-(으)ᄅ 정도로 expresses the degree or extent of something, meaning "to the extent of," "so... that," or "enough to." It describes how much or how far something reaches.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ᄅ 정도로
Breakdown:
- -(으)ᄅ: Future/potential modifier
- 정도: Degree, extent (noun)
- 로: By means of, to (particle)
- Combined meaning: "To the extent/degree of..."
Literal meaning: "To the degree/extent of [verb/adjective]"
Formation Rules
No Final Consonant: -ᄅ 정도로
Stems ending in vowel:
- 크다 → 클 정도로 (to the extent of being big)
- 보다 → 볼 정도로 (to the extent of seeing)
- 가다 → 갈 정도로 (to the extent of going)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁠 정도로 (to the extent of being pretty)
With Final Consonant: -을 정도로
Stems ending in consonant:
- 먹다 → 먹을 정도로 (to the extent of eating)
- 좋다 → 좋을 정도로 (to the extent of being good)
- 많다 → 많을 정도로 (to the extent of being many)
- 작다 → 작을 정도로 (to the extent of being small)
ᄅ Irregular
Stems ending in ᄅ drop the ᄅ:
- 살다 → 살 정도로 (to the extent of living)
- 만들다 → 만들 정도로 (to the extent of making)
- 알다 → 알 정도로 (to the extent of knowing)
Core Meaning: Describing Extent
Extreme Degree
So much that...:
- 울 정도로 슬펐어요 (It was sad to the point of crying)
- 놀랄 정도로 빨라요 (It's fast to a surprising extent)
- 지칠 정도로 일했어요 (I worked to the point of exhaustion)
- 죽을 정도로 아팠어요 (It hurt to the point of dying)
Sufficient Amount
Enough to...:
- 먹을 정도로 충분해요 (It's sufficient enough to eat)
- 입을 정도로 있어요 (I have enough to wear)
- 살 정도로 벌어요 (I earn enough to live)
Approximate Level
About/around to the extent of:
- 이해할 정도로 설명했어요 (I explained to the extent of understanding)
- 볼 수 있을 정도로 밝아요 (It's bright enough to see)
Common Usage Patterns
Expressing Intensity
Describing how intense something is:
- 믿을 수 없을 정도로 좋아요 (It's good to an unbelievable extent)
- 말할 수 없을 정도로 아름다워요 (It's beautiful beyond words)
- 잊을 수 없을 정도로 인상적이었어요 (It was impressive to an unforgettable extent)
Showing Sufficiency
Indicating adequate amount:
- 먹을 정도는 있어요 (I have enough to eat)
- 입을 정도는 돼요 (It's enough to wear)
- 쓸 정도는 벌어요 (I earn enough to use)
Describing Impact
Result of high degree:
- 깜짝 놀랄 정도로 컸어요 (It was big to a startling extent)
- 감동할 정도로 좋았어요 (It was good to a touching extent)
- 웃을 정도로 재미있어요 (It's funny to the point of laughing)
Negative Forms
Can't Even
-지 못할 정도로: So... that can't even:
- 먹지 못할 정도로 바빠요 (I'm so busy I can't even eat)
- 말하지 못할 정도로 놀랐어요 (I was so surprised I couldn't speak)
- 걷지 못할 정도로 아파요 (It hurts so much I can't walk)
Not Enough
-지 않을 정도로: Not to the extent of:
- 걱정하지 않을 정도로 괜찮아요 (It's okay to the extent of not worrying)
- 포기하지 않을 정도로 할 만해요 (It's doable to the extent of not giving up)
Common Expressions
Extreme Situations
- 죽을 정도로 피곤해요 (I'm tired to death)
- 미칠 정도로 더워요 (It's hot to the point of going crazy)
- 터질 정도로 먹었어요 (I ate to the point of bursting)
- 울 정도로 감동했어요 (I was touched to the point of crying)
Unbelievable Degree
- 믿을 수 없을 정도로 (To an unbelievable extent)
- 상상할 수 없을 정도로 (To an unimaginable extent)
- 말로 표현할 수 없을 정도로 (To an inexpressible extent)
Sufficiency
- 살 정도는 벌어요 (I earn enough to live)
- 먹을 정도는 있어요 (I have enough to eat)
- 쓸 정도는 돼요 (It's enough to use)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 놀랄 정도로 좋습니다 (It's good to a surprising extent)
- 울 정도로 슬펐습니다 (It was sad to the point of crying)
Polite (해요체)
- 놀랄 정도로 좋아요 (It's good to a surprising extent)
- 울 정도로 슬펐어요 (It was sad to the point of crying)
Casual (반말)
- 놀랄 정도로 좋아 (It's good to a surprising extent)
- 울 정도로 슬펐어 (It was sad to the point of crying)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-(으)ᄅ 정도로 vs -(으)ᄅ 만큼
-(으)ᄅ 정도로: Describes degree/extent
- 죽을 정도로 아파요 (It hurts to the point of dying)
-(으)ᄅ 만큼: As much as, to the same degree
- 죽을 만큼 아파요 (It hurts as much as dying)
Note: Often interchangeable, but -만큼 emphasizes comparison more
-(으)ᄅ 정도로 vs -도록
-(으)ᄅ 정도로: Describes resulting degree
- 목이 아플 정도로 노래했어요 (I sang to the extent that my throat hurt)
-도록: Purpose or until reaching state
- 목이 아프도록 노래했어요 (I sang until my throat hurt)
Note: Very similar in meaning when describing extent
Pattern Variations
-(으)ᄅ 정도
Without 로: Just the extent:
- 이해할 정도예요 (It's to the extent of understanding)
- 먹을 정도 있어요 (I have about enough to eat)
-(으)ᄅ 정도의
With 의: Modifying nouns:
- 먹을 정도의 음식 (Food to the extent of eating)
- 쓸 정도의 돈 (Money to the extent of using)
-(으)ᄅ 정도까지
With 까지: Up to the extent of:
- 죽을 정도까지 아팠어요 (It hurt up to the point of dying)
- 포기할 정도까지 힘들었어요 (It was hard up to the point of giving up)
Emphasis Patterns
With Intensifiers
Adding emphasis words:
- 정말 죽을 정도로 (Really to the point of dying)
- 너무 놀랄 정도로 (So much to a surprising extent)
- 아주 믿기 힘들 정도로 (Very much to an unbelievable extent)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋정도로
Missing -(으)ᄅ connector
✅ Correct: 좋을 정도로
Use proper modifier form
❌ Incorrect: 먹는 정도로
Using present tense marker
✅ Correct: 먹을 정도로
Use future/potential form -(으)ᄅ
Summary Table
| Verb/Adjective | -(으)ᄅ 정도로 Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 울다 | 울 정도로 | To the extent of crying |
| 죽다 | 죽을 정도로 | To the point of dying |
| 놀라다 | 놀랄 정도로 | To a surprising extent |
| 좋다 | 좋을 정도로 | To the extent of being good |
| 크다 | 클 정도로 | To the extent of being big |
| 먹다 | 먹을 정도로 | To the extent of eating |
Usage Context Guide
Use -(으)ᄅ 정도로 when:
- Describing extreme degree or intensity
- Showing something is sufficient
- Expressing surprising extent
- Describing impact or result of high degree
Common contexts:
- Expressing emotions (울 정도로, 감동할 정도로)
- Physical states (죽을 정도로, 지칠 정도로)
- Sufficiency (먹을 정도로, 살 정도로)
- Intensity (놀랄 정도로, 믿을 수 없을 정도로)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Describes extent: How much/how far something reaches
- ✅ Uses -(으)ᄅ form: Future/potential modifier
- ✅ Very expressive: Common for emphasis
- ✅ Multiple uses: Intensity, sufficiency, impact
- ✅ Works with verbs and adjectives: Very versatile
- ✅ Often exaggerative: Used for dramatic effect
-(으)ᄅ 정도로 is essential for expressing the degree or extent of situations in Korean, especially when describing intense emotions, extreme conditions, or sufficient amounts.