Korean grammar patterns › Level 2
-아/어 버리다
do completely; end up doing (relief or regret)
Level 2 · TOPIK I · beginner
How to use it
Stresses that an action is completely over. Depending on context it shows relief (a burden is gone) or regret and disappointment (it can't be undone).
Forming it
| 먹다 | → 먹어 버렸어요 |
| 가다 | → 가 버렸어요 |
| 끝내다 | → 끝내 버렸어요 |
| 자다 | → 자 버렸어요 |
Only with verbs. Some combinations have become single words: 잊어버리다, 잃어버리다.
Examples
배가 고파서 케이크를 혼자 다 먹어 버렸어요.
I was hungry, so I ate the whole cake by myself.
5분 늦었는데 버스가 벌써 떠나 버렸어요.
I was five minutes late, and the bus had already left.
Compared with similar patterns
-고 말다 also marks an unwanted result but is more written and stresses 'in the end'; -아/어 놓다/두다 keeps a result for later use.