죽고 싶어
The English phrase "wanna die" is translated into Korean as 죽고 싶어.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 죽고 싶냐? is informal/aggressive.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix –요 to the end of the phrase to create 죽고 싶어요 makes it polite, suitable for speaking to someone you are not close with or who is older. The form 죽고 싶다 is the plain form, often used in writing, diaries or when talking to oneself.
Did you know?
- If you are watching a Korean drama and a character says 죽고 싶냐?, they are often not asking a question about your desires, but are actually issuing a violent threat.
- The grammar structure -고 싶다 used in 죽고 싶어 only applies to the first person, meaning you cannot use this exact form to state another person's desires.
- When someone says they are 'dying' from something positive, like cuteness, they use the word 죽겠다, which shares the same root as 죽고 싶어.
Examples in context
- 너무 힘들어서 죽고 싶어.neomu himdeureoseo jukgo sipeo.It's so hard that I wanna die.
- 시험을 못 봐서 죽고 싶어.siheomeul mot bwa seo jukgo sipeo.I did so poorly on the exam that I wanna die.
- 배가 너무 고파서 죽고 싶어.baega neomu gopaseo jukgo sipeo.I'm so hungry I could die.
Example conversation
Minjun is complaining about his heavy workload to Seoyeon.
- 민준 Min-jun일이 너무 많아서 진짜 죽고 싶어.iri neomu manaseo jinjja jukgo sipeo.I have so much work that I seriously wanna die.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준 씨, 너무 무리하지 마요.Minjun ssi, neomu murihaji mayo.Minjun, don't overdo it.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 쉬고 싶어.jeongmal swigo sipeo.I really just want to rest.
- 서연 Seo-yeon오늘 퇴근하고 맛있는 거 먹어요.oneul twegeunhago masinneun geo meogeoyo.Let's eat something delicious after work today.
