믈 vs. 스
I understand that they are both water.

믈 = water to drink?
스 = water in a lake or to swim in?

Also: 목 vs. 나무
Both tree? Is there a difference?

감사합니다

Question

믈 vs. 스
I understand that they are both water.

믈 = water to drink?
스 = water in a lake or to swim in?

Also:  목 vs. 나무
Both tree?  Is there a difference?

감사합니다

Answer

There are two main categories of words in Korean. 
One is pure Korean word(고유어). The other is Sino-Korean word(한자어:loan word from ancient Chinese)

The pure Korean word can be used alone.
Sino-Korean word is not used alone but used by compound word with another Sino-Korean word.

물 vs 수
물 and 수 both mean "water"
물 is pure Korean word
수 is Sino-Chinese word(loan word from ancient Chinese : 水) 
냉수(冷水) : cold water
온수(溫水) : warm water
탄산수(炭酸水) : soda water

물 can be used alone

I drank water
물을 마셨어요.(O) 
수를 마셨어요.(X)

I drank cold water)
찬 물을 마셨어요. (O) 
냉수를 마셨어요. (O)

목 vs 나무
목 and 나무 both mean "tree"
목 is Sino-Chinese word(木)
나무 is pure Korean word
초목(草木) : grass and tree
수목(樹木) : tree

There were densely packed trees in the park
공원에는 나무가 울창했다(O)
공원에는 목이 울창했다(X)
공원에는 수목이 울창했다(O)

Verpassen Sie nicht die Gelegenheit, bequem von zu Hause aus eine Sprache zu lernen. Stöbern Sie in unserer Auswahl an erfahrenen Sprachlehrern und melden Sie sich jetzt zu Ihrer ersten Unterrichtsstunde an!