-을 뻔하다

Form

Attaches to

Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary

Other shapes

-ㄹ 뻔하다

Meanings

1. 1

   An expression used to indicate that the incident mentioned in the preceding statement did not happen, but that it was close.

   앞말이 나타내는 일이 일어나지는 않았지만 일어나기 직전의 상태까지 갔음을 나타내는 표현.

2. 2

   An expression used to exaggerate a certain past state.

   과거의 어떤 상태를 과장하여 나타내는 표현.

   ※ 주로 구어에서 ‘-(아)서 죽을 뻔했다’로 쓴다.

Examples

• 급하게 뛰어오다가 하마터면 넘어질 뻔했다.

  I ran over in a hurry and nearly tripped and fell.

• 조금만 더 늦었더라면 기차를 놓칠 뻔했다.

  If I'd been just a little later, I would have missed the train.

• 눈길에서 속력을 줄이지 않아서 사고가 날 뻔했다.

  I didn't slow down on the icy road, and it nearly caused an accident.

• 오늘 입사하고 첫 출근이었는데 어땠어? 말도 마. 늦잠을 자서 첫날부터 지각할 뻔했어.

  Today was your first day at work -- how was it? Don't even ask. I overslept and almost showed up late on the very first day.

• 지수는 부모님의 사고 소식을 듣고 정신을 잃을 뻔했다.

  Jisu nearly fainted when she heard the news of her parents' accident.

• 출퇴근 시간이라 지하철을 타지 않았으면 약속 시간에 늦을 뻔했다.

  Since it was rush hour, if I hadn't taken the subway, I would have nearly been late to my appointment.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

• -고 말다end up doing; finally (do)Lv 3