죽여버릴 거야
jug-yeobeoril geoya
The English phrase "I kill you" is translated into Korean as 죽여버릴 거야 (jug-yeobeoril geoya).
This phrase is used to express extreme anger or a threat to harm someone. It is often used hyperbolically during heated arguments, and can even be used in casual, joking contexts among very close friends to express frustration, though it remains a strong expression.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 죽이다 (to kill), the auxiliary verb -버리다 (to do something completely/irreversibly) and the future tense ending -ㄹ 거야 (will).
Which one should you use?
While 죽여버릴 거야 is the standard way to express the future intent, using the plain form 죽여버린다 instead can make the threat sound more immediate, certain and blunt. Additionally, the shorter form 죽여 can also be translated as "I'm going to kill you".
How do you pronounce it?
jug-yeobeoril geoya
Did you know?
- The phrase uses -버리다, a verb that normally means 'to throw away' or 'to discard', to indicate that the act of killing is irreversible.
- The element 거야 is derived from the Sino-Korean characters for 'last' and 'night'.
- In Korean dramas and films, you will often hear characters shout 죽여버릴 거야 while gesturing with a finger pointed at the other person's face or chest to emphasize the threat.
Examples in context
- 화나요I'm angry
- 진짜 죽여버릴 거야!jinjja jugyeobeoril geoya!I'm really going to kill you!
- 한 번만 더 그러면 죽여버릴 거야.han beonman deo geureomyeon jugyeobeoril geoya.If you do that one more time, I'll kill you.
- 너 진짜 죽여버릴 거야, 알았어?neo jinjja jugyeobeoril geoya, arasseo?I'm really going to kill you, okay?
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing intensely over a broken precious item.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo내 인형 망가뜨린 거야? 죽여버릴 거야!nae inhyeong mang-gadeut-tin geoya? jugyeobeoril geoya!Did you break my doll? I'm going to kill you!
- 민지 Min-ji현우야, 진정해. 일부러 그런 거 아니야.hyeonu-ya, jinjeonghae. ilbureo geureon geo aniya.Hyunwoo, calm down. I didn't do it on purpose.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo사과해도 소용없어. 진짜 죽여버릴 거야.sagohaedo soyong-eopseo. jinjja jugyeobeoril geoya.Apologizing won't help. I'm really going to kill you.
- 민지 Min-ji그렇게 화내지 마, 너무 무서워.geureoke hwanaeji ma, neomu museowo.Don't be so angry, it's very scary.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 거야, CC BY-SA 4.0.
