-아/어 버리다 expresses complete or irreversible action. It means "finish [verb]-ing completely," "end up [verb]-ing," or "do [verb] and be done with it." It often conveys finality, sometimes with a sense of regret, relief, or determination.
Structure
Verb stem + -아/어 버리다
Breakdown:
- -아/어: Connective ending (vowel harmony)
- 버리다: To throw away, discard
Literal meaning: "Do [verb] and throw it away" → "Do completely"
Vowel Harmony Rules
Bright Vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ): -아 버리다
Last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 가다 → 가 버리다 (go completely/leave)
- 잊다 → 잊어 버리다 (forget completely)
- 죽다 → 죽어 버리다 (die)
- 팔다 → 팔아 버리다 (sell off)
Dark Vowels: -어 버리다
Last vowel is NOT ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 먹다 → 먹어 버리다 (eat up completely)
- 쓰다 → 써 버리다 (use up completely)
- 버리다 → 버려 버리다 (throw away completely)
- 잃다 → 잃어 버리다 (lose completely)
하다 Verbs: -해 버리다
All 하다 verbs:
- 하다 → 해 버리다 (do completely)
- 끝내다 → 끝내 버리다 (finish completely)
- 포기하다 → 포기해 버리다 (give up completely)
- 말하다 → 말해 버리다 (say it/speak out)
Conjugation
Present Tense
Formal: -아/어 버립니다
Polite: -아/어 버려요
Casual: -아/어 버려
Past Tense
Formal: -아/어 버렸습니다
Polite: -아/어 버렸어요
Casual: -아/어 버렸어
Future/Intention
Formal: -아/어 버릴 것입니다
Polite: -아/어 버릴 거예요
Casual: -아/어 버릴 거야
Core Meanings
1. Complete/Thorough Action
Doing something completely:
- 다 먹어 버렸어요 (ate it all up)
- 다 써 버렸어요 (used it all up)
- 책을 다 읽어 버렸어요 (finished reading the book)
2. Finality/Irreversibility
Something done that can't be undone:
- 잊어 버렸어요 (forgot completely - can't remember)
- 잃어 버렸어요 (lost it - it's gone)
- 죽어 버렸어요 (died - it's over)
3. Regret/Unfortunate Outcome
Something done that one regrets:
- 말해 버렸어요 (ended up saying it - wish I hadn't)
- 사 버렸어요 (ended up buying - maybe shouldn't have)
- 화내 버렸어요 (got angry - regret it)
4. Relief/Getting It Over With
Glad something is done:
- 끝내 버렸어요 (finished it - glad it's done)
- 버려 버렸어요 (threw it away - good riddance)
- 정리해 버렸어요 (cleaned it up - finally)
5. Determination/Resolution
Doing something decisively:
- 그냥 해 버릴 거예요 (I'll just do it)
- 말해 버릴게요 (I'll go ahead and say it)
- 사 버릴래요 (I'll just buy it)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 먹어 버립니다 (eat up completely)
- 가 버립니다 (go away completely)
- 끝내 버립니다 (finish completely)
Polite (해요체)
- 먹어 버려요 (eat up completely)
- 가 버려요 (go away completely)
- 끝내 버려요 (finish completely)
Casual (반말)
- 먹어 버려 (eat up completely)
- 가 버려 (go away completely)
- 끝내 버려 (finish completely)
Common Usage Patterns
Consumption/Depletion
Using something up:
- 돈을 다 써 버렸어요 (spent all the money)
- 음식을 다 먹어 버렸어요 (ate all the food)
- 배터리가 다 닳아 버렸어요 (battery died completely)
Loss/Disappearance
Losing something completely:
- 열쇠를 잃어 버렸어요 (lost the keys)
- 지갑을 잃어 버렸어요 (lost the wallet)
- 기회를 놓쳐 버렸어요 (missed the opportunity)
Forgetting
Memory loss:
- 이름을 잊어 버렸어요 (forgot the name)
- 약속을 잊어 버렸어요 (forgot the appointment)
- 다 잊어 버렸어요 (forgot everything)
Destruction/Breaking
Irreversible damage:
- 깨져 버렸어요 (broke completely)
- 망가져 버렸어요 (got ruined)
- 찢어져 버렸어요 (ripped/tore)
Emotional Actions
Actions with emotional implications:
- 울어 버렸어요 (ended up crying)
- 화내 버렸어요 (got angry)
- 포기해 버렸어요 (gave up)
- 후회해 버렸어요 (regretted it)
Speaking Out
Saying something (often regrettably):
- 비밀을 말해 버렸어요 (told the secret)
- 진실을 말해 버렸어요 (spoke the truth)
- 거짓말해 버렸어요 (ended up lying)
Common Expressions
Completion Phrases
- 다 해 버렸어요 (finished doing everything)
- 끝내 버렸어요 (finished it all)
- 정리해 버렸어요 (cleaned it all up)
Regret Phrases
- 말해 버렸어요 (said it - oh no)
- 보내 버렸어요 (sent it - oops)
- 지워 버렸어요 (deleted it - regret)
Determination Phrases
- 그냥 해 버릴게요 (I'll just do it)
- 사 버릴래요 (I'll just buy it)
- 먹어 버릴래요 (I'll just eat it)
Loss Phrases
- 잃어 버렸어요 (lost it)
- 잊어 버렸어요 (forgot it)
- 놓쳐 버렸어요 (missed it)
Emotional Nuances
Regret/Disappointment
Wish it hadn't happened:
- 실수해 버렸어요 (made a mistake)
- 늦어 버렸어요 (got late - missed it)
- 화내 버렸어요 (got angry - regret it)
Relief/Satisfaction
Glad it's done:
- 드디어 끝내 버렸어요 (finally finished it)
- 버려 버렸어요 (threw it away - good)
- 정리해 버렸어요 (organized it - relief)
Frustration
Unfortunate outcome:
- 망가져 버렸어요 (it broke - frustrating)
- 잊어 버렸어요 (forgot - annoying)
- 놓쳐 버렸어요 (missed - frustrated)
Negative Forms
Didn't Do Completely
안 -아/어 버리다:
- 안 먹어 버렸어요 (didn't eat it all)
- 안 버려 버렸어요 (didn't throw it away)
-아/어 버리지 않다:
- 먹어 버리지 않았어요 (didn't eat it all)
- 버려 버리지 않았어요 (didn't throw away)
Commands Not To
-아/어 버리지 마세요:
- 잊어 버리지 마세요 (Don't forget it)
- 버려 버리지 마세요 (Don't throw it away)
- 포기해 버리지 마세요 (Don't give up)
Question Forms
Asking If Something's Done
Did you do it completely?:
- 다 먹어 버렸어요? (Did you eat it all?)
- 끝내 버렸어요? (Did you finish it?)
- 잊어 버렸어요? (Did you forget?)
Shall I Do It?
Offering to do completely:
- 버려 버릴까요? (Shall I throw it away?)
- 지워 버릴까요? (Shall I delete it?)
Common Contractions
Casual Speech
버려 often shortened:
- 먹어 버려요 → 먹어버려요 → 먹어버려
- 가 버려요 → 가버려요 → 가버려
Very casual:
- 먹어 버렸어 → 먹어버렸어 → 먹버렸어
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Regret
A: 비밀 말했어요?
(Did you tell the secret?)
B: 네... 실수로 말해 버렸어요.
(Yes... I accidentally said it.)
A: 어떡해요!
(What do we do!)
Dialogue 2: Completion
A: 숙제 다 했어요?
(Did you finish the homework?)
B: 네, 어제 다 해 버렸어요.
(Yes, I finished it all yesterday.)
Dialogue 3: Loss
A: 지갑 어디 있어요?
(Where's your wallet?)
B: 어디 잃어 버렸어요. 못 찾겠어요.
(I lost it somewhere. I can't find it.)
Dialogue 4: Determination
A: 정말 살 거예요?
(Are you really going to buy it?)
B: 네, 그냥 사 버릴게요.
(Yes, I'll just buy it.)
Dialogue 5: Relief
A: 청소 다 했어요?
(Did you finish cleaning?)
B: 네, 드디어 다 정리해 버렸어요.
(Yes, I finally organized everything.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 먹어 버려 있어요
Mixing -아/어 버리다 with -아/어 있다
✅ Correct: 먹어 버렸어요
Use simple past tense
❌ Incorrect: 아름다워 버려요
Using with adjectives
✅ Correct: Only use with verbs
-아/어 버리다 is for actions, not states
❌ Incorrect: 먹어 버립니다 (neutral tone when expressing regret)
Not matching emotional nuance
✅ Correct: 먹어 버렸어요... (with regretful tone)
Match tone to emotional context
Usage Notes
When to Use -아/어 버리다
Use when:
- Action is complete and irreversible
- Expressing regret about an action
- Emphasizing finality
- Showing determination to do something
- Something is consumed or used up
- Expressing relief that something is done
Common with:
- Verbs of loss: 잃다, 잊다
- Verbs of consumption: 먹다, 쓰다
- Verbs of communication: 말하다
- Verbs of completion: 끝내다, 하다
- Verbs of destruction: 깨다, 망가지다
Summary Table
| Verb | -아/어 버리다 Form | Nuance/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 | 먹어 버렸어요 | Ate it all up |
| 잊다 | 잊어 버렸어요 | Forgot completely |
| 잃다 | 잃어 버렸어요 | Lost it (it's gone) |
| 버리다 | 버려 버렸어요 | Threw it away |
| 말하다 | 말해 버렸어요 | Said it (often with regret) |
| 끝내다 | 끝내 버렸어요 | Finished completely |
| 가다 | 가 버렸어요 | Left/went away |
| 죽다 | 죽어 버렸어요 | Died (finality) |
| 포기하다 | 포기해 버렸어요 | Gave up (regret/relief) |
| 쓰다 | 써 버렸어요 | Used up completely |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Complete action: Emphasizes finality and thoroughness
- ✅ Emotional nuance: Often conveys regret, relief, or determination
- ✅ Irreversible: Actions that can't be undone
- ✅ Vowel harmony: -아/-어/-해 버리다
- ✅ Very common: Used frequently in daily conversation
- ✅ Context-dependent: Emotional tone varies by situation
-아/어 버리다 adds depth and emotional nuance to Korean expressions. It's essential for conveying that an action is completely done, often with accompanying feelings of regret, relief, or resolve. Master this pattern to speak more naturally and expressively in Korean.