Going to the Extreme: -기까지 하다
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -기까지 하다 to express that something goes beyond normal expectations to an extreme or surprising degree.
- Attach -기까지 하다 to the verb stem: 먹다 → 먹기까지 하다.
- Use it to show surprise or emphasis about an action or state.
- It can be used in past, present, or future tenses: 먹기까지 했다.
Overview
At its core, -기까지 하다 (gi-kka-ji ha-da) is a Korean grammar pattern that emphasizes that an action or state has reached an unexpected, often extreme, level. It signifies "even to the extent of doing X" or "X, to boot." This pattern is employed to express a sense of astonishment, disbelief, or strong emphasis regarding a particular action or quality, often implying that the situation has gone beyond a reasonable or expected limit. It is a powerful way to add dramatic effect to your statements, whether the context is positive, negative, or simply surprising.
The essence of -기까지 하다 lies in its ability to highlight an additional, often climactic, detail to an already established situation. It doesn't merely list facts; it underscores how the second fact, indicated by the verb or adjective attached to -기까지 하다, pushes the boundary of what was already presented. This linguistic device allows speakers to convey that a situation, person, or event has transcended a baseline, eliciting a stronger reaction from the listener.
It's a way of saying, "And to make matters more surprising/worse/better, this also happened/is true."
From a linguistic perspective, this pattern builds upon the foundational concept of -까지 (kka-ji), which means "up to," "until," or "even." When combined with the nominalizing suffix -기 (gi) and the verb 하다 (ha-da, to do/be), it constructs a phrase that literally means "to do even up to the point of [verb-ing/adjective-being]." This structure inherently draws attention to the extremity of the action or state, making it a crucial tool for advanced learners to express nuanced emotional and situational emphasis in Korean. Its B2 CEFR level classification reflects its use in discussing complex topics where such emphasis is often required, allowing for a sophisticated expression of speaker stance and evaluation.
How This Grammar Works
-기, then attaching the particle -까지 to signify "even" or "to the extent of," and finally concluding with the verb 하다 to denote the act of performing or being in that extreme state. The entire phrase then acts as a strong intensifier for the preceding statement, often linked by conjunctions like -고 (go, and) or -(으)며 (eu-myeo, while/and), or simply following a related clause.-기 plays a crucial role here, converting the verb or adjective stem into a noun-like entity. For example, 먹다 (meok-da, to eat) becomes 먹기 (meok-gi), which means "the act of eating" or "eating." This transformation is essential because the particle -까지 typically follows nouns or nominalized forms to express reach, limit, or inclusion. Thus, 먹기까지 (meok-gi-kka-ji) implies "even to the act of eating" or "up to eating," setting the stage for the extreme emphasis.하다 (ha-da, to do/be), serves as the main predicate of the clause, carrying the necessary tense and politeness conjugations. It acts upon the nominalized, intensified action or state. Therefore, 먹기까지 하다 literally translates to "to do even the act of eating (to an extreme)." The entire phrase encapsulates the idea of reaching an unexpected or extreme boundary with the action or state described by the initial verb or adjective.그는 매일 운동하고, 건강한 음식을 먹기까지 해요. (Geu-neun mae-il un-dong-ha-go, geon-gang-han eum-sik-eul meok-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. He exercises every day, and even eats healthy food.) Here, 운동하다 (un-dong-ha-da, to exercise) is the initial action. 먹기까지 하다 then adds the surprising, perhaps commendable, additional detail that he even eats healthy food, implying a level of dedication beyond just exercising.해요 (hae-yo) part shows the polite present tense.그녀는 똑똑하고 예쁘기까지 합니다. (Geu-nyeo-neun ttok-ttok-ha-go ye-ppeu-gi-kka-ji ham-ni-da. She is smart, and even pretty.) The base state is 똑똑하다 (ttok-ttok-ha-da, to be smart). 예쁘기까지 하다 emphasizes that her beauty is an additional, perhaps surprising, quality that adds to her existing intelligence.합니다 (ham-ni-da) denotes a formal present tense. The power of -기까지 하다 lies in its ability to build upon a previous statement, escalating the situation or description to a new, higher, or more impactful degree. It is not merely an additive conjunction; it fundamentally alters the perception of the combined information, creating a sense of heightening or climax.Formation Pattern
-기까지 하다 is remarkably straightforward, as it attaches directly to verb and adjective stems without regard for vowel or consonant endings, or even ㄹ irregulars. This consistency makes it one of the simpler patterns to apply once you understand its components. You simply remove the dictionary form ending -다 from the verb or adjective, then append the full pattern.
-다.
-기: This suffix immediately follows the stem, converting it into a nominalized form. This is crucial for the particle -까지 to attach grammatically.
-까지: This particle is then affixed to the nominalized form, introducing the meaning of "even" or "to the extent of," conveying the emphasis on reaching an extreme.
하다: Finally, the verb 하다 is added. This is the main predicate of the clause and is the part that will be conjugated for tense (past, present, future), mood (declarative, interrogative, imperative, propositive), and politeness level (formal, polite, casual).
-기 | Emphatic with -까지 | Conjugated 하다 (Examples) | Full Example Sentence & Meaning (Romanization) |
가다 (to go) | 가기 | 가기까지 | 해요 / 합니다 / 했어요 / 했습니다 | 그는 밤새도록 게임만 하다가 학교에 지각하기까지 했어요. (Geu-neun bam-sae-do-rok ge-im-man ha-da-ga hak-gyo-e ji-gak-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. He played games all night and even was late for school.) |
먹다 (to eat) | 먹기 | 먹기까지 | 해요 / 합니다 / 했어요 / 했습니다 | 너무 배고파서 밥을 두 그릇이나 먹기까지 했다. (Neo-mu bae-go-pa-seo bap-eul du geu-reut-i-na meok-gi-kka-ji hae-tta. I was so hungry that I even ate two bowls of rice.) |
울다 (to cry) | 울기 | 울기까지 | 해요 / 합니다 / 했어요 / 했습니다 | 그 소식을 듣고 모두가 놀라서 울기까지 했어요. (Geu so-sik-eul deut-go mo-du-ga nol-la-seo ul-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. Hearing that news, everyone was so surprised they even cried.) |
쓰다 (to be bitter) | 쓰기 | 쓰기까지 | 해요 / 합니다 / 했어요 / 했습니다 | 이 약은 맛이 없어서 쓰기까지 해요. (I yak-eun mas-i eop-seo-seo sseu-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. This medicine tastes bad, and it's even bitter.) |
예쁘다 (to be pretty) | 예쁘기 | 예쁘기까지 | 해요 / 합니다 / 했어요 / 했습니다 | 그녀는 노래도 잘 부르고, 춤도 잘 추고, 심지어 예쁘기까지 해요. (Geu-nyeo-neun no-rae-do jal bu-reu-go, chum-do jal chu-go, sim-ji-eo ye-ppeu-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. She sings well, dances well, and is even pretty.) |
어렵다 (to be difficult) | 어렵기 | 어렵기까지 | 해요 / 합니다 / 했어요 / 했습니다 | 그 문제는 복잡하고 풀기 어렵기까지 했어요. (Geu mun-je-neun bok-jap-ha-go pul-gi eo-ryeop-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. That problem was complicated and even difficult to solve.) |
-기까지 portion remains entirely unchanged regardless of the stem it attaches to. All grammatical variations for tense, politeness, and mood are exclusively handled by the verb 하다. This makes the application of -기까지 하다 relatively consistent and predictable once you master the conjugations of 하다 itself. For instance, to express a command with this pattern, you might use …하기까지 하세요 (Please even go so far as to do…), or for a suggestion, …하기까지 합시다 (Let's even go so far as to do…), though these are less common as the pattern inherently emphasizes a state or action rather than directly prompting one.
When To Use It
-기까지 하다 is a versatile pattern primarily used to add emphasis to an action or state that is considered extreme, surprising, or goes beyond initial expectations. It often serves to highlight an additional, sometimes culminating, detail to a situation that has already been described. This pattern can be employed in both positive and negative contexts, conveying a range of emotions from admiration to exasperation or disbelief.- 1Expressing Unexpected Extremity or Surprise: Use this pattern when you want to convey that an action or state has reached an unusual or surprising degree. It implies that the action is more than what was anticipated, making the statement more impactful by highlighting something that exceeds the norm.
그는 시험 기간에 밤을 새우고, 밥도 굶기까지 했다.(Geu-neun si-heom gi-gan-e bam-eul sae-u-go, bap-do gulm-gi-kka-ji hae-tta. He stayed up all night during the exam period, and even skipped meals.) Here,밥도 굶기까지 했다emphasizes the extreme measure of skipping meals on top of staying up all night, presenting it as an unexpected level of dedication or desperation.그 가수는 노래만 잘하는 게 아니라 춤까지 잘 추기까지 해요.(Geu ga-su-neun no-rae-man jal ha-neun ge a-ni-ra chum-kka-ji jal chu-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. That singer not only sings well, but also even dances well.) The dancing is presented as an additional, impressive skill that pushes the admiration further, indicating a surprising breadth of talent.
- 1Highlighting a Climactic or Final Detail: Often,
-기까지 하다is used to introduce a detail that serves as the culmination or the "last straw" in a series of events or descriptions. This makes the final piece of information particularly salient and impactful, often implying that this final detail makes the situation truly extreme.
그는 지각을 자주 하고, 심지어 숙제를 안 하기까지 했다.(Geu-neun ji-gak-eul ja-ju ha-go, sim-ji-eo suk-je-reul an ha-gi-kka-ji hae-tta. He was often late, and what's more, he even didn't do his homework.) The failure to do homework is presented as the final, most egregious offense, pushing the speaker's exasperation to its peak.날씨가 갑자기 추워져서 비가 오더니 눈이 오기까지 했어요.(Nal-ssi-ga gap-ja-gi chu-wo-jyeo-seo bi-ga o-deo-ni nun-i o-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. The weather suddenly got cold, then it rained, and it even snowed.) The snowfall is depicted as the ultimate, unexpected turn in the weather, making the situation truly extreme.
- 1In Conjunction with
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라(Not only... but also): This pattern frequently follows-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라to strengthen the emphasis on the second clause. While-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라(eul ppun-man a-ni-ra) is neutral, simply listing two facts, adding-기까지 하다injects a strong sense of surprise or extremity into the "but also" part, elevating it beyond a mere addition.
이 식당은 맛있는 음식을 팔 뿐만 아니라 가격도 저렴하기까지 해요.(I sik-dang-eun mat-it-neun eum-sik-eul pal ppun-man a-ni-ra ga-gyeok-do jeo-ryeom-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. This restaurant not only sells delicious food, but its prices are even cheap.) The affordability is highlighted as an exceptionally good, surprising quality, making the restaurant even more appealing.그는 공부도 잘할 뿐만 아니라 운동도 잘하기까지 한다.(Geu-neun gong-bu-do jal hal ppun-man a-ni-ra un-dong-do jal ha-gi-kka-ji han-da. He not only studies well, but also even does well in sports.) This emphasizes his exceptional all-around talent, with his athletic prowess being a surprising additional strength.
- 1To Express Disbelief, Exasperation, or Admiration: In both negative and positive situations,
-기까지 하다can convey the speaker's strong emotional reaction – disbelief at how bad things have gotten, exasperation at someone's actions, or profound admiration for exceptional qualities.
내 친구는 약속에 늦고, 사과도 안 하기까지 했어.(Nae chin-gu-neun yak-sok-e neun-go, sa-gwa-do an ha-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo. My friend was late for the appointment, and even didn't apologize.) The lack of apology adds insult to injury, provoking strong exasperation.상황이 너무 나빠져서 회사가 문을 닫기까지 했어요.(Sang-hwang-i neo-mu na-ppa-jyeo-seo hoe-sa-ga mun-eul dat-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. The situation got so bad that the company even closed down.) This expresses shock or dismay at the ultimate, unforeseen outcome, highlighting the extreme nature of the company's fate.
Common Mistakes
-기까지 하다 effectively requires careful attention to its specific nuances, as several common errors can arise among B2 learners. Understanding these pitfalls will help you avoid miscommunication and sound more natural and precise in Korean.- 1Forgetting or Misplacing
-기: One of the most frequent mistakes is omitting the nominalizing suffix-기or attempting to attach-까지 하다directly to the bare verb/adjective stem or to a noun. The-기is an indispensable component because-까지primarily functions by attaching to nouns or nominalized forms. Without it, the sentence structure becomes grammatically incorrect and unintelligible.
- Incorrect:
그녀는 피곤해서 잠까지 했어요.(Geu-nyeo-neun pi-gon-hae-seo jam-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. She was tired, so she even slept.) –잠(jam, sleep, noun) cannot directly combine with-까지 하다to mean "even slept." The verb자다(ja-da, to sleep) must be nominalized first. - Correct:
그녀는 피곤해서 자기까지 했어요.(Geu-nyeo-neun pi-gon-hae-seo ja-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. She was so tired that she even slept.) – Here,자기(ja-gi) is the nominalized form of자다. - Incorrect:
말까지 했어요.(Mal-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. Even talked/said.) – While말까지itself is grammatical (meaning "even words"), it doesn't convey "even said/talked" with the same emphatic nuance. For the action,말하다(mal-ha-da, to speak/say) needs to be nominalized. - Correct:
말하기까지 했어요.(Mal-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. Even said/talked.)
- 1Using it for Simple Conjunctions:
-기까지 하다is not a general-purpose "and" connector. Its primary function is to imply an extreme, surprising, or additional-beyond-expectation element. Using it for simple factual additions where no emphasis or extremity is intended can sound awkward, overly dramatic, or even comical to a native speaker, as it implies a level of significance that isn't present.
- Incorrect:
저는 아침에 빵을 먹고, 우유를 마시기까지 했어요.(Jeo-neun a-chim-e ppang-eul meok-go, u-yu-reul ma-si-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. I ate bread in the morning, and even drank milk.) – Drinking milk after bread is a common, unremarkable action. This usage sounds forced because drinking milk is not an extreme or surprising act following eating bread. - Correct (Simple Conjunction):
저는 아침에 빵을 먹고 우유를 마셨어요.(Jeo-neun a-chim-e ppang-eul meok-go u-yu-reul ma-syeo-sseo-yo. I ate bread and drank milk in the morning.) - Appropriate use for extremity:
저는 너무 배고파서 빵을 두 개나 먹고, 남의 빵까지 먹기까지 했어요.(Jeo-neun neo-mu bae-go-pa-seo ppang-eul du gae-na meok-go, nam-ui ppang-kka-ji meok-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. I was so hungry I ate two breads, and even ate someone else's bread.) (Here, eating someone else's bread is an extreme and surprising action that justifies the use of the pattern).
- 1Incorrect Tense Placement: Learners sometimes attempt to conjugate the verb/adjective stem before
-기까지 하다, or they might try to apply tense to-기itself. This is incorrect. Remember, the tense (past, present, future), politeness, and mood markers always attach exclusively to the final하다verb in the construction. The-기까지portion is fixed.
- Incorrect:
오기까지 왔어요.(O-gi-kka-ji wa-sseo-yo. Even came.) – This is redundant and grammatically flawed because오기(o-gi) is nominalized, and왔어요(wa-sseo-yo) is the past tense of오다(o-da). The tense should only be on the final하다. - Correct:
오기까지 했어요.(O-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. Even came.) - Incorrect:
말했기까지 해요.(Mal-haet-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. Even said.) – Here, the past tense했is incorrectly placed before-기. - Correct:
말하기까지 해요.(Mal-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. Even says.) or말하기까지 했어요.(Mal-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. Even said.)
- 1Confusing with Similar Emphatic Particles: Korean has several particles and patterns that convey emphasis or inclusion, but each carries a subtly different nuance. Understanding the distinctions between
-기까지 하다,-조차,-마저, and the standalone-까지is crucial for precise communication.
-조차(jo-cha, even/as well as): Often used in negative contexts to emphasize that not even the minimum or most basic expectation was met, or to express a negative extreme. It attaches to nouns or adverbs.너무 바빠서 밥조차 못 먹었어요.(Neo-mu ba-ppa-seo bap-jo-cha mot meo-geo-sseo-yo. I was so busy I couldn't even eat rice.) (-기까지 하다cannot be used with a noun like밥directly in this way to mean "even eat.")-마저(ma-jeo, even/also): Similar to-조차, but often implies that the last remaining item or person is also included in a particular action or state, frequently with a negative or regrettable nuance, suggesting a sense of completion in misfortune.믿었던 친구마저 나를 떠났어요.(Mid-eot-deon chin-gu-ma-jeo na-reul tteo-na-sseo-yo. Even the friend I trusted left me.)-까지(kka-ji, up to/even): As a standalone particle,-까지can attach to nouns to mean "even" or "including," but it generally doesn't carry the strong verbal/adjectival emphasis of the full-기까지 하다pattern. It often denotes simple inclusion or an unexpected participant.선생님까지 오셨어요.(Seon-saeng-nim-kka-ji o-syeot-sseo-yo. Even the teacher came.) (Simple inclusion/surprise that the teacher also came).- Compare:
선생님이 가르치기까지 하셨어요.(Seon-saeng-nim-i ga-reu-chi-gi-kka-ji ha-syeot-sseo-yo. The teacher even went so far as to teach us.) (Emphasis on the action of teaching, implying it was beyond expectation or extraordinary, perhaps because the teacher usually just observes.)
-기까지 하다 specifically highlights the extremity of an action or state, making it a unique and powerful tool among Korean emphatic expressions.Real Conversations
-기까지 하다 is a common feature in everyday Korean, used to express surprise, admiration, or sometimes frustration at actions or states that go beyond the ordinary. You'll encounter it in various registers, from casual chat to more formal discussions, reflecting the speaker's emotional investment in the statement. Here are some examples of how it appears in actual dialogue and written communication, showing both formal (-ㅂ/습니다) and casual (-아/어요 or 해체) forms.
Scenario 1
해-요 form)- A: 와, 그 신입 직원 일 진짜 잘하네요! (Wa, geu sin-ip jik-won il jin-jja jal ha-ne-yo! Wow, that new employee works really well!)
- B: 네, 똑똑하고 성격까지 좋기까지 해요. 정말 완벽한 것 같아요. (Ne, ttok-ttok-ha-go seong-gyeok-kka-ji jot-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. Jeong-mal wan-byeok-han geot ga-t-a-yo. Yes, he's smart and even has a good personality. He seems truly perfect.)
(Here, B emphasizes that the employee's good personality is an additional, unexpected positive trait on top of his intelligence, making him seem exceptionally good. The 좋기까지 해요 highlights this bonus quality.)
Scenario 2
해-어 form)- A: 어제 시험 너무 어려웠어. 밤새 공부했는데도 떨어질 것 같아. (Eo-je si-heom neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo-sseo. Bam-sae gong-bu-haet-neun-de-do tteo-reo-jil geot ga-t-a. Yesterday's exam was so hard. I studied all night but I think I'll still fail.)
- B: 나도 너무 힘들었어. 아는 문제 하나도 없어서 그냥 찍기까지 했잖아. (Na-do neo-mu him-deul-eo-sseo. A-neun mun-je ha-na-do eop-seo-seo geu-nyang jjik-gi-kka-ji hae-t-ja-na. I had a really hard time too. I didn't know a single question, so I even just guessed.)
(B uses 찍기까지 했잖아 to convey the extreme level of difficulty and helplessness – guessing is an act of desperation, going beyond normal test-taking strategies. The 잖아 (ja-na) suffix adds a nuance of assuming shared knowledge or reminding.)
Scenario 3
합니다체 form, common in news/reports)- 이번 태풍은 비를 많이 내릴 뿐만 아니라 강한 바람이 불기까지 했습니다. (I-beon tae-pung-eun bi-reul man-i nae-ril ppun-man a-ni-ra gang-han ba-ram-i bul-gi-kka-ji haet-seum-ni-da. This typhoon not only brought a lot of rain, but also even strong winds blew.)
(This formal sentence, often heard in news reports, uses -기까지 했습니다 to emphasize the dual threat of the typhoon – both heavy rain and strong winds – making it particularly severe and newsworthy.)
Scenario 4
해체 or informal declarative)- 오늘 점심에 혼밥했는데 옆자리 사람이 내 밥 먹는 거 쳐다보기까지 함 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ (O-neul jeom-sim-e hon-bap-haet-neun-de yeop-ja-ri sa-ram-i nae bap meok-neun geo chyeo-da-bo-gi-kka-ji ham kekekeke. Ate alone for lunch today, and the person next to me even stared at me eating lolol)
(The use of 쳐다보기까지 함 highlights the awkwardness and unexpected rudeness of the situation. The 함 (ham) ending is a very casual, often declarative or descriptive ending common in online contexts, akin to using a plain form statement.)
Scenario 5
Koreans sometimes use -기까지 하다 for humorous exaggeration in casual settings. It can add a comedic punchline by presenting an absurdly extreme follow-up to a statement, often played for laughs.
- 그는 너무 게을러서 밥 먹을 때도 누워서 먹기까지 한다니까! (Geu-neun neo-mu ge-eul-leo-seo bap meok-eul ttae-do nu-wo-seo meok-gi-kka-ji han-da-ni-kka! He's so lazy, I tell you, he even eats while lying down!)
(This example uses the pattern to humorously exaggerate the person's laziness, making the act of eating while lying down the ultimate, absurd extreme that elicits a chuckle. The -(이)라니까 (i-ra-ni-kka) ending further emphasizes the speaker's incredulity and desire for the listener to believe them.)
These real-world examples illustrate how -기까지 하다 is not just a grammatical rule but a versatile tool for conveying nuanced emotional states and emphasizing critical details in a manner that resonates with native speakers. It moves beyond simple factual reporting to express the speaker's subjective perspective on the intensity of an action or characteristic.
Quick FAQ
-기까지 하다 can help solidify your understanding and clear up any remaining uncertainties, ensuring you can use this expressive pattern with confidence.- Q: Can I use this pattern with adjectives?
Absolutely, yes. As demonstrated in the Formation Pattern, -기까지 하다 attaches seamlessly to both verb and adjective stems. When used with adjectives, it emphasizes that a particular quality or state is present to an unexpected or extreme degree, often in addition to another quality previously mentioned. For example, 그 가방은 예쁘고 가볍기까지 해요. (Geu ga-bang-eun ye-ppeu-go ga-byeop-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. That bag is pretty and even light.) Here, the lightness (가볍다, ga-byeop-da) is an additional, desirable quality that elevates the bag's appeal beyond just being pretty.
- Q: Is
-기까지 하다formal or casual? How do I adjust the politeness level?
The politeness and formality of the entire expression are determined entirely by the conjugation of the final 하다. The -기까지 part itself remains constant and neutral in terms of formality. This means you can easily adapt the pattern to suit various social contexts, from highly formal situations to casual conversations.
- Formal:
그는 거짓말하기까지 합니다.(Geu-neun geo-jit-mal-ha-gi-kka-ji ham-ni-da. He even lies.) – Uses합니다, the formal declarative ending. - Polite:
그는 거짓말하기까지 해요.(Geu-neun geo-jit-mal-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. He even lies.) – Uses해요, the polite declarative ending. - Casual:
그는 거짓말하기까지 해.(Geu-neun geo-jit-mal-ha-gi-kka-ji hae. He even lies.) – Uses해, the casual declarative ending.
- Q: Can I drop the
하다part?
Generally, no. The 하다 is crucial as the main verb that carries the sentence's tense and acts as the predicate, completing the thought. However, in very informal or exclamatory contexts, or when trailing off in thought, you might sometimes hear or see the -기까지 portion alone, with the final 하다 being implied due to context. This is similar to how English speakers might say, "He even went so far as to..." and leave the final verb implied. For complete, grammatically sound sentences and clear communication, especially in writing or formal speaking, always include the fully conjugated 하다.
- Example of implied
하다(informal, exclamatory):그가 나를 무시하기까지!(Geu-ga na-reul mu-si-ha-gi-kka-ji! He even ignored me! [Implied:했다or했어]) – This is an emotional, incomplete utterance rather than a standard sentence.
- Q: Can
-기까지 하다be used directly with nouns?
No, the pattern -기까지 하다 itself is specifically constructed for verb and adjective stems, as it fundamentally incorporates the nominalizer -기. If you want to say "even a noun" or "up to a noun," you would typically use the particle -까지 directly attached to the noun without the -기 or 하다. For example: 물까지 마셨어요. (Mul-kka-ji ma-syeot-sseo-yo. I even drank water.) rather than trying to force -기까지 하다 with an existing noun. Remember, -기 specifically converts an action or state into a noun-like concept, not for attaching to existing nouns.
- Q: Does
-기까지 하다always imply something negative?
Not at all. While it frequently appears in contexts of disbelief, exasperation, or describing undesirable extremes, it can equally convey strong admiration or positive surprise. The nuance (positive, negative, or neutral surprise) depends entirely on the verb or adjective used and the surrounding context of the sentence.
- Positive context:
그는 똑똑하고 친절하기까지 해요.(Geu-neun ttok-ttok-ha-go chin-jeol-ha-gi-kka-ji hae-yo. He is smart and even kind.) – Expresses admiration for an additional positive trait. - Negative context:
그는 게으르고 약속을 어기기까지 했어요.(Geu-neun ge-eul-leo-go yak-sok-eul eo-gi-gi-kka-ji hae-sseo-yo. He is lazy and even broke his promise.) – Expresses frustration at an additional negative action.
Conjugation Table
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
Verb-기까지 하다
|
먹기까지 하다
|
|
Past
|
Verb-기까지 했다
|
먹기까지 했다
|
|
Future
|
Verb-기까지 할 것이다
|
먹기까지 할 것이다
|
|
Negative
|
Verb-기까지 안 하다
|
먹기까지 안 하다
|
|
Polite
|
Verb-기까지 해요
|
먹기까지 해요
|
|
Formal
|
Verb-기까지 합니다
|
먹기까지 합니다
|
Meanings
This grammar expresses that an action or state is so extreme that it goes beyond what is normally expected or considered reasonable.
Surprising Extreme
Highlighting an action that is shocking or unexpected.
“그녀는 공부를 너무 많이 해서 병이 나기까지 했다.”
“그는 친구를 배신하고 거짓말까지 했다.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
V-기까지 하다
|
가기까지 하다
|
|
Past
|
V-기까지 했다
|
가기까지 했다
|
|
Negative
|
V-기까지 안 하다
|
가기까지 안 하다
|
|
Question
|
V-기까지 해요?
|
가기까지 해요?
|
|
Future
|
V-기까지 할 거예요
|
가기까지 할 거예요
|
|
Honorific
|
V-기까지 하십니다
|
가기까지 하십니다
|
Formality Spectrum
그는 울기까지 했습니다. (Describing someone's reaction.)
그는 울기까지 했어요. (Describing someone's reaction.)
그는 울기까지 했어. (Describing someone's reaction.)
걔 울기까지 하더라. (Describing someone's reaction.)
The Extreme Scale
Normal
- 먹다 eat
Extreme
- 먹기까지 하다 even eat
Examples by Level
너무 배가 고파서 다 먹기까지 했어요.
I was so hungry that I even ate everything.
너무 피곤해서 울기까지 했어요.
I was so tired that I even cried.
비가 와서 집에 있기까지 했어요.
It rained, so I even stayed home.
그는 웃기까지 했어요.
He even laughed.
그는 화가 나서 소리를 지르기까지 했어요.
He was so angry that he even shouted.
시험이 어려워서 포기하기까지 했어요.
The test was hard, so I even gave up.
너무 더워서 에어컨을 켜기까지 했어요.
It was so hot that I even turned on the AC.
그녀는 나를 기다리기까지 했어요.
She even waited for me.
그는 거짓말을 하고 나를 속이기까지 했어요.
He lied and even deceived me.
너무 놀라서 아무 말도 못 하기까지 했어요.
I was so surprised that I couldn't even speak.
그는 돈을 빌리고 갚지 않기까지 했어요.
He borrowed money and even didn't pay it back.
그들은 싸우고 헤어지기까지 했어요.
They fought and even broke up.
그는 회사를 그만두고 이민을 가기까지 했어요.
He quit his job and even emigrated.
정부는 법을 바꾸고 세금을 올리기까지 했어요.
The government changed the law and even raised taxes.
그녀는 밤을 새워 공부하고 시험을 치기까지 했어요.
She stayed up all night studying and even took the exam.
그는 범죄를 저지르고 도망가기까지 했어요.
He committed a crime and even ran away.
그는 자신의 신념을 저버리고 권력에 굴복하기까지 했어요.
He abandoned his beliefs and even succumbed to power.
그는 모든 재산을 기부하고 산속으로 들어가기까지 했어요.
He donated all his wealth and even retreated into the mountains.
그는 논문을 발표하고 학계의 인정을 받기까지 했어요.
He published his thesis and even received recognition from the academic community.
그는 위기를 극복하고 새로운 사업을 시작하기까지 했어요.
He overcame the crisis and even started a new business.
그는 역사의 흐름을 바꾸고 새로운 시대를 열기까지 했어요.
He changed the course of history and even ushered in a new era.
그는 예술적 한계를 뛰어넘고 새로운 장르를 개척하기까지 했어요.
He transcended artistic boundaries and even pioneered a new genre.
그는 고난을 인내하고 결국 목표를 달성하기까지 했어요.
He endured the hardships and eventually even achieved his goal.
그는 진실을 밝히고 부패를 척결하기까지 했어요.
He revealed the truth and even eradicated corruption.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'even', but -조차 is for nouns.
Both add emphasis, but -도 is just 'also'.
Both express intensity.
Common Mistakes
먹다까지 하다
먹기까지 하다
먹기까지
먹기까지 하다
먹기까지 했다가
먹기까지 했다
먹기까지는 하다
먹기까지 하다
사과하기까지 하다
사과하기까지 했다
그는 가기까지
그는 가기까지 했다
가기까지 안 했다
가지까지 안 했다
가기까지는 했다
가기까지 했다
가기까지 했어라
가기까지 했다
가기까지 했음
가기까지 했다
가기까지 했었던 것이다
가기까지 했다
가기까지 하였더라
가기까지 했다
가기까지 했고
가기까지 했다
Sentence Patterns
너무 ___해서 ___기까지 했어요.
그는 ___를 넘어 ___기까지 했어요.
상황이 너무 안 좋아서 ___기까지 했어요.
그는 ___를 달성하기 위해 ___기까지 했어요.
Real World Usage
그는 나를 차단하기까지 했어!
너무 화나서 울기까지 했음.
저는 프로젝트를 위해 밤을 새우기까지 했습니다.
비행기가 연착되어 공항에서 자기까지 했어요.
배달이 너무 늦어서 취소하기까지 했어요.
폭우로 인해 도로가 침수되기까지 했습니다.
Double Emphasis
심지어 (simjieo - even/what's worse) at the start of the sentence for maximum dramatic effect: 심지어 비가 오기까지 했어요!Pronunciation
했, the double ss sound carries over. It sounds stronger than a normal 해. Make sure to stress the 까지 slightly to emphasize the 'even' part.Reactions
Smart Tips
Use -기까지 하다 to emphasize the worst part.
Use it to show how much you worked.
Use it to show disbelief.
Use it to emphasize a point.
Pronunciation
Linking
The '기' and '까' are pronounced clearly. The '지' in '까지' is often aspirated.
Emphasis
울기까지↗ 했어요↘
Rising on the extreme part to show surprise.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '기' as the 'key' to the extreme door. When you add '까지' (until/up to), you've reached the extreme limit.
Visual Association
Imagine a person walking up a hill. They reach the top (까지), and then they do something crazy like jumping off (기까지 하다).
Rhyme
Verb stem plus 기까지, extreme actions you will see.
Story
Min-su was angry. He yelled at his boss. He didn't stop there. He quit his job. He even moved to another country. He quit and moved (이민 가기까지 했다).
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about a bad day using -기까지 하다.
Cultural Notes
Used frequently in 'venting' culture where people share their frustrations.
Derived from the nominalizer -기 and the limitative particle -까지.
Conversation Starters
오늘 가장 놀랐던 일이 뭐예요?
너무 화가 났던 적이 있어요?
가장 힘들었던 경험을 말해줄 수 있어요?
친구가 실망시킨 적이 있나요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
그는 화가 나서 물건을 ___까지 했다.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
그는 사과하기까지는 했다.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
He even lied.
Answer starts with: a...
A: 왜 화가 났어요? B: 그가 나를 ___.
Use '포기하다' and '너무 힘들다'.
Which is the extreme grammar?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises그는 화가 나서 물건을 ___까지 했다.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
그는 사과하기까지는 했다.
울기까지 / 너무 / 해서 / 했어요 / 피곤
He even lied.
A: 왜 화가 났어요? B: 그가 나를 ___.
Use '포기하다' and '너무 힘들다'.
Which is the extreme grammar?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises그는 지각을 하고 ___까지 냈어요. (He was late and even got angry.)
The bag is pretty and [even cheap]. (싸다)
Arrange: [청소까지], [했어요], [그는], [요리하고], [하기].
Select the sentence with the strongest emphasis.
아기가 걷기까지 해요? (Is the baby even walking?) - Context: Baby is only 3 months old.
Match correctly.
바람이 불고 비가 ___까지 했다. (The wind blew and it even rained.)
자다 (to sleep)
[울기까지], [아이는], [소리지르고], [했어요]. (The child screamed and even cried.)
그만두다 (to quit)
물만 마시기까지 했어요. (I even only drank water.)
이 휴대폰은 기능이 많고 ___까지 해요. (This phone has many features and is even light.) - 가볍다 (light)
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Most action verbs work well. Descriptive verbs are less common but possible if they imply a change.
It can be used in any register by changing the ending of '하다'.
-기까지 하다 is for verbs, -조차 is for nouns.
Yes, '먹기까지 할 것이다' is grammatically correct.
No, it can be used for positive achievements too, like 'He even won the gold medal'.
It acts as the auxiliary verb that carries the tense and politeness.
Yes, '그가 정말 울기까지 했어요?' (Did he really even cry?)
Yes, it is very common in essays and news reports.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
incluso
Korean requires nominalization of the verb.
même
Korean structure is strictly tied to the verb.
sogar
Korean is a suffix construction.
〜さえ
Japanese particle attaches to nouns/verbs differently.
甚至
Chinese places it before the verb.
حتى
Arabic is a preposition.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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Present Progressive: -ing (고 있다)
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To the Absolute Max: (-ㄹ/을 대로)
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Just/Only: Emphatic Limitation (-ㄹ/을 뿐이다)
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Logically Likely: -ㄹ/을 법하다
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