Verbal Nouns with '기'

01

Expressing Preferences and Difficulty

The -기 (-ki-gi-ki-ki) form (a verb turned into a noun, like "cooking") is essential when you want to say you like, dislike, or find an activity difficult. You treat the action just like a regular noun.

• 저는 요리하기를 좋아해요.

  chŏ·nŭn yo·ri·ha·gi·rŭl jo·a·hæ·yo.jeo·neun yo·ri·ha·gi·reul jo·a·hae·yo.chŏ·nŭn yo·ri·ha·gi·rŭl jo·a·hae·yo.ce·nun yo·li·ha·ki·lul co·a·hay·yo.

  I like cooking.

• 한국어 말하기가 어려워요.

  han·gug·ŏ mal·ha·gi·ga ŏ·ryŏ·wo·yo.han·gug·eo mal·ha·gi·ga eo·ryeo·wo·yo.han·gug·ŏ mal·ha·gi·ga ŏ·ryŏ·wŏ·yo.han·kug·e mal·ha·ki·ka e·lye·we·yo.

  Speaking Korean is difficult.

• 혼자 밥 먹기가 싫어요.

  hon·ja bap mŏk·gi·ga sir·ŏ·yo.hon·ja bap meok·gi·ga sir·eo·yo.hon·ja bap mŏk·gi·ga sir·ŏ·yo.hon·ca pap mek·ki·ka sir·e·yo.

  I hate eating alone.

With 바라다 (pa·ra·daba·ra·dapa·ra·dapa·la·ta) - to hope, the -기 (-ki-gi-ki-ki) noun names what you hope for: -기를 바라다 (-ki·rŭl ba·ra·da-gi·reul ba·ra·da-ki·rŭl ba·ra·da-ki·lul pa·la·ta), often shortened to -길 바라다 (-kil ba·ra·da-gil ba·ra·da-kil ba·ra·da-kil pa·la·ta).

• 빨리 낫길 바랄게요.

  ppal·li nat·gil ba·ral·ge·yo.bbal·li nat·gil ba·ral·ge·yo.ppal·li nat·gil ba·ral·ge·yo.ppal·li nat·kil pa·lal·key·yo.

  I hope you get well soon.

02

Common Grammatical Patterns

The -기 (-ki-gi-ki-ki) form (a verb turned into a noun, like "going" or "eating") is the building block for several high-frequency grammar structures used to connect sentences.

Before doing X (-기 전에 (-ki jŏn·e))

By adding 전에 (chŏn·ejeon·echŏn·ecen·ey) (before) to the nominalized verb, you indicate that one action happens before another.

• 자기 전에 양치해요.

  cha·gi jŏn·e yang·chʰi·hæ·yo.ja·gi jeon·e yang·chi·hae·yo.cha·gi jŏn·e yang·ch'i·hae·yo.ca·ki cen·ey yang·chi·hay·yo.

  I brush my teeth before sleeping.

Because of doing X (-기 때문에 (-ki ttæ·mun·e))

By adding 때문에 (ttæ·mun·eddae·mun·ettae·mun·ettay·mun·ey) (because of) to the nominalized verb, you express a reason or cause.

• 비가 오기 때문에 안 가요.

  pi·ga o·gi ttæ·mun·e an ga·yo.bi·ga o·gi ddae·mun·e an ga·yo.pi·ga o·gi ttae·mun·e an ga·yo.pi·ka o·ki ttay·mun·ey an ka·yo.

  I am not going because it is raining.

In order to do X (-기 위해 (-ki wi·hæ))

By adding 위해 (wi·hæwi·haewi·haeui·hay) or 위해서 (wi·hæ·sŏwi·hae·seowi·hae·sŏui·hay·se) (for the sake of) to the nominalized verb, you give the purpose of the action that follows.

• 시험에 합격하기 위해 공부해요.

  si·hŏm·e hap·gyŏ·kʰa·gi wi·hæ gong·bu·hæ·yo.si·heom·e hap·gyeo·ka·gi wi·hae gong·bu·hae·yo.si·hŏm·e hap·gyŏ·k'a·gi wi·hae gong·bu·hae·yo.si·hem·ey hap·kye·kha·ki ui·hay kong·pu·hay·yo.

  I study in order to pass the exam.

Starting to do X (-기 시작하다 (-ki si·ja·kʰa·da))

With 시작하다 (si·ja·kʰa·dasi·ja·ka·dasi·ja·k'a·dasi·ca·kha·ta) (to start), the nominalized verb names what begins.

• 비가 오기 시작했어요.

  pi·ga o·gi si·ja·kʰæss·ŏ·yo.bi·ga o·gi si·ja·kaess·eo·yo.pi·ga o·gi si·ja·k'aess·ŏ·yo.pi·ka o·ki si·ca·khayss·e·yo.

  It started to rain.

03

Lists and Categories

You will frequently encounter -기 (-ki-gi-ki-ki) (a verb turned into a noun) in written contexts where complete sentences are not necessary, such as on buttons in software, signs, or to-do lists. It acts as a label for the activity.

• 듣기

  tŭt·gideut·gitŭt·gitut·ki

  Listening (e.g., a section in a test)

• 쓰기

  ssŭ·gisseu·gissŭ·gissu·ki

  Writing

• 장보기

  chang·bo·gijang·bo·gichang·bo·gicang·po·ki

  Grocery shopping (item on a to-do list)

04

Difference from -(으)ㅁ (-(ŭ)m)

Besides -기 (-ki-gi-ki-ki), there is another way to turn verbs into nouns using the suffix -(으)ㅁ (-(ŭ)m-(eu)m-(ŭ)m-(u)m). While similar, they have different nuances.

• -기 (-ki-gi-ki-ki) focuses on the activity or the process itself. It feels lighter and is used in spoken language and the grammatical patterns mentioned above.
• -(으)ㅁ (-(ŭ)m-(eu)m-(ŭ)m-(u)m) focuses on the result or the fact of the action. It is often more formal, static, or poetic.

• 춤추기

  chʰum·chʰu·gichum·chu·gich'um·ch'u·gichum·chu·ki

  dancing (the activity)

• 춤

  chʰumchumch'umchum

  dance (the noun/art form)