Phrase in 30 Seconds
This phrase describes the satisfying moment of completing your school assignments so you can finally relax.
- Means: To finish or complete assigned schoolwork or tasks.
- Used in: Daily conversations with parents, teachers, or classmates.
- Don't confuse: '숙제를 하다' (doing homework) with '끝내다' (finishing it).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To complete assigned schoolwork.
Contexte culturel
The 'Hagwon' (private academy) culture means students often have multiple sets of homework. Finishing all of them is a major daily goal. Parents often use '숙제' as a bargaining chip for screen time or snacks. In Korean companies, '숙제' is often used metaphorically for long-term projects that require a solution. There is a popular variety show trope where celebrities are given '숙제' (missions) to complete.
Use '다' for naturalness
Adding '다' (all) before the verb makes you sound much more like a native speaker: '숙제 다 끝냈어!'
Don't forget the tense
If you are reporting that you are done, always use the past tense '끝냈어요.'
Use '다' for naturalness
Adding '다' (all) before the verb makes you sound much more like a native speaker: '숙제 다 끝냈어!'
Don't forget the tense
If you are reporting that you are done, always use the past tense '끝냈어요.'
The 'Homework' of Marriage
In Korea, getting married is often jokingly called '인생의 큰 숙제' (a big homework of life).
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '끝내다' in the past tense (neutral/polite).
저는 어제 밤에 모든 ________.
The context '어제 밤' (last night) requires the past tense, and '숙제를' requires the transitive verb '끝냈어요.'
Which sentence is the most natural for a student talking to a teacher?
Choose the correct sentence:
The '-습니다' ending is appropriate for the formal relationship between a student and a teacher.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
가: 우리 영화 보러 갈까? 나: 미안, 아직 ________. 다 하고 연락할게.
'미안' (sorry) and '아직' (yet) suggest that the task is not yet finished. '못' expresses inability to finish.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Situation: You just finished a very annoying task and want to express relief to a close friend.
'해치우다' is used for finishing something annoying or burdensome with a sense of relief.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
끝내다 vs 끝나다
Banque d exercices
5 exercices저는 어제 밤에 모든 ________.
The context '어제 밤' (last night) requires the past tense, and '숙제를' requires the transitive verb '끝냈어요.'
Choose the correct sentence:
The '-습니다' ending is appropriate for the formal relationship between a student and a teacher.
가: 우리 영화 보러 갈까? 나: 미안, 아직 ________. 다 하고 연락할게.
'미안' (sorry) and '아직' (yet) suggest that the task is not yet finished. '못' expresses inability to finish.
Situation: You just finished a very annoying task and want to express relief to a close friend.
'해치우다' is used for finishing something annoying or burdensome with a sense of relief.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but it's informal. In an office, '업무를 마쳤습니다' or '보고서를 완료했습니다' is better.
'끝내다' is more common in daily speech; '마치다' is slightly more formal and often used for ceremonies or long-term projects.
Grammatically no, but in casual speech and social media, it's a very common way to say 'I'm done with homework!'
Because '끝내다' is an action you perform on the homework. The homework is the object.
You can say '숙제 거의 다 끝냈어요.'
No, '졸업하다' is only for graduating from a school, not finishing a task.
'과제' is usually used for university assignments or projects, while '숙제' is for primary/secondary school.
It means 'piled up' or 'overdue' homework that you haven't finished yet.
숙제가 많아요.
No, for a movie, use '영화가 끝났어요' (The movie finished).
Expressions liées
숙제를 제출하다
builds onTo submit homework
숙제를 빼먹다
contrastTo skip/forget homework
과제를 마치다
synonymTo finish an assignment
밀린 숙제
specialized formOverdue/piled-up homework
숙제 검사
relatedHomework check
Où l'utiliser
Reporting to a parent
Mom: 민수야, 숙제 다 했니?
Min-su: 네, 방금 숙제를 끝냈어요!
Texting a friend
Friend: 언제 나와? 피시방 가자.
Me: 나 숙제 거의 다 끝냈어. 10분만!
In the classroom
Teacher: 모두 숙제를 끝냈나요?
Student: 네, 선생님. 여기 있습니다.
At a cafe with a study partner
Partner: 와, 너 벌써 끝냈어?
Me: 응, 이번 숙제는 좀 쉽더라.
Job Interview (Metaphorical)
Interviewer: 본인의 단점은 무엇입니까?
Applicant: 저는 맡은 숙제를 끝내기 전까지는 잠을 자지 않는 완벽주의자입니다.
Social Media Caption
User: 드디어 이번 주 숙제 끝! 이제 놀자~
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Suk-je' as 'Soak-je'—you soak your brain in the topic until you can 'End' (끝내다) it.
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant mountain of books. As you finish the last page, the mountain turns into a soft bed you can finally sleep on.
Rhyme
숙제 끝! 기분 굿! (Sukje kkeut! Gibun gut! - Homework end! Feeling good!)
Story
Little Min-su had a mountain of {宿題|숙제}. He worked all night. When the sun rose, he shouted '끝냈다!' and flew out the window to play soccer.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'finish homework.' In Japanese, '宿題を終える' (shukudai o oeru) is almost identical in structure and kanji usage.
Word Web
Défi
Today, when you finish any small task, say out loud: '숙제를 끝냈다!' even if it wasn't schoolwork.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the difference between '하다' and '끝내다'.
Prononciation
The 'ㄱ' in '숙' makes the 'ㅈ' in '제' sound like a double 'ㅉ'.
The 'ㅌ' in '끝' is followed by 'ㄴ', so it assimilates to an 'ㄴ' sound.
Spectre de formalité
숙제를 끝냈습니다. (General reporting)
숙제를 끝냈어요. (General reporting)
숙제 끝냈어. (General reporting)
숙제 끝! (General reporting)
The word {宿題|숙제} comes from the Hanja {宿} (stay/lodge) and {題} (topic/problem). It implies work done outside the classroom. '끝내다' is a native Korean causative verb.
Le savais-tu ?
In the past, if a student didn't finish their 'homework' at a Seodang, they might have to stay late or receive a light strike on the calves with a switch.
Notes culturelles
The 'Hagwon' (private academy) culture means students often have multiple sets of homework. Finishing all of them is a major daily goal.
“학원 숙제를 끝내니까 밤 12시였어요. (By the time I finished my hagwon homework, it was midnight.)”
Parents often use '숙제' as a bargaining chip for screen time or snacks.
“숙제 끝내면 치킨 사줄게. (If you finish your homework, I'll buy you fried chicken.)”
In Korean companies, '숙제' is often used metaphorically for long-term projects that require a solution.
“이번 프로젝트는 우리 팀의 큰 숙제입니다. (This project is a big 'homework' for our team.)”
There is a popular variety show trope where celebrities are given '숙제' (missions) to complete.
“오늘의 숙제는 1시간 안에 요리하기입니다. (Today's 'homework' is to cook within one hour.)”
Amorces de conversation
오늘 숙제 다 끝냈어요?
숙제를 끝내고 보통 뭐 해요?
어떻게 하면 숙제를 빨리 끝낼 수 있을까요?
인생에서 가장 어려운 숙제는 무엇이라고 생각하세요?
Erreurs courantes
숙제가 끝냈어요.
숙제를 끝냈어요.
L1 Interference
숙제를 끝났어요.
숙제가 끝났어요.
L1 Interference
I finished my homework (literal translation: 내 숙제를 끝냈어요).
숙제를 끝냈어요.
L1 Interference
숙제를 마쳤어요 (in a very casual setting).
숙제 끝냈어.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Terminar la tarea
Spanish requires the article 'la,' while Korean often drops '를' in speech.
Finir ses devoirs
French almost always uses a possessive pronoun (ses devoirs), which Korean avoids.
Hausaufgaben fertigmachen
The German structure is more about 'making ready' than 'ending' (끝내다).
宿題を終える
Japanese uses the particle 'を' (o) where Korean uses '를' (reul).
أنهيت الواجب
The verb comes first in standard Arabic (VSO), unlike Korean (SOV).
做完作业
Korean uses a single verb '끝내다' rather than a 'verb + result' construction.
Finish homework
English usually requires 'my' or 'the,' whereas Korean is more comfortable with just '숙제.'
Terminar o trabalho de casa
The term for homework is more descriptive in Portuguese than the concise Korean '숙제.'
Spotted in the Real World
“예서야, 숙제 다 끝냈니?”
A mother checking on her daughter's study progress in a high-pressure academic environment.
“거짓말이야 you such a liar / 무슨 숙제야”
The song critiques the pressure on students to just do homework and follow orders.
“아, 숙제 끝내고 자야 되는데...”
The protagonist struggling to stay awake to finish her assignments.
Facile à confondre
Learners use '가' with '끝내다' or '를' with '끝나다'.
Remember: '를 끝내다' (I finish it) vs '가 끝나다' (It finishes).
Learners use '하다' when they specifically mean they are *done*.
'하다' is the process; '끝내다' is the result.
Questions fréquentes (10)
Yes, but it's informal. In an office, '업무를 마쳤습니다' or '보고서를 완료했습니다' is better.
usage contexts'끝내다' is more common in daily speech; '마치다' is slightly more formal and often used for ceremonies or long-term projects.
comparisonsGrammatically no, but in casual speech and social media, it's a very common way to say 'I'm done with homework!'
grammar mechanicsBecause '끝내다' is an action you perform on the homework. The homework is the object.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '숙제 거의 다 끝냈어요.'
practical tipsNo, '졸업하다' is only for graduating from a school, not finishing a task.
common mistakes'과제' is usually used for university assignments or projects, while '숙제' is for primary/secondary school.
basic understandingIt means 'piled up' or 'overdue' homework that you haven't finished yet.
basic understanding숙제가 많아요.
practical tipsNo, for a movie, use '영화가 끝났어요' (The movie finished).
usage contexts
