beginner
Turns a verb or adjective into a noun, mostly in set patterns: 먹기 싫어요 (meokgi sireoyo), "I don't feel like eating".
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after any stem: 가기 gagi, 먹기 meokgi, 만들기 mandeulgi.
- Mostly in set patterns: 기 쉽다 (easy to), 기 어렵다 (hard to), 기 싫다 (don't feel like), 기 좋다 (nice to).
Build it
When to use it
Easy or hard to
기 쉽다 / 기 어렵다.
Don't feel like
기 싫다.
Hobbies and titles
Naming an activity.
Watch out
Turn the verb into a noun with 기 first.
The ㄹ stays before 기: 만들기 mandeulgi.
In context
9 examples- 1
이 책은 읽기 쉬워요.
I chaegeun ikgi swiwoyo.
This book is easy to read.
- 2
오늘은 아무것도 하기 싫어요.
Oneureun amugeotdo hagi sireoyo.
I don't feel like doing anything today.
- 3
제 취미는 사진 찍기예요.
Je chwimineun sajin jjikgiyeyo.
My hobby is taking photos.
- 4
여기는 조용해서 공부하기 좋아요.
Yeogineun joyonghaeseo gongbuhagi joayo.
It's quiet here, so it's a nice place to study.
- 5
한국어에는 발음하기 어려운 소리가 많아요.
Hangugeoeneun bareumhagi eoryeoun soriga manayo.
Korean has a lot of sounds that are hard to pronounce.
- 6
너무 피곤해서 일어나기 싫어요.
Neomu pigonhaeseo ireonagi sireoyo.
I'm so tired I don't want to get up.
- 7
이 신발은 신기 편해요.
I sinbareun singi pyeonhaeyo.
These shoes are comfortable to wear.
- 8
매일 일기 쓰기를 시작했어요.
Maeil ilgi sseugireul sijakaesseoyo.
I started writing a diary every day.
- 9
시험에 꼭 합격하기를 바랄게요.
Siheome kkok hapgyeokagireul baralgeyo.
I really hope you pass the exam.
Practice
8 questions읽다 + 기
기 or 는 것?
Both turn a verb into a noun, but they aren't used in the same places. Set patterns always take 기, while 는 것 works almost anywhere else and can also mean "the thing that":
- 이 책은 읽기 쉬워요. i chaegeun ilgi swiwoyo "This book is easy to read." A set pattern, so 기.
- 지금 읽는 건 소설이에요. jigeum ingneun geon soseorieyo "What I'm reading now is a novel." "The thing that", so 는 것.
Grammar built on 기
You've probably met 기 already inside other patterns:
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 기 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.