버리다
beorida[pʌ̹ɾida̠]
The Korean phrase for 'throw out' is 버리다 (beorida).
버리다 is used to mean throwing something away physically, but it can also mean to abandon a person or a responsibility.
Meaning: discard (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 버리다, the object being thrown out is often marked with the particle –을/를. The present tense polite form is 버려요, while the past tense polite form is 버렸어요.
How do you pronounce it?
beorida
Did you know?
- There is a common idiomatic expression 내버려 두다 which uses a variation of 버리다 but actually means 'to leave something alone' or 'to let it be'.
- When added to another verb as -어/아 버리다, this word changes meaning from 'discard' to an emotional expression that something is finished completely and irreversibly.
- The historical form of 버리다 was recorded as ᄇᆞ리〮다〮 in the 15th-century text 'Seokbo sangjeol', showing how Korean vowel sounds have shifted over centuries.
Examples in context
- 오래된 책을 버려서 책장에 더 많은 자리를 만들었어요.By throwing out old books, I made more space on the bookshelf.
- 다 사용한 용기를 폐기하실 건가요?Are you going to throw away the used containers?
- 이 옷은 너무 구멍이 났어, 버려야 해.This shirt has too many holes, I have to throw it away.
- 방을 정리하다가 쓰레기를 치웠어요.While cleaning up the room, I threw away the trash.
- 쓰레기를 버리다.sseuregireul beorida.Throw out the trash.
- 오래된 옷을 버리다.oraedoen oseul beorida.Discard old clothes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 버리다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 버리다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
