 준비하다: Prefer 준비하다 when describing broader preparation activities like planning, organizing, or rehearsing.
When to use 챙기다: Prefer 챙기다 when you mean to pack, bring, or personally take care of items—useful in casual, spoken contexts.
Side-by-side examples
- 여행 준비를 하고 있어요.
(I'm preparing for the trip.) - 여행 갈 때 여권은 꼭 챙기세요.
(Make sure to pack/bring your passport when you travel.)
Register & nuance: 챙기다 is informal and conversational, commonly used in spoken Korean.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for 준비하다
- See the Word of the Day entry for 챙기다
- Back to today's Korean word