Meaning and Usage
The word '끝내' is derived from the verb '끝내다', meaning 'to finish' or 'to end'. It is often used to express the completion or conclusion of an action or event. In conversation, '끝내' can appear as a verb stem combined with various endings to indicate different tenses or moods.
Common Collocations
- 끝내다 (kkeutnaeda): to finish something
- 끝내고 나서 (kkeutnaego naseo): after finishing
- 끝내는 방법 (kkeutnaeneun bangbeop): the way to finish
These collocations are frequently used in daily life, work, and study contexts.
Register and Politeness
'끝내' itself is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal speech depending on the verb ending attached. For example, '끝냈어요' is polite past tense, while '끝내' alone is a verb stem.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '끝내다' with '끝나다', which is intransitive and means 'to end' by itself. Remember, '끝내다' is transitive and requires an object (something to finish), while '끝나다' does not.
Practical Tip
Use '끝내' when you want to emphasize the act of finishing something actively, especially when you want to talk about completing tasks, events, or processes.