끝나다
kkeunnada[k͈ɯnna̠da̠]
To say end in Korean, meaning to be finished, use 끝나다 (kkeunnada). If unsure, use 끝나다. Wiktionary also lists 마치다 (machida).
Meaning: intransitive: be finished, be terminated (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 끝나다 | kkeunnada | [k͈ɯnna̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 마치다 | machida | [ma̠t͡ɕʰida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
끝나다 is used when something ends on its own or reaches its conclusion, like a class, a movie or a shift.
Which one should you use?
마치다 (machida) means to finish or complete, and it is used when someone actively finishes a task. The noun 끝 is a common, versatile word for the end, while 종료 appears in formal contexts like technical or legal documents.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense is 끝났다, and the polite present form is 끝나요.
How do you pronounce it?
It is written in Latin letters as kkeunnada.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use 끝나다 when they mean they finished a task themselves. In that case use 마치다.
Did you know?
- The word 마치다 can be traced back to 1447 in the Yongbi eocheon'ga, one of the earliest works written in the Korean alphabet.
- The noun 끝 is frequently used in slang and expressions to mean 'the absolute limit' or 'the final straw' in a situation.
Examples in context
- 아르바이트는 언제 끝나?When does your part-time job end?끝나 is the casual form, asking when the part time job ends.
- 이야기 끝났어요The story is over
- 저녁 식사가 끝났습니다Dinner is finished
- 프로젝트 종료일Project end date
- 영화 끝남The movie is over
- 게임 끝남The game ended
- 수업 끝났어?Is the class over?
- 식사 끝났어Finished eating
- 한국어 공부가 끝났어요.I finished studying Korean.
- 회의는 이번 주 금요일에 종료될 것입니다.The meeting will end this Friday.
- 우리 헤어지기 전에 한 잔 할까요?Shall we have a drink before we part ways?
- 이제 여행이 끝나서 너무 아쉬워요.I feel sad now that the trip has come to an end.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “end” translations and entries 끝나다, 마치다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 끝나다, 마치다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
