KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 지경이다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 지경이다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 5)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 볼 지경이다 | bol jigyeongida |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 지경이다 | ilgeul jigyeongida |
| 하다 | to do | 할 지경이다 | hal jigyeongida |
| 살다 | to live | 살 지경이다 | sal jigyeongida |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄹ is added to the last syllable (보 → 볼). After a stem ending in a consonant, 을 is added (읽 → 읽을). A stem ending in ㄹ keeps it (살 → 살), and 하 becomes 할.
Explanation
며칠 밤을 새웠더니 눈이 저절로 감길 지경이에요.
“-(으)ㄹ 지경이다” means “to the point of ~ / it’s so bad that ~” and shows that a state has reached an extreme degree, usually an unpleasant one. Attach “-(으)ㄹ” to a verb or adjective stem. The sentence means “After several all-nighters in a row, my eyes are closing on their own.”
며칠째 잠을 못 자서 쓰러질 지경입니다.
“-(으)ㄹ 지경이다” means “to the point of ~ / be on the verge of ~” and shows that a situation has reached an extreme degree (verb or adjective stem + (으)ㄹ). The sentence means “I haven’t slept for several days, so I’m about to collapse.” Unlike “-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다,” which describes something that almost happened but did not, “지경” describes the extreme state you are in now.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 며칠 밤을 새웠더니 눈이 저절로 감길 지경이에요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 며칠 | ||
| 며 | ㅁ+ㅕ | myeo |
| 칠 | ㅊ+ㅣ+ㄹ | chil |
| 밤을 | ||
| 밤 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅁ | [바] ba |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [믈] meul |
| 새웠더니 | ||
| 새 | ㅅ+ㅐ | sae |
| 웠 | ㅇ+ㅝ+ㅆ | [웓] wot |
| 더 | ㄷ+ㅓ | [떠] deo |
| 니 | ㄴ+ㅣ | ni |
| 눈이 | ||
| 눈 | ㄴ+ㅜ+ㄴ | [누] nu |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [니] ni |
| 저절로 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 절 | ㅈ+ㅓ+ㄹ | jeol |
| 로 | ㄹ+ㅗ | lo |
| 감길 | ||
| 감 | ㄱ+ㅏ+ㅁ | gam |
| 길 | ㄱ+ㅣ+ㄹ | gil |
| 지경이에요 | ||
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 경 | ㄱ+ㅕ+ㅇ | gyeong |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 밤을 → [바믈]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 웠더 → [웓떠]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 밤 | noun | night | TOPIK level 1 |
| 자다 | verb | to sleep | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 며칠 밤을 새웠더니 눈이 저절로 감길 ____이에요.
Show the answer
Answer: 며칠 밤을 새웠더니 눈이 저절로 감길 지경이에요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 며칠째 잠을 못 자서 쓰러질 ____.
Show the answer
Answer: 며칠째 잠을 못 자서 쓰러질 지경입니다.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 지경이다?
Show the answer
Answer: 볼 지경이다
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 지경이다?
Show the answer
Answer: 읽을 지경이다
More grammar at this level
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameRead this page in: 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文 Tiếng Việt Bahasa Indonesia Oʻzbekcha Монгол Français Español (México) ไทย