Korean Dictionary
How to say "Tired" in Korean
“Tired” in Korean is 피곤하다 (pronounced "Pigonhada").
피곤하다
Pigonhada
Usage & Context
One of the most relatable words in Korean work culture. Korea has a demanding work-life balance, so you will hear and use this word very often.
Example Sentence
오늘 너무 피곤해요.
I am so tired today.
How to use 피곤하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Tired” is 피곤하다, romanized as Pigonhada.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 피곤하다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'pi-gon-ha-da' — 'pi' is a short 'pee,' 'gon' rhymes with 'gone,' and 'hada' ends softly.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
피곤합니다
pigon-hamnida
Formal, used in workplace or writing
Casual (반말)
피곤해
pigonhae
Casual, used with close friends or family
More Example Sentences
complaining about work
야근해서 진짜 피곤해요.
I worked overtime, so I'm really exhausted.
after a long day
오늘 너무 피곤해서 일찍 잘 거예요.
I'm so tired today, I'll sleep early.
parent venting
아이들 보느라 피곤해요.
I'm tired from watching the kids.
Cultural Context
피곤하다 is a near-universal complaint in Korean workplace culture, where long hours are common. Koreans often pair it with 피로 회복 (recovering from fatigue) — think energy drinks like 박카스 (Bacchus) or ginseng. For deeper exhaustion, 지치다 (to be drained) is heavier; 나른하다 is drowsy-sleepy.
Editorial note
We review entries like 피곤하다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
피곤해요.
I'm tired.
너무 피곤해.
I'm so tired.
피곤해 죽겠어요.
I'm dead tired.
Related Expressions
지치다
jichida
to be drained / worn out
힘들다
himdeulda
to be hard / exhausting
졸리다
jollida
to be sleepy
피로
piro
fatigue (noun)
More Daily Life Words
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