하천
이 하천은 지역 생태계에 매우 중요합니다.
This stream is very important to the local ecosystem.
A natural watercourse, such as a river or stream, that flows on the surface of the land.
하천의 수질 오염이 심각한 문제가 되고 있습니다.
Water pollution in streams is becoming a serious problem.
The term '하천' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to natural water bodies.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
While '하천' can refer to both rivers and streams, in formal contexts, it is often used to describe larger water bodies.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
In informal speech, Koreans might use more specific terms like '강' (river) or '개울' (stream) instead of '하천'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Sino-Korean characters '河川' (ha-cheon), where '河' (ha) means 'river' and '川' (cheon) means 'stream'.
Usage Notes
In Korean, '하천' is a general term that can refer to both rivers and streams, depending on the context. It is often used in environmental and engineering contexts.