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Questions & Answers about jigeum simsimhaeyo.
What part of speech is 심심하다, and how does it work?
심심하다 is a 하다-adjective (often called a descriptive verb). It’s formed from the noun stem 심심 (boredom/dullness) plus 하다 (to do), so literally “to do boredom” or “to be bored.” In Korean, many adjectives are built this way and behave like verbs in sentences.
How do you conjugate 심심하다 into 심심해요?
- Start with the dictionary form: 심심하다
- Drop the final 다, leaving 심심하
- Because it’s a 하다-verb, you replace 하
- 아요/어요 with 해요 (an irregular contraction of 하여요).
- Final polite form: 심심해요
What level of politeness is 심심해요, and when would you use it?
심심해요 is the standard polite (해요체) present tense. You use it:
• With people you’re not íntimately close to (colleagues, classmates, acquaintances)
• In most everyday situations where you want to be polite but not overly formal
Why is there no subject in 지금 심심해요?
Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, because you’re talking about your own feelings in first person, you don’t need to say 저는 (“I”). It’s understood that the speaker is the one who’s bored.
Can you move 지금 around in the sentence?
Yes. 지금 (now) is an adverb and is quite flexible. You can say:
• 지금 심심해요. (adverb at the very front)
• 저는 지금 심심해요. (with subject)
• 저는 심심해요 지금. (less common, for emphasis)
How would you ask “Are you bored now?” in Korean?
Simply add a question particle or rising intonation to the same phrase:
• Polite: 지금 심심해요?
• Formal polite: 지금 심심하세요?
• Casual (to a close friend): 지금 심심해?
How do you say “I was bored” or “I will be bored”?
• Past tense (“I was bored”): 심심했어요 (e.g. 어제 심심했어요.)
• Future tense (“I will be bored”): 심심할 거예요 (e.g. 내일 심심할 거예요.)