How does understanding Sino-Korean roots directly enhance the acquisition and retention of specialized Korean vocabulary?

Understanding Sino-Korean roots significantly enhances the acquisition and retention of specialized Korean vocabulary because a large percentage of technical and academic terms are derived from Chinese characters (Hanja). By learning the meanings of these core roots, learners can decipher the meanings of numerous related words, even if they haven't encountered them before. It provides a system for understanding word construction, rather than memorizing isolated terms. For example, knowing that '經濟' (gyeongje) - economy - is composed of '經' (gyeong - to manage, regulate) and '濟' (je - to aid, relieve) provides insight into the underlying concept of managing resources and aiding economic activity. When encountering a new term like '經營' (gyeongyeong - management), the learner can deduce its meaning based on their knowledge of '經' and its association with managing. This root-based approach reduces the cognitive load involved in rote memorization and enables learners to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words in context, greatly improving vocabulary acquisition and retention.