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-을 뻔하다Korean expression · TOPIK 4

-eul ppeonhada

TOPIK 4 4급Expressions 표현2 senses

One expression with 2 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

형태Forms

-을 뻔하다-ㄹ 뻔하다

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

An expression used to indicate that the incident mentioned in the preceding statement did not happen, but that it was close.

앞말이 나타내는 일이 일어나지는 않았지만 일어나기 직전의 상태까지 갔음을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사와 형용사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

지수는 부모님의 사고 소식을 듣고 정신을 잃을 뻔했다.

Jisu nearly fainted when she heard the news of her parents' accident.

출퇴근 시간이라 지하철을 타지 않았으면 약속 시간에 늦을 뻔했다.

If I hadn't taken the subway during rush hour, I would have almost been late for the appointment.

유민이는 여자 친구의 헤어지자는 말을 듣고 그 자리에 주저앉을 뻔했다.

Yumin nearly collapsed on the spot when she heard her girlfriend say she wanted to break up.

대화In conversation

승규야, 내일 아홉 시에 도서관에서 모이는 거 알지?

Seunggyu, you know we're meeting at the library at nine tomorrow, right?

아, 맞다. 네가 말해 주지 않았으면 잊을 뻔했어.

Oh, right. If you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten.

An expression used to exaggerate a certain past state.

과거의 어떤 상태를 과장하여 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

주로 구어에서 ‘-(아)서 죽을 뻔했다’로 쓴다.

예문Examples

아침을 못 먹었더니 배가 고파 죽을 뻔했어.

I didn't eat breakfast, so I was starving to death.

혼자 이삿짐을 다 옮기느라 힘들어서 죽을 뻔했다.

I was moving all my stuff alone, so I was exhausted to death.

주말에 약속도 없고 만날 친구도 없어서 심심해 죽을 뻔했어요.

I had no plans and no friends to meet on the weekend, so I was bored to death.

대화In conversation

얼마 전에 개봉한 공포 영화가 재밌다던데 봤어?

I heard the horror movie that came out recently is good. Did you see it?

응, 봤어. 그런데 무섭지도 않고 예전 영화들이랑 비슷해서 지루해 죽을 뻔했어.

Yeah, I saw it. But it wasn't scary and it was similar to old movies, so I was bored to death.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-고 들다 -go deulda An expression used to press someone to do the preceding act. TOPIK 4 -고 보다 -go boda An expression indicating that the action implied by the preceding word is done first and the subsequent events are thought about later. TOPIK 4 -고 해서 -go haeseo An expression used to state that the content of the preceding statement is one of several reasons for doing the act mentioned in the following… TOPIK 4 -나 싶다 -na sipda An expression used to indicate that the speaker is making a subjective and uncertain guess about the preceding statement. TOPIK 4 -는 김에 -neun gime -ㄴ 김에 · -은 김에 An expression used to indicate that one is doing a certain act, after the act mentioned in the preceding statement or while doing a similar behavior… TOPIK 4 -는 대로 -neun daero -ㄴ 대로 · -은 대로 An expression used to indicate that something is the same as the present act or state mentioned in the preceding statement. TOPIK 4

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -을 뻔하다 mean in Korean?

-을 뻔하다 is a expression introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). An expression used to indicate that the incident mentioned in the preceding statement did not happen, but that it was close. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -을 뻔하다?

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ. The other shape is -ㄹ 뻔하다 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -을 뻔하다 and -ㄹ 뻔하다?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same expression, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -을 뻔하다?

4급 — TOPIK 4, upper intermediate. It is one of 67 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.