-아/어 죽겠다
A hyperbolic expression used to emphasize an extreme emotion or physical sensation — 'I'm so bored/hungry/tired I could die'. Not literal.
Summary
Equivalent
I'm dying of... / I'm so... I could die
Also: -아/어서 못 살겠다 (I can't bear it — similar hyperbole, slightly less common)
Example
I'm starving to death. Let's go eat.
배가 고파 죽겠어요. 밥 먹으러 가요.
Grammar rules
- Only used in informal spoken speech.
- The speaker is not actually in danger — it is vivid exaggeration.
- Can only be used for the speaker's own current experience.
Patterns
Verbs/Adj (Hyperbolic Intensity)
Present · Verb/Adj Stem + 아/어 죽겠다
Example sentences
I'm starving to death. Let's go eat.
배가 고파 죽겠어요. 밥 먹으러 가요.
I'm dying of heat today. Let's turn on the air conditioning.
오늘 날씨가 더워 죽겠어요. 에어컨 좀 틀어요.
I'm dying of boredom doing this — when does it end?
이 일이 지루해 죽겠는데 언제 끝나요?
Conversation
A: What's wrong with your face?
얼굴이 왜 그래요?
B: I couldn't sleep yesterday and I'm dying of sleepiness.
어제 잠을 못 자서 졸려 죽겠어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Express an extreme physical/emotional state hyperbolically.
Thirsty.
Embarrassed.