찾다 vs 발견하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 찾다
Listen to 발견하다
| 찾다 | 발견하다 |
|---|---|
/chat-DA/ verb | /bal-gyeon-ha-da/ verb |
| to look for; to search for; to find | to discover; to find (often something previously unknown or unnoticed) |
How they differ
발견하다 focuses on the result — discovering or noticing something (sometimes unexpectedly) — whereas 찾다 focuses on the act of searching. 발견하다 implies realization or detection of something that existed but was not recognized before.
When to use each
When to use 찾다: Use 찾다 when you are emphasizing the process of searching or the intent to look for something.
When to use 발견하다: Use 발견하다 when you want to emphasize the discovery or detection (the moment or fact of finding), especially for newly found facts, objects, or phenomena.
Side-by-side examples
- 그는 오랫동안 진실을 찾고 있었다.
(He had been searching for the truth for a long time.) - 과학자들이 새로운 종을 발견했다.
(Scientists discovered a new species.)
Register & nuance: 발견하다 is neutral to formal and is frequently used in scientific, formal, or written contexts to describe discoveries or detections.