-기 그지없다

How to use it

Attaches to adjectives of feeling or evaluation to say the degree has no limit. Formal and written; common in polite thanks and apologies (감사하기/죄송하기 그지없습니다).

Forming it

Mainly with adjectives: ✗ 먹기 그지없다.

Examples

• 이렇게 도와주셔서 감사하기 그지없습니다.

  I am more grateful than words can say for your help like this.

• 그 소식을 듣고 나니 마음이 아프기 그지없었다.

  After hearing the news, my heart ached beyond words.

Compared with similar patterns

-기 짝이 없다 has almost the same meaning but is used more for negative judgments (부끄럽기/한심하기 짝이 없다); -기 그지없다 suits gratitude and deep emotion too.

Related patterns

• -기 짝이 없다 extremely …, incomparably … (often negative)