🚨

To the point of (Extreme): -(으)ㄹ 지경이다

Build Order
13
Keywords
지경이다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Advanced Grammar
🚨
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🚧 -(으)ㄹ 지경이다 means a situation has reached an extreme limit: “to the point of… / on the verge of… / almost at the stage where…”
  • 🧯 It usually sounds serious, negative, dramatic, or exhausted — perfect for 쓰러질 지경이에요 “I’m at the point of collapsing,” not for mild everyday inconvenience.
  • 📰 Advanced Korean also uses written/formal shapes like V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 이르다 “to reach the point of V-ing” and V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 놓이다 “to be placed in a situation where V may happen.”
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear chunks like 죽을 지경이에요, 쓰러질 지경이에요, and 중단될 지경에 이르렀어요. Your ears will catch the dramatic little “limit alarm” faster than your eyes. 🚨
 

🌈 The Big Picture

지경 means a state, situation, circumstance, condition, or degree reached. So -(으)ㄹ 지경이다 says: “the situation has gotten so extreme that this result is nearly happening / could happen / feels about to happen.”
 
This is stronger than a plain degree phrase. 피곤해요 is “I’m tired.” 쓰러질 지경이에요 is “I’m so tired I’m at the point of collapsing.” One is a yawn; the other is your body waving a tiny white flag. 🏳️
 
Advanced learners should also notice register:
  • 죽을 지경이에요 — conversational, dramatic, often hyperbolic: “I feel like I’m dying.” 🥵
  • 폐업할 지경에 이르렀어요 — formal/written: “It reached the point of closing down.” 🏚️
  • 중단될 지경에 놓였어요 — news/report style: “It was placed in a situation where suspension became possible.” 📰

🎨 The Core 지경 Family

1. V-(으)ㄹ 지경이다 — “to be at the point of V-ing”

Use this when an extreme state feels close to a limit.
 
  • 배가 고파 죽을 지경이에요.
      • [bae-ga go-pa ju-geul ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo]
      I’m so hungry I feel like I’m dying. 🍚
      배 = stomach/belly, 고프다 = to be hungry, 죽다 = to die.
 
  • 밤을 새워서 쓰러질 지경이에요.
      • [ba-meul sae-wo-seo sseu-reo-jil ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo]
      I stayed up all night, so I’m at the point of collapsing. 🌙
      밤을 새우다 = to stay up all night, 쓰러지다 = to collapse.
 

2. V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 이르다 — “to reach the point of V-ing”

This sounds more formal, analytical, and written. It often appears in news, reports, essays, or serious explanations.
 
  • 비용이 늘어나 사업을 중단할 지경에 이르렀어요.
      • [bi-yo-ngi neu-reo-na sa-eo-beul jung-dan-hal ji-gyeo-nge i-reu-reo-sseo-yo]
      Costs increased, so it reached the point of suspending the business. 💸
      비용 = cost, 늘어나다 = to increase, 사업 = business, 중단하다 = to suspend/stop, 이르다 = to reach.
 

3. V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 놓이다 — “to be in a situation where V may happen”

This makes the subject sound affected by outside circumstances.
 
  • 상황이 악화되어 계획이 취소될 지경에 놓였어요.
      • [sang-hwa-ngi a-kwa-doe-eo gye-hoe-gi chwi-so-doel ji-gyeo-nge no-yeo-sseo-yo]
      The situation worsened, so the plan was placed on the verge of being canceled. 📋
      상황 = situation, 악화되다 = to worsen, 계획 = plan, 취소되다 = to be canceled, 놓이다 = to be placed.

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

Everyday dramatic limit

소음이 심해서 미칠 지경이에요.
[so-eu-mi sim-hae-seo mi-chil ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo]
The noise is so bad I’m about to go crazy. 🔊
소음 = noise, 심하다 = to be severe, 미치다 = to go crazy.
 

Emotional brink

그 말을 듣고 울 지경이었어요.
[geu ma-reul deut-kko ul ji-gyeo-ngi-eo-sseo-yo]
After hearing those words, I was at the point of crying. 💬
말 = words, 듣다 = to hear/listen, 울다 = to cry.
 

Formal outcome

문제가 커져 행사가 취소될 지경에 이르렀습니다.
[mun-je-ga keo-jyeo haeng-sa-ga chwi-so-doel ji-gyeo-nge i-reu-reot-sseum-ni-da]
The problem grew, and the event reached the point of being canceled. 🎫
문제 = problem, 커지다 = to grow/become bigger, 행사 = event, 취소되다 = to be canceled.

🧩 General Formation Rule

Attach the future/adnominal form -(으)ㄹ to a verb before 지경.
 

Vowel-ending verb stem + ㄹ 지경이다

  • 쓰러지다 → 쓰러질 지경이다 — to be at the point of collapsing
  • 포기하다 → 포기할 지경이다 — to be at the point of giving up
  • 미치다 → 미칠 지경이다 — to be about to go crazy
 

Consonant-ending verb stem + 을 지경이다

  • 죽다 → 죽을 지경이다 — to feel like dying
  • 참다 → 참을 지경이다 — to be at the point of enduring
  • 앓다 → 앓을 지경이다 — to be at the point of being ill/suffering
 

ㄹ-ending stems keep ㄹ

  • 울다 → 울 지경이다 — to be at the point of crying
  • 살다 → 살 지경이다 — to be at the point of living/surviving
 

Formal written expansions

  • V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 이르다 — to reach the point of V-ing
  • V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 놓이다 — to be in a situation where V may happen
  • V-(으)ㄹ 지경까지 가다 — to go as far as the point of V-ing
 

Pronunciation note 🌬️

After the adnominal -(으)ㄹ, the following ㅈ in 지경 is commonly pronounced tense in careful standard pronunciation: 죽을 지경 sounds like [ju-geul jji-gyeong], and 쓰러질 지경 sounds like [sseu-reo-jil jji-gyeong]. This is not a spelling change — just pronunciation doing push-ups. 💪

📚 Cross-check note

The meaning of 지경 as circumstance/condition/degree and the pronunciation rule for tense sounds after adnominal -(으)ㄹ were cross-checked against National Institute of Korean Language resources at korean.go.kr. ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

These are neighbors, not clones:
  • -(으)ㄹ 정도로 — general “to the degree/extent that”; flexible and neutral. 📏
  • -(으)ㄹ 만큼 — “enough to / as much as”; often measures degree. ⚖️
  • -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 — “almost did / nearly happened”; focuses on a near-event. 😮
  • V-(으)ㄹ 지경이다 — extreme state, limit, or verge; often negative or dramatic. 🚨
  • V-(으)ㄹ 판이다 — “it looks like we may have to / it’s a situation where…”; often practical or looming, less emotional than 지경. 🧭
  • V-기 일보 직전이다 — “one step before V-ing”; formal and very close to an event. 👣

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 죽는 지경이에요 → ✅ 죽을 지경이에요 (Use -(으)ㄹ, not -는.)
  • ❌ 울을 지경이에요 → ✅ 울 지경이에요 (ㄹ-ending stem keeps ㄹ; do not add 을.)
  • ❌ Using it for mild states like “a little tired” → ✅ Save it for extreme, near-limit situations.
  • ❌ Treating it as identical to -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 → ✅ 뻔하다 = almost happened; 지경이다 = extreme condition/verge.
  • ❌ Forgetting register → ✅ 죽을 지경이에요 is conversational; 중단될 지경에 이르렀습니다 is report-like and formal.
 
🚨 Bottom line: -(으)ㄹ 지경이다 is the grammar of “the situation has gone this far.” Use it when the sentence needs a red warning light, not a tiny desk lamp. 💡
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the best 지경 form. Say the Korean line aloud, listen for the tense-ish 지 after -(으)ㄹ, then check the Answer toggle. 🚨
1. 배가 고파 ＿＿＿＿.
[bae-ga go-pa ＿＿＿＿]
I’m so hungry I feel like I’m dying. 🍚
Answer
죽을 지경이에요 — 죽다 has a consonant stem, so use 죽을. Pronounce the chunk like [ju-geul jji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo]. 🍚
2. 밤을 새워서 ＿＿＿＿.
[ba-meul sae-wo-seo ＿＿＿＿]
I stayed up all night, so I’m at the point of collapsing. 🌙
Answer
쓰러질 지경이에요 — 쓰러지다 ends in a vowel before 다, so use 쓰러질. 🌙
3. 그 말을 듣고 ＿＿＿＿.
[geu ma-reul deut-kko ＿＿＿＿]
After hearing those words, I was at the point of crying. 💬
Answer
울 지경이었어요 — 울다 is ㄹ-ending, so keep ㄹ: 울 지경, not 울을 지경. 💬
4. 소음이 심해서 ＿＿＿＿.
[so-eu-mi sim-hae-seo ＿＿＿＿]
The noise is so bad I’m about to go crazy. 🔊
Answer
미칠 지경이에요 — 미치다 becomes 미칠. This is dramatic, not mild. 🔊
5. 일이 많아서 ＿＿＿＿.
[i-ri ma-na-seo ＿＿＿＿]
There is so much work that I’m at the point of giving up. 📚
Answer
포기할 지경이에요 — 포기하다 becomes 포기할. 📚
6. 비용이 늘어나 사업을 ＿＿＿＿.
[bi-yo-ngi neu-reo-na sa-eo-beul ＿＿＿＿]
Costs increased, so it reached the point of suspending the business. 💸
Answer
중단할 지경에 이르렀어요 — 이르다 makes the sentence more formal/written: “reached the point.” 💸
7. 상황이 악화되어 계획이 ＿＿＿＿.
[sang-hwa-ngi a-kwa-doe-eo gye-hoe-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The situation worsened, so the plan was on the verge of cancellation. 📋
Answer
취소될 지경에 놓였어요 — 놓이다 sounds like the plan was pushed into that situation by circumstances. 📋
8. 문제가 커져 행사가 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je-ga keo-jyeo haeng-sa-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The problem grew, and the event reached the point of being canceled. 🎫
Answer
취소될 지경에 이르렀습니다 — formal report style: 이르렀습니다. 🎫
9. 참다 → ＿＿＿＿
[cham-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to endure” into “at the point of enduring.” 🧱
Answer
참을 지경이다 — 참다 has a consonant stem, so add 을. 🧱
10. 죽는 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[jung-neun ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the form. 🛠️
Answer
죽을 지경이에요 — the pattern uses -(으)ㄹ 지경이다, not -는 지경이다. 🛠️
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 배 → stomach/belly
  • 고프다 → to be hungry
  • 죽다 → to die
  • 밤을 새우다 → to stay up all night
  • 쓰러지다 → to collapse
  • 말 → words/speech
  • 듣다 → to hear/listen
  • 울다 → to cry
  • 소음 → noise
  • 심하다 → to be severe
  • 미치다 → to go crazy
  • 일 → work
  • 많다 → to be many/much
  • 포기하다 → to give up
  • 비용 → cost
  • 늘어나다 → to increase
  • 사업 → business
  • 중단하다 → to suspend/stop
  • 상황 → situation
  • 악화되다 → to worsen
  • 계획 → plan
  • 취소되다 → to be canceled
  • 문제 → problem
  • 커지다 → to become bigger
  • 행사 → event
  • 참다 → to endure
  • 이르다 → to reach
  • 놓이다 → to be placed
Tip 💡 Conversational: 지경이에요. Formal/written: 지경에 이르다, 지경에 놓이다.
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below drills extreme states, formal report-style phrasing, pronunciation, and contrast with similar degree grammar. 🚨
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — To the point of (Extreme): -(으)ㄹ 지경이다
 
Welcome to the limit-state gym. 🚨 This Practice Hub helps you turn “very tired” into 쓰러질 지경이에요, “things got worse” into 취소될 지경에 이르렀어요, and “almost happened” into a clean contrast with -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다. The drama is controlled, the grammar is sharp, and nobody has to actually collapse. 🧯
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear the completed sentence aloud.
 
📝 Instructions: Fill each blank, say the completed Korean sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle. Pay attention to the verb form before 지경, the register of the sentence, and whether the meaning is an extreme state or an almost-happened event.
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧

A. 죽다 → ＿＿＿＿
[juk-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to die” into “to the point of dying.” ☠️
Answer
죽을 지경이다 — consonant stem + 을 지경이다.
B. 쓰러지다 → ＿＿＿＿
[sseu-reo-ji-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to collapse” into “to the point of collapsing.” 🧍
Answer
쓰러질 지경이다 — vowel stem + ㄹ 지경이다.
C. 울다 → ＿＿＿＿
[ul-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to cry” into “to the point of crying.” 😭
Answer
울 지경이다 — ㄹ-ending stem keeps ㄹ.
D. 미치다 → ＿＿＿＿
[mi-chi-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to go crazy” into “to the point of going crazy.” 🤯
Answer
미칠 지경이다 — vowel stem + ㄹ 지경이다.
E. 포기하다 → ＿＿＿＿
[po-gi-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to give up” into “to the point of giving up.” 🏳️
Answer
포기할 지경이다 — 하다 verbs become 할.
F. 참다 → ＿＿＿＿
[cham-tta → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to endure” into “to the point of enduring.” 🧱
Answer
참을 지경이다 — consonant stem + 을.
G. 중단하다 → ＿＿＿＿
[jung-dan-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to suspend” into “to the point of suspending.” ⏸️
Answer
중단할 지경이다 — 중단하다 becomes 중단할.
H. 취소되다 → ＿＿＿＿
[chwi-so-doe-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to be canceled” into “to the point of being canceled.” 🎫
Answer
취소될 지경이다 — passive verb 취소되다 becomes 취소될.
I. 살다 → ＿＿＿＿
[sal-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to live/survive” into “to the point of surviving.” 🫁
Answer
살 지경이다 — ㄹ-ending stem keeps ㄹ.
J. 앓다 → ＿＿＿＿
[al-ta → ＿＿＿＿]
Change “to be ill/suffer” into “to the point of being ill.” 🤒
Answer
앓을 지경이다 — consonant stem + 을.
🔧
Vocabulary Box
  • 죽다 → to die
  • 쓰러지다 → to collapse
  • 울다 → to cry
  • 미치다 → to go crazy
  • 포기하다 → to give up
  • 참다 → to endure
  • 중단하다 → to suspend/stop
  • 취소되다 → to be canceled
  • 살다 → to live/survive
  • 앓다 → to be ill/suffer
  • 지경이다 → to be at the point/state
Tip 💡 Vowel stem + ㄹ, consonant stem + 을, ㄹ stem keeps ㄹ.
 

Exercise 2 — Conversational Extreme States 🚨

A. 배가 고파 ＿＿＿＿.
[bae-ga go-pa ＿＿＿＿]
I’m so hungry I feel like I’m dying. 🍚
Answer
죽을 지경이에요 — 배가 고프다 sets up a dramatic physical limit.
B. 너무 피곤해서 ＿＿＿＿.
[neo-mu pi-gon-hae-seo ＿＿＿＿]
I’m so tired I’m at the point of collapsing. 😴
Answer
쓰러질 지경이에요 — extreme fatigue, not ordinary tiredness.
C. 스트레스가 심해서 ＿＿＿＿.
[seu-teu-re-seu-ga sim-hae-seo ＿＿＿＿]
The stress is so bad I’m about to go crazy. 🧠
Answer
미칠 지경이에요 — a common dramatic chunk for frustration/stress.
D. 그 말을 듣고 ＿＿＿＿.
[geu ma-reul deut-kko ＿＿＿＿]
After hearing those words, I was at the point of crying. 💬
Answer
울 지경이었어요 — past tense on 지경이다: 지경이었어요.
E. 일이 너무 많아서 ＿＿＿＿.
[i-ri neo-mu ma-na-seo ＿＿＿＿]
There is so much work that I’m at the point of giving up. 📚
Answer
포기할 지경이에요 — the work has pushed the speaker toward a limit.
F. 아파서 ＿＿＿＿.
[a-pa-seo ＿＿＿＿]
It hurts so much I’m at the point of being unable to endure it. 🤕
Answer
참을 수 없을 지경이에요 — 참을 수 없다 becomes 참을 수 없을.
G. 걱정이 많아서 ＿＿＿＿.
[geok-jeo-ngi ma-na-seo ＿＿＿＿]
I’m so worried I’m at the point of not sleeping. 🌃
Answer
잠을 못 잘 지경이에요 — the worry is extreme enough to affect sleep.
H. 답답해서 ＿＿＿＿.
[dap-tta-pae-seo ＿＿＿＿]
I’m so frustrated I’m at the point of feeling suffocated. 🫁
Answer
숨이 막힐 지경이에요 — 숨이 막히다 = to feel choked/suffocated.
I. 소음이 심해서 ＿＿＿＿.
[so-eu-mi sim-hae-seo ＿＿＿＿]
The noise is so severe I’m at the point of not being able to endure it. 🔊
Answer
못 견딜 지경이에요 — 견디다 = to endure/bear; 못 견디다 = cannot bear.
J. 웃겨서 ＿＿＿＿.
[ut-kkyeo-seo ＿＿＿＿]
It’s so funny I feel like I’m dying. 😂
Answer
죽을 지경이에요 — this is hyperbole: dramatic, not literal. 😂
🚨
Vocabulary Box
  • 배 → stomach/belly
  • 고프다 → to be hungry
  • 죽다 → to die
  • 너무 → too/very
  • 피곤하다 → to be tired
  • 쓰러지다 → to collapse
  • 스트레스 → stress
  • 심하다 → to be severe
  • 미치다 → to go crazy
  • 그 → that
  • 말 → words/speech
  • 듣다 → to hear/listen
  • 울다 → to cry
  • 일 → work
  • 많다 → to be many/much
  • 포기하다 → to give up
  • 아프다 → to hurt/be sick
  • 참을 수 없다 → cannot endure
  • 걱정 → worry
  • 잠을 못 자다 → cannot sleep
  • 답답하다 → to feel frustrated/stuffy
  • 숨이 막히다 → to feel suffocated
  • 소음 → noise
  • 못 견디다 → cannot bear
  • 웃기다 → to be funny
Tip 💡 This conversational set is dramatic. If the feeling is mild, choose a softer expression.
 

Exercise 3 — Formal Report Style 📰

A. 비용이 늘어나 사업을 ＿＿＿＿.
[bi-yo-ngi neu-reo-na sa-eo-beul ＿＿＿＿]
Costs increased, so it reached the point of suspending the business. 💸
Answer
중단할 지경에 이르렀어요 — 지경에 이르다 sounds more formal than plain 지경이다.
B. 상황이 악화되어 계획이 ＿＿＿＿.
[sang-hwa-ngi a-kwa-doe-eo gye-hoe-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The situation worsened, so the plan was placed on the verge of cancellation. 📋
Answer
취소될 지경에 놓였어요 — 놓이다 highlights an affected state.
C. 문제가 커져 행사가 ＿＿＿＿.
[mun-je-ga keo-jyeo haeng-sa-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The problem grew, and the event reached the point of being canceled. 🎫
Answer
취소될 지경에 이르렀습니다 — formal ending -습니다 fits report tone.
D. 피해가 커져 회사가 ＿＿＿＿.
[pi-hae-ga keo-jyeo hoe-sa-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The damage grew, and the company reached the point of collapse. 🏢
Answer
무너질 지경에 이르렀어요 — 무너지다 can describe a company/situation falling apart.
E. 논란이 커져 회의가 ＿＿＿＿.
[nol-la-ni keo-jyeo hoe-ui-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The controversy grew, so the meeting was on the verge of being suspended. 🗣️
Answer
중단될 지경에 놓였어요 — passive 중단되다 + 놓이다.
F. 갈등이 심해져 협상이 ＿＿＿＿.
[gal-deu-ngi sim-hae-jyeo hyeop-sa-ngi ＿＿＿＿]
The conflict intensified, so the negotiation reached the point of breaking down. 🤝
Answer
결렬될 지경에 이르렀어요 — 결렬되다 = to break down/fail, often for negotiations.
G. 위기가 깊어져 제도가 ＿＿＿＿.
[wi-gi-ga gi-peo-jyeo je-do-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The crisis deepened, and the system was on the verge of being shaken. 🏛️
Answer
흔들릴 지경에 놓였어요 — 흔들리다 can mean “be shaken/unstable.”
H. 부담이 커져 예산이 ＿＿＿＿.
[bu-da-mi keo-jyeo ye-sa-ni ＿＿＿＿]
The burden grew, and the budget reached the point of running out. 💰
Answer
바닥날 지경에 이르렀어요 — 바닥나다 = to run out/be depleted.
I. 혼란이 커져 질서가 ＿＿＿＿.
[hol-la-ni keo-jyeo jil-seo-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The confusion grew, and order was on the verge of collapsing. 🚦
Answer
무너질 지경에 놓였어요 — formal, serious, outside-circumstance feeling.
J. 압박이 심해져 직원들이 ＿＿＿＿.
[ap-pa-gi sim-hae-jyeo ji-gwon-deu-ri ＿＿＿＿]
The pressure intensified, so the employees reached the point of giving up. 🧑‍💼
Answer
포기할 지경에 이르렀어요 — formal version of 포기할 지경이에요.
📰
Vocabulary Box
  • 비용 → cost
  • 늘어나다 → to increase
  • 사업 → business
  • 중단하다 → to suspend/stop
  • 상황 → situation
  • 악화되다 → to worsen
  • 계획 → plan
  • 취소되다 → to be canceled
  • 문제 → problem
  • 커지다 → to grow/become bigger
  • 행사 → event
  • 피해 → damage
  • 회사 → company
  • 무너지다 → to collapse/fall apart
  • 논란 → controversy
  • 회의 → meeting
  • 중단되다 → to be suspended/stopped
  • 갈등 → conflict
  • 심해지다 → to become severe
  • 협상 → negotiation
  • 결렬되다 → to break down/fail
  • 위기 → crisis
  • 깊어지다 → to deepen
  • 제도 → system/institution
  • 흔들리다 → to be shaken
  • 부담 → burden
  • 예산 → budget
  • 바닥나다 → to run out
  • 혼란 → confusion/chaos
  • 질서 → order
  • 압박 → pressure
  • 직원 → employee
  • 포기하다 → to give up
  • 이르다 → to reach
  • 놓이다 → to be placed
Tip 💡 지경에 이르다 = reached the point; 지경에 놓이다 = was placed in that situation.
 

Exercise 4 — Contrast Clinic: 지경, 정도, 뻔하다 🧭

A. 넘어질 ＿＿＿＿.
[neo-meo-jil ＿＿＿＿]
I almost fell. 😮
Answer
뻔했어요 — a near-event that almost happened uses -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다.
B. 너무 어지러워 넘어질 ＿＿＿＿.
[neo-mu eo-ji-reo-wo neo-meo-jil ＿＿＿＿]
I’m so dizzy I’m at the point of falling. 🌀
Answer
지경이에요 — this describes an extreme state/verge, not a completed near-event.
C. 울 ＿＿＿＿ 감동했어요.
[ul ＿＿＿＿ gam-dong-hae-sseo-yo]
I was moved to the point of crying. 😭
Answer
정도로 — neutral degree/extent fits here.
D. 스트레스 때문에 울 ＿＿＿＿.
[seu-teu-re-seu ttae-mu-ne ul ＿＿＿＿]
Because of stress, I was at the point of crying. 🧠
Answer
지경이었어요 — emotional limit state.
E. 참을 수 없을 ＿＿＿＿ 아팠어요.
[cha-meul su eop-sseul ＿＿＿＿ a-pa-sseo-yo]
It hurt to an unbearable degree. 🤕
Answer
정도로 — general degree: “to the degree that I couldn’t endure it.”
F. 아파서 참을 수 없을 ＿＿＿＿.
[a-pa-seo cha-meul su eop-sseul ＿＿＿＿]
It hurt so much I was at the point of not being able to endure it. 🧱
Answer
지경이었어요 — limit-state noun predicate.
G. 중단될 ＿＿＿＿ 놓였어요.
[jung-dan-doel ＿＿＿＿ no-yeo-sseo-yo]
It was placed in a situation where it might be suspended. ⏸️
Answer
지경에 — 지경에 놓이다 is the formal frame.
H. 혼자 할 수 있을 ＿＿＿＿ 쉬워요.
[hon-ja hal su i-sseul ＿＿＿＿ swi-wo-yo]
It is easy enough to do alone. 🧍
Answer
정도로 — enough-to degree, not extreme-limit state.
I. 늦을 ＿＿＿＿.
[neu-jeul ＿＿＿＿]
I almost became late. ⏰
Answer
뻔했어요 — a near-event.
J. 늦어서 혼날 ＿＿＿＿.
[neu-jeo-seo hon-nal ＿＿＿＿]
I was so late I was at the point of being scolded. 🫣
Answer
지경이었어요 — the situation reached a limit where scolding felt imminent.
🧭
Vocabulary Box
  • 넘어지다 → to fall
  • 뻔하다 → to almost/nearly happen
  • 너무 → too/very
  • 어지럽다 → to be dizzy
  • 울다 → to cry
  • 정도 → degree/extent
  • 감동하다 → to be moved/touched
  • 스트레스 → stress
  • 때문에 → because of
  • 아프다 → to hurt/be sick
  • 참을 수 없다 → cannot endure
  • 지경 → state/point reached
  • 중단되다 → to be suspended/stopped
  • 놓이다 → to be placed
  • 혼자 → alone
  • 할 수 있다 → can do
  • 쉽다 → to be easy
  • 늦다 → to be late
  • 혼나다 → to be scolded
Tip 💡 뻔하다 = almost happened; 정도로 = degree; 지경이다 = extreme state/verge.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 죽는 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[jung-neun ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the form: “I feel like I’m dying.” ☠️
Answer
✅ 죽을 지경이에요 — ❌ 죽는 지경 uses the wrong modifier; this pattern needs -(으)ㄹ.
B. 울을 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[u-reul ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the ㄹ-stem mistake. 😭
Answer
✅ 울 지경이에요 — ❌ 울을; ㄹ-ending stems keep ㄹ and do not add 을.
C. 쓰러지는 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[sseu-reo-ji-neun ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the modifier. 🧍
Answer
✅ 쓰러질 지경이에요 — use 쓰러질, not 쓰러지는.
D. 조금 피곤해서 쓰러질 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[jo-geum pi-gon-hae-seo sseu-reo-jil ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the intensity mismatch. 😴
Answer
✅ 너무 피곤해서 쓰러질 지경이에요 — ❌ 조금 “a little” clashes with the extreme meaning of 지경.
E. 넘어질 지경이었어요
[neo-meo-jil ji-gyeo-ngi-eo-sseo-yo]
Does this mean “I almost fell” as a near-event? 🌀
Answer
Not exactly. It means “I was at the point of falling.” For the near-event “I almost fell,” use 넘어질 뻔했어요.
F. 비용이 늘어나 사업을 중단할 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[bi-yo-ngi neu-reo-na sa-eo-beul jung-dan-hal ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Make it more formal/written. 💸
Answer
✅ 비용이 늘어나 사업을 중단할 지경에 이르렀어요 — 지경에 이르다 adds report-like formality.
G. 계획이 취소될 지경이에요 → ＿＿＿＿
[gye-hoe-gi chwi-so-doel ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Make it sound like circumstances put the plan in that state. 📋
Answer
✅ 계획이 취소될 지경에 놓였어요 — 놓이다 emphasizes being placed in that situation.
H. 죽을 지경
[ju-geul ji-gyeong]
What pronunciation change commonly happens to 지? 🌬️
Answer
지 is commonly pronounced tense: [ju-geul jji-gyeong]. This follows the standard tendency for ㅈ after adnominal -(으)ㄹ to tense.
I. 취소될 정도로 놓였어요 → ＿＿＿＿
[chwi-so-doel jeong-do-ro no-yeo-sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿]
Fix the formal frame. 🎫
Answer
✅ 취소될 지경에 놓였어요 — the fixed formal frame is V-(으)ㄹ 지경에 놓이다.
J. 포기할 지경이에요
[po-gi-hal ji-gyeo-ngi-e-yo]
Is this mild or extreme? 🏳️
Answer
Extreme. It means “I’m at the point of giving up,” not “I’m slightly discouraged.” Use it when the limit feeling is strong.
🛡️
Vocabulary Box
  • 죽다 → to die
  • 울다 → to cry
  • 쓰러지다 → to collapse
  • 조금 → a little
  • 너무 → too/very
  • 피곤하다 → to be tired
  • 넘어지다 → to fall
  • 뻔하다 → to almost/nearly happen
  • 비용 → cost
  • 늘어나다 → to increase
  • 사업 → business
  • 중단하다 → to suspend/stop
  • 계획 → plan
  • 취소되다 → to be canceled
  • 지경 → state/point reached
  • 이르다 → to reach
  • 놓이다 → to be placed
  • 정도 → degree/extent
  • 포기하다 → to give up
Tip 💡 Pitfall patrol: use -(으)ㄹ, keep ㄹ stems clean, reserve 지경 for real intensity, and separate it from 뻔하다.
 
🎉 You’ve mastered the red-alert grammar: 죽을 지경이다, 쓰러질 지경이다, 중단될 지경에 이르다, and 취소될 지경에 놓이다. Use it when Korean needs to say, “This situation has reached the edge.” 🚨✨