Vocabulary
덜다
reduce, ease
Meaning
덜다: to reduce an amount, burden, or the intensity of a feeling; the stem 덜- appears before -기.
Why this form?
줄이다 (“reduce”) is broader for an amount or size; 덜다 is especially natural for easing a burden or an unpleasant feeling.
Natural usage
걱정을 덜다 (“ease one’s worries”); 부담을 덜다 (“lighten a burden”).
Examples
불안을 조금 덜기 위해 둘 중 한 명에게 다가가기로 했다. — To ease my anxiety a little, I decided to approach one of the two.
그 말을 듣고 걱정을 덜었어요. — Hearing that eased my worries.