Mastering Korean grammar patterns can feel overwhelming, but some expressions make your speech sound instantly more natural. One of these is ‘-다시피’ in Korean, a structure that often appears in both spoken and written language. It allows you to add nuance, emphasize what is already clear, or make your statements more vivid. In this post, we’ll walk through how to form ‘-다시피’, when to use it, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Contents
1. Definition
The grammar pattern ‘-다시피’ is used to express different but related nuances:
- referring to something the listener already knows (“as you know,” “as you see”),
- indicating approximation (“almost,” “nearly”),
- or showing similarity (“as if,” “as though”).
In simple terms, ‘-다시피’ highlights that a statement is either already obvious to both speaker and listener, or very close to being true.
It does not usually function on its own; instead, it attaches to verbs, adjectives, or the copula, with its exact meaning depending on context.
⚠️ Note: This grammar is different from ‘-다시피 하다’, which has its own usage and meaning. Make sure not to confuse the two.
2. Form (Structure)
The Korean grammar pattern ‘-다시피’ is used only with verbs in their dictionary (base) form.
- Attach ‘-다시피’ directly after the verb stem plus 다 (the dictionary form).
- This applies to all verbs regardless of their stem ending (vowel, consonant, or ㄹ).
Examples:
- 가다 → 가다시피 (as you know / almost go)
- 먹다 → 먹다시피 (almost ate / as you see)
- 살다 → 살다시피 (almost live / as you know)
- 알다 → 알다시피 (as you know)
- 느끼다 → 느끼다시피 (as you feel)
3. Meaning & Usage
1. As You Know / Obviously
Used to remind the listener of something they already know or to point out something obvious.
This usage most commonly appears with perception or knowledge-related verbs such as 알다 (to know), 아시다 (to know – honorific), 보시다 (to see), 보시다 (to see – honorific), 듣다 (to hear),들으시다 (to hear – honorific), 느끼다 (to feel), 느끼시다 (to feel – honorific).
Examples:
- 아시다시피 (As you know), 한국은 사계절이 뚜렷해요. (Korea has four distinct seasons.)
- 보시다시피 (As you can see), 이 옷은 너무 작아요. (This clothing is too small.)
- 들으시다시피 (As you heard), 오늘 발표가 연기되었습니다. (Today’s presentation has been postponed.)
- 알다시피 (As you know), 그는 한국어 전문가예요. (He is a Korean language expert.)
- 느끼시다시피 (As you can feel), 오늘 날씨가 덥습니다. (The weather is hot today.)
2. Almost / Nearly
Used to express approximation, meaning something is very close to happening or nearly true.
Often used in exaggeration or hyperbolic expressions for emphasis.
Examples:
- 어제는 죽다시피 공부했어요. (I studied as if I were dying yesterday)
- 저는 매일 일하다시피 해요. (I practically work every day)
- 그는 혼자 살다시피 해요. (He almost lives alone)
- 요즘은 바쁘다시피 해서 친구들을 못 만나요. (These days, I’m so busy that I can hardly meet my friends.)
- 그들은 매일 싸우다시피 합니다. (They practically fight every day.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘-다시피’ attaches directly to stems (verbs).
- Most natural with perception/knowledge verbs such as 알다 (to know), 보다 (to see), 듣다 (to hear), 아시다 (to know – honorific) and certain emphatic verbs such as 죽다 (to die), 울다 (to cry), 뛰다 (to run).
- Often expresses either “as you know” or “almost/nearly” depending on context.
- Tends to sound more natural in spoken formal or written Korean styles.
- Do not confuse with ‘-다시피 하다’ (a separate grammar pattern).
5. Similar Expressions
- -(으)ㄴ 것처럼 = literal comparison, “like / as if.”
→ 먹은 것처럼 배불러요. (I feel full as if I had eaten) - -듯이 = figurative or habitual comparison.
→ 물을 마시듯이 우유를 마셔요. (I drink milk as if drinking water) - -다시피 = exaggeration or shared fact.
→ 먹다시피 술을 마셨어요. (He drank almost as if eating the alcohol)
6. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘-다시피’.
- (아시다) ____, 한국 음식은 다양해요.
(As you know, Korean food is diverse.) - (일하다) ____, 그는 매일 바쁘게 지냅니다.
(He practically works every day.) - (보다) ____, 이 문제는 어렵지 않아요.
(As you can see, this problem is not difficult.) - (죽다) ____, 저는 공부했어요.
(I studied almost to death.) - (듣다) ____, 회의가 연기되었어요.
(As you heard, the meeting was postponed.) - (울다) ____, 아이들은 부탁했어요.
(The children begged almost crying.) - (잡다) ____, 저는 그 기회를 붙잡았어요.
(I desperately seized the opportunity.) - (살다) ____, 그는 혼자 지내요.
(He practically lives alone.) - (싸우다) ____, 친구들은 매일 다퉈요.
(The friends practically fight every day.) - (소리치다) ____, 그녀는 말했어요.
(She spoke almost shouting.)
7. Answers
- 아시다시피
- 일하다시피
- 보시다시피
- 죽다시피
- 들으시다시피
- 울다시피
- 잡다시피
- 살다시피
- 싸우다시피
- 소리치다시피
8. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Mixing with ‘-다시피 하다’
Incorrect: 저는 매일 운동하다시피 해요. ❌ (awkward and unnatural)
Correct: 저는 매일 운동하다시피 합니다. ✅ (use plain ‘-다시피’ with formal ending)
💡 Tip: Avoid mixing them. It’s best to focus on using ‘-다시피’ alone correctly before learning the extended form.
‘-다시피’ attaches directly to verb stems to mean “almost” or “as you know.”
‘-다시피 하다’ is a separate grammar pattern where 하다 (to do) is added for extra emphasis, but it is less common and more formal.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using with the wrong tense marker
Incorrect: 아시다시피요 갔어요. ❌ (awkward placement)
Correct: 아시다시피, 갔어요. ✅ (place before the main clause)
💡 Tip: ‘-다시피’ functions as a connector, not a tense marker.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Overusing with adjectives
Incorrect: 예쁘다시피 해요. ❌ (rare, unnatural)
Correct: 아시다시피, 그녀는 예뻐요. ✅ (use fixed verb expressions)
💡 Tip: Use common verbs like 알다 (to know), 보다 (to see), 듣다 (to hear) for natural usage.
The grammar ‘-다시피’ helps learners express similarity, near-completion, and shared knowledge in Korean. It is a versatile tool for making speech more natural and nuanced. By mastering this grammar, you will be able to emphasize certainty, intensity, and familiarity in your conversations—bringing you one step closer to fluency in Korean.