Learn Korean: Verb + 죽겠다

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Verb + 죽겠다. 죽겠다 is derived from the verb 죽다 (to die) and the verb ending 겠다. We use this to intensify an adjective or exaggerate our feelings; as if we are going to die. It is similar to the English phrase to death as in I am bored to death or It scares me to death. The main verbs are 심심하다 (to be bored) and 무섭다 (to be scared). We conjugate them into their 아/아/여 form (심심해 and 무서워) and attach 죽겠다. The actual sentences are 심심해 죽겠어(요) and 무서워 죽겠어(요). Use this as substitute for very-expressions such as 너무, 아주, 매우, 엄청, 존나, 되게, etc.

배고파 죽겠네.

I am so hungry. / I am hungry to death.

 

힘들어 죽겠어.

Gosh, this is so hard.

피곤해 죽겠어요.

I am so damn tired.