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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 28: It is worth doing / Likely to... (-(으)ㅁ 직하다)

When you want to say that something is worth doing, or there is a good probability/reason for something to happen, you can use the formal structure -(으)ㅁ 직하다.

It translates to "It is worth [Action]ing" or "It is likely that..."

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)ㅁ = makes the verb a noun
  • 직하다 = to be worthy of / to have a tendency to

How to Conjugate

Attach it to the verb stem.

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㅁ 직하다 * 가다 -> 감 직하다 (It is worth going / It's likely to go) * 일어나다 -> 일어남 직하다 (It's likely to happen)

2. Consonant stem: Add -음 직하다 * 먹다 -> 먹음 직하다 (It's worth eating) * 믿다 -> 믿음 직하다 (It's worth believing / believable)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -ㅁ 직하다 (ㄹ drops!) * 만들다 -> 만듦 직하다 (It's worth making)

Very Common Standalone Words

In modern Korean, people rarely conjugate this on the fly. Instead, a few words with this ending have become fixed adjectives in the dictionary: * 먹음직스럽다 (to look appetizing / worth eating) * 믿음직스럽다 (to be trustworthy / reliable) * 바람직하다 (to be desirable / advisable)

When used as a grammar pattern today, it is mostly used in the form -(으)ㅁ 직한 일이다 (It is a likely thing to happen).

Example Sentences

  1. 이 케이크는 아주 먹음직스러워요. (This cake looks very appetizing/worth eating.)

  2. 민수 씨는 참 믿음직스러운 친구예요. (Minsoo is a very reliable/trustworthy friend.)

  3. 그런 실수는 누구나 함 직한 실수입니다. (That kind of mistake is a mistake anyone is likely to make.)

  4. 지금쯤 도착했음 직한데 안 오네요. (It is highly likely he arrived by now, but he isn't here.)