열악하다
To be of poor quality, inadequate, or in a very bad state, often describing conditions or environments.
Examples
3 of 5열악한 주거 환경이 건강을 해친다.
Poor housing conditions damage health.
상황이 너무 열악해서 일을 계속할 수 없어요.
The conditions are so poor that I can't continue working.
많은 학생들이 열악한 시설에서 공부하고 있다.
Many students are studying in inadequate facilities.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Yeol-ak' sounding like 'Yell' + 'Ache' because the conditions are so bad you yell in ache.
Quick Quiz
이 공장은 시설이 너무 ____ 안전 사고의 위험이 있다.
Correct!
The correct answer is: 열악하여
Examples
열악한 주거 환경이 건강을 해친다.
formalPoor housing conditions damage health.
상황이 너무 열악해서 일을 계속할 수 없어요.
everydayThe conditions are so poor that I can't continue working.
많은 학생들이 열악한 시설에서 공부하고 있다.
academicMany students are studying in inadequate facilities.
경제적으로 열악한 계층을 도와야 합니다.
businessWe must help the economically disadvantaged classes.
여긴 너무 열악한데?
informalThe conditions here are really poor, aren't they?
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
열악한 환경
poor environment
매우 열악하다
be very poor/inadequate
열악한 상태
poor state
Often Confused With
열악하다 is more formal and specifically refers to conditions or quality being below standard.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in news reports or social science essays to describe systemic issues.
Common Mistakes
Learners might use '열악하다' to describe a person's personality, which is incorrect; it's for conditions or environments.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Yeol-ak' sounding like 'Yell' + 'Ache' because the conditions are so bad you yell in ache.
Word Origin
From Hanja 劣惡, meaning 'inferior' and 'bad'.
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
이 공장은 시설이 너무 ____ 안전 사고의 위험이 있다.
Correct!
The correct answer is: 열악하여
Related Vocabulary
More social issues words
논쟁
B2A formal debate or a heated argument about a specific topic, typically involving differing opinions.
완화하다
B2To make something less severe, painful, or strict; to mitigate or alleviate a problem or tension.
갈등
B2A state of disagreement or opposition between ideas, interests, or people. It can range from internal mental struggles to large-scale social or international disputes.
선입견
B2An opinion or feeling formed beforehand without knowledge, thought, or reason. Often a negative bias towards a group of people.
옹호하다
B2To support or defend a person, idea, or cause, especially when it is being criticized by others.
시급하다
B2To be very urgent and require immediate attention or action. It is used to describe problems or tasks that cannot be delayed.
타협
B2An agreement reached by each side making concessions. It is a way to resolve conflict by finding a middle ground.
소외되다
B2To be marginalized, excluded, or isolated from a group or society.
대처하다
B2To take action or deal with a difficult situation or problem effectively. It implies responding to a challenge or crisis with a specific strategy.
악순환
B2A vicious cycle where one bad event leads to another, making a situation progressively worse. It is commonly used to describe poverty or environmental degradation.
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