Explanation at your level:
You use 끝나다 when something is finished. If your class is over, you say '수업이 끝났어요.' It is a very simple word for 'The End.'
Use this word to talk about your daily schedule. '오늘 몇 시에 일이 끝나나요?' (What time does work finish today?) It helps you organize your day with friends.
You can use this to describe the conclusion of abstract things like relationships or long-term projects. It is useful for expressing that a phase of life has concluded.
In professional settings, use this to discuss deadlines. You might say '프로젝트가 예상보다 일찍 끝났습니다' to report that a task was completed ahead of schedule.
Advanced speakers use this in figurative ways. You might describe a '끝없는 논쟁' (endless debate) to emphasize the futility of a situation. It adds nuance to discussions about time and persistence.
At this level, you recognize the subtle difference between 끝나다 (intransitive) and 끝내다 (transitive). Mastery involves using these in complex literary structures to describe the finality of historical eras or philosophical concepts.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means 'to end' or 'to finish'.
- It is an intransitive verb (use -이/가).
- The noun form is '끝'.
- Essential for daily scheduling.
끝나다 is one of the most essential verbs in the Korean language. It translates to 'to finish' or 'to end.' Think of it as the moment a clock strikes the final second of a class or when the credits roll on a movie.
Because it is an intransitive verb, it describes the state of the subject finishing, rather than someone finishing an object. You don't 'finish' the homework with this verb; rather, the homework 'finishes.' It is a very natural way to express that a process has reached its natural conclusion.
The word 끝나다 is derived from the noun 끝 (end/tip) combined with the suffix -나다. In Middle Korean, 끝 referred to the physical tip or edge of an object, like the point of a needle or the edge of a cliff.
Over time, the concept of a physical 'edge' evolved into the abstract concept of a 'conclusion' in time. This is a common linguistic shift seen in many languages, where spatial boundaries become temporal boundaries. It has remained a staple of the Korean vocabulary for centuries, representing the finality of existence.
You use 끝나다 when talking about schedules, events, or states of being. It is extremely common in casual conversation, such as saying 'The meeting is over' (회의가 끝났어요). It is also used in formal settings, though you might encounter the Sino-Korean equivalent 종료되다 in very technical or legal documents.
Common collocations include 수업이 끝나다 (class ends) or 일이 끝나다 (work ends). Remember that because it is intransitive, it usually pairs with the subject particle -이/가 rather than the object particle -을/를.
1. 끝이 없다: To have no end (endless). Example: '욕심은 끝이 없다' (Greed has no end).
2. 끝장을 보다: To see something through to the bitter end. Example: '이번 일은 끝장을 볼 거야' (I will see this through to the end).
3. 끝내주다: To be fantastic/amazing (literally: to make it end). Example: '이 음식 맛이 끝내줘요!' (This food tastes amazing!).
4. 끝에: At the end of. Example: '긴 여행 끝에 집에 왔다' (I came home at the end of a long trip).
5. 끝물이다: To be at the very end of a season or period. Example: '딸기가 이제 끝물이다' (Strawberries are at the end of their season).
끝나다 is a regular verb. In the past tense, it becomes 끝났다. In the present polite form, it is 끝나요. The pronunciation is tricky because of the double consonant ㄲ and the nasalization that occurs at the junction.
When 끝 (kkeut) meets 나다 (nada), the ㅌ sound often blends into the ㄴ sound, making it sound like '끈나다' (kkeun-na-da). Practice saying it slowly to ensure the ㄲ sound is sharp and distinct from a regular ㄱ sound.
Fun Fact
The evolution from 'tip' to 'end' reflects how humans conceptualize time as a line.
Pronunciation Guide
Sharp 'kk' sound, followed by nasal 'n'.
Similar to Korean native pronunciation.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'kk' as 'g'
- Not nasalizing the 'tn' sound
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read
Requires particle knowledge
Easy to pronounce
Commonly heard
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Intransitive Verbs
문이 열리다
Past Tense
먹었다
Subject Particles
이/가
Examples by Level
영화가 끝났어요.
Movie-subject finished.
Past tense.
수업이 끝나요.
Class-subject finishes.
Present tense.
파티가 끝났어요.
Party-subject finished.
Past tense.
비가 끝났어요.
Rain-subject stopped.
Used for weather.
게임이 끝나요.
Game-subject finishes.
Present tense.
오늘 일이 끝나요.
Today work finishes.
Daily schedule.
시험이 끝났어요.
Exam-subject finished.
Relief context.
이야기가 끝나요.
Story-subject finishes.
Narrative context.
회의가 5시에 끝납니다.
겨울이 끝나가고 있어요.
그 드라마는 어제 끝났어요.
전화 통화가 끝났어요.
연극이 곧 끝날 거예요.
여름 방학이 끝났어요.
콘서트가 너무 빨리 끝났어요.
기다림이 끝났어요.
협상이 원만하게 끝났습니다.
그와의 관계는 여기서 끝이에요.
모든 노력이 허무하게 끝났어요.
긴장된 상황이 드디어 끝났습니다.
계약 기간이 끝날 때가 됐어요.
그 소문은 여기서 끝내야 합니다.
준비가 끝나면 알려주세요.
인생이 끝난 것 같은 기분이에요.
프로젝트가 성공적으로 끝났음을 알립니다.
그의 열정은 끝이 보이지 않습니다.
논쟁은 결국 아무 결론 없이 끝났어요.
이것으로 우리의 할 일은 끝난 셈입니다.
모든 것이 끝났다고 생각했을 때 시작되었습니다.
그의 화려한 선수 생활이 끝났습니다.
사건이 미궁 속으로 끝났어요.
기나긴 여정이 끝을 맺었습니다.
그의 오만함이 결국 파멸로 끝났습니다.
이 사태가 어떻게 끝날지 아무도 모릅니다.
그녀의 예술적 영감은 끝이 없습니다.
역사의 한 페이지가 이렇게 끝나는군요.
그의 권력은 허무하게 끝을 보았습니다.
이 갈등은 끝날 기미가 보이지 않습니다.
모든 비극은 결국 끝이 있기 마련입니다.
그의 인생은 파란만장하게 끝났습니다.
그의 철학적 사유는 끝없는 탐구의 연속입니다.
제국은 내부의 분열로 인해 끝을 맞이했습니다.
우리의 운명은 여기서 끝나는 것일까요?
그의 행보는 전설로 끝을 맺었습니다.
이 문명은 찬란했던 시절을 끝으로 사라졌습니다.
그의 고뇌는 끝을 알 수 없는 심연과 같습니다.
모든 존재는 언젠가 끝을 향해 나아갑니다.
그의 마지막은 평온하게 끝났습니다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"끝내주다"
To be amazing/fantastic.
오늘 날씨가 끝내주네요!
casual"끝장을 보다"
To settle a matter once and for all.
오늘 이 문제를 끝장을 봅시다.
neutral"끝이 안 보이다"
To seem endless.
이 공사는 끝이 안 보여요.
neutral"끝물이다"
To be at the end of a season.
이제 수박도 끝물이에요.
neutral"끝까지 가다"
To go all the way/persist.
우리는 끝까지 갈 거예요.
neutral"끝을 맺다"
To conclude/wrap up.
이제 발표를 끝을 맺겠습니다.
formalEasily Confused
Transitive vs Intransitive
끝내다 = I finish something; 끝나다 = It finishes.
숙제를 끝내다 vs 숙제가 끝나다.
Both mean stop
그치다 is for weather/actions; 끝나다 is for events.
비가 그치다 vs 영화가 끝나다.
Both mean finish
마치다 is more formal/deliberate.
시험을 마치다 vs 시험이 끝나다.
Formal synonym
종료되다 is for systems/contracts.
계약이 종료되다 vs 일이 끝나다.
Sentence Patterns
[Subject]이/가 끝나다
회의가 끝났어요.
[Time]에 끝나다
5시에 끝나요.
거의 다 끝나다
거의 다 끝났어요.
끝이 없다
욕심은 끝이 없다.
끝을 보다
끝을 보고 싶어요.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
끝나다 is intransitive; use 끝내다 for transitive.
The meeting is the subject, not the object.
Sometimes 'stop' or 'expire' is better.
Grammar structure is crucial.
끝나다 is a verb, not a noun.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Put a 'Stop' sign at the end of your mental hallway.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to signal the end of a meeting.
Cultural Insight
Koreans value promptness; '끝나다' is often used to check schedules.
Grammar Shortcut
If you see -이/가, use 끝나다.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'kk' tension.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it with objects.
Did You Know?
It's one of the first 500 words learned.
Study Smart
Make a list of things that 'end' in your day.
Listen Closely
Native speakers nasalize the 'tn' sound.
Casual usage
Just say '끝!' to mean 'Done!'
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'K'nife cutting a line at the 'end'.
Visual Association
A clock striking 12.
Word Web
Challenge
Say '오늘 수업 끝!' at the end of your study session.
Word Origin
Korean native
Original meaning: Tip/Edge
Cultural Context
None.
Directly correlates to 'to end' or 'to finish'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At School
- 수업이 언제 끝나요?
- 숙제 다 끝났어요.
- 시험이 끝났어요.
At Work
- 회의가 방금 끝났습니다.
- 오늘 일 끝나요.
- 프로젝트가 끝났어요.
Travel
- 여행이 끝났어요.
- 투어가 끝나가요.
- 일정이 끝났습니다.
Entertainment
- 영화가 끝났어요.
- 드라마가 끝나요.
- 콘서트가 끝났어요.
Conversation Starters
"오늘 몇 시에 일이 끝나나요?"
"가장 좋아하는 영화가 어떻게 끝나나요?"
"당신의 하루는 보통 어떻게 끝나나요?"
"끝이 없는 이야기에 대해 들어본 적 있나요?"
"무언가를 끝내고 가장 기뻤던 적은 언제인가요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a day that felt like it would never end.
Describe a project you recently finished.
What do you do when a long week finally ends?
Reflect on a book or movie that had a surprising ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is intransitive.
Use '일을 끝냈어요'.
Rarely, usually for events or states.
끝.
It is neutral and used everywhere.
Yes, 만나다.
Yes, '비가 끝났어요' (though '그쳤어요' is more common).
Think of the 'end' of a line.
Test Yourself
수업이 ___.
Intransitive verb needed.
Which is the correct past tense?
Past tense requires -았/었-.
끝내다 is the same as 끝나다.
One is transitive, one is intransitive.
Word
Meaning
Distinction is key.
Standard subject-adverb-verb structure.
그의 열정은 ___이 없다.
Idiom '끝이 없다'.
What does '끝' mean?
Basic noun meaning.
You use -을/를 with 끝나다.
It uses -이/가.
Word
Meaning
Idiom matching.
Philosophical statement.
Score: /10
Summary
끝나다 describes the natural conclusion of events, while 끝내다 is used when you actively finish something yourself.
- Means 'to end' or 'to finish'.
- It is an intransitive verb (use -이/가).
- The noun form is '끝'.
- Essential for daily scheduling.
Memory Palace Trick
Put a 'Stop' sign at the end of your mental hallway.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to signal the end of a meeting.
Cultural Insight
Koreans value promptness; '끝나다' is often used to check schedules.
Grammar Shortcut
If you see -이/가, use 끝나다.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
정도
A2An approximate amount or degree.
위에
A1on top of
절대적
B2Being unconditional, unlimited, or not relative to anything else. It describes something that is certain, total, or supreme without comparison.
절대로
A2Never, absolutely not.
우연적이다
B2To be accidental or coincidental; happening by chance.
우연히
B1By chance, accidentally, or unexpectedly. Often used in TOEFL listening narratives or history passages about accidental discoveries.
데리다
A1To take (a person); to pick up.
따라
A2Along, according to.
