붙이다 or 부치다? Attach the stamp, then send the letter

Use 붙이다 when attaching a stamp, and 부치다 when sending a letter. The object and the intended action help you choose the spelling; similar pronunciation alone will not tell you which verb belongs in the sentence.

Contents

1. 1. Start with the action
2. 2. Read an original two-sentence scene
3. 3. A short check before you send a Korean message
4. 4. Questions from learners

1. Start with the action

The National Institute of Korean Language explains 붙이다 in relation to 붙다 and distinguishes it from uses written 부치다. Its examples include attaching a stamp and sending a letter. These two everyday actions make a useful first pair without trying to memorize every meaning at once.

Picture an envelope on your desk. Putting the stamp onto it and arranging for the letter to be sent are different actions. Keep the Korean object with the verb when you write your practice sentence.

2. Read an original two-sentence scene

Original practice sentence	Meaning	What to notice
봉투에 우표를 붙였어요.	I attached a stamp to the envelope.	우표 + 붙이다
어제 친구에게 편지를 부쳤어요.	I sent my friend a letter yesterday.	편지 + 부치다
메모를 노트에 붙여 두세요.	Leave the note attached in the notebook.	Something is attached to a surface

The sentences are original learning examples. 붙였어요 and 부쳤어요 are forms you can use in a past-tense sentence. For this exercise, underline the object first and circle the action second. The aim is to connect meaning with spelling, not to guess from an isolated syllable.

Try changing the noun in the scene while preserving the action. If you attach a photograph to a notebook, think about the attachment. If you write about sending a letter, keep the sending context. A dictionary is useful when the intended meaning changes beyond this first pair.

3. A short check before you send a Korean message

Fill the blank in “봉투에 우표를 ___어요” and “친구에게 편지를 ___어요.” Then read your completed sentence with the object included. The answers for these contexts are 붙였어요 and 부쳤어요.

If a spelling suggestion offers both words, ask what you mean to describe. Software may recognize two valid words while your sentence needs only one. Keep a personal example card with the whole sentence instead of a list that shows only 붙/부.

The official entry also discusses less literal uses, such as conditions and matters put before a meeting. Learn those in their own example sentences later. “Attach or send” is an entry exercise, not an exhaustive translation for every occurrence of either verb.

4. Questions from learners

Can I replace one with the other in the stamp sentence?

For attaching the stamp, the official example uses 붙이다. Sending the letter uses 부치다.

Does every use of 부치다 mean “mail”?

No. Both verbs have further uses. Read the complete context and consult the relevant dictionary meaning.

Read the official Korean spelling explanation (Korean)

Source checked 15 October 2026: National Institute of Korean Language — 부치다 and 붙이다.

The cover is an AI-created illustration; the learning diagram was made for this guide.