Verbal Nouns with '기' — Korean Grammar

To turn a verb or adjective into a noun, you attach (gigigiki) to the verb stem. This functions similarly to the English gerund ending "-ing" (e.g., swimming) or the infinitive "to [verb]" (e.g., to swim).

Nominalizing a verb allows you to use an action as the subject or object of a sentence. To form it, simply remove (dadadata) from the dictionary form of the verb and add (gigigiki). This rule applies to all verbs, regardless of whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

가다 → 가기
ga·da → ga·giga·da → ga·giga·da → ga·gika·ta → ka·ki
to go → going
먹다 → 먹기
mŏk·da → mŏk·gimeok·da → meok·gimŏk·da → mŏk·gimek·ta → mek·ki
to eat → eating

Expressing Preferences and Difficulty

This form 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.
jŏ·nŭn yo·ri·ha·gi·rŭl jo·a·hæ·yo.jeo·neun yo·ri·ha·gi·reul jo·a·hae·yo.jŏ·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·gu·gŏ mal·ha·gi·ga ŏ·ryŏ·wŏ·yo.han·gu·geo mal·ha·gi·ga eo·ryeo·wŏ·yo.han·gu·gŏ mal·ha·gi·ga ŏ·ryŏ·wŏ·yo.han·ku·ke mal·ha·ki·ka e·lye·wŏ·yo.
Speaking Korean is difficult.
혼자 밥 먹기가 싫어요.
hon·ja bap mŏk·gi·ga si·rŏ·yo.hon·ja bap meok·gi·ga si·reo·yo.hon·ja bap mŏk·gi·ga si·rŏ·yo.hon·ca pap mek·ki·ka si·le·yo.
I hate eating alone.

Common Grammatical Patterns

The (-gi-gi-gi-ki) form is the building block for several high-frequency grammar structures used to connect sentences.

Before doing X (-기 전에 (-gi jŏ·ne))

By adding (jŏ·nejeo·nejŏ·nece·ney) (before) to the nominalized verb, you indicate that one action happens before another.

자기 전에 양치해요.
ja·gi jŏ·ne yang·chʰi·hæ·yo.ja·gi jeo·ne yang·chi·hae·yo.ja·gi jŏ·ne yang·ch'i·hae·yo.ca·ki ce·ney yang·chi·hay·yo.
I brush my teeth before sleeping.

Because of doing X (-기 때문에 (-gi ddæ·mu·ne))

By adding (ddæ·mu·neddae·mu·nettae·mu·nettay·mu·ney) (because of) to the nominalized verb, you express a reason or cause.

비가 오기 때문에 안 가요.
bi·ga o·gi ddæ·mu·ne an ga·yo.bi·ga o·gi ddae·mu·ne an ga·yo.bi·ga o·gi ttae·mu·ne an ga·yo.pi·ka o·ki ttay·mu·ney an ka·yo.
I am not going because it is raining.

Lists and Categories

You will frequently encounter (-gi-gi-gi-ki) 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
dŭt·gideut·gidŭt·gitut·ki
Listening (e.g., a section in a test)
쓰기
ssŭ·gisseu·gissŭ·gissu·ki
Writing
장보기
jang·bo·gijang·bo·gijang·bo·gicang·po·ki
Grocery shopping (item on a to-do list)

Difference from -(으)ㅁ (-(ŭ)m)

There is another way to turn verbs into nouns using the suffix (-(ŭ)m). While similar, they have different nuances.

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

추기
chʰu·gichu·gich'u·gichu·ki
dancing (the act of moving)
춤
chʰumchumch'umchum
dance (the noun/art form)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

11 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 260. A few of them, with the words “Verbal Nouns with '기'” is about in bold:

나는 자기 전에 목욕을 할 것이다.
na·nŭn ja·gi jŏn·e mog·yog·ŭl hal gŏs·i·da.na·neun ja·gi jeon·e mog·yog·eul hal geos·i·da.na·nŭn ja·gi jŏn·e mog·yog·ŭl hal gŏs·i·da.na·nun ca·ki cen·ey mog·yog·ul hal kes·i·ta.
I'll take a bath before going to bed. (neut.)
Lesson 481

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