아/어/여 버리다 (completely finish, regrettably)

This pattern uses the auxiliary verb 버리다. By itself, 버리다 means "to throw away." When you attach it to another verb, it keeps that "gone" feeling. It suggests that the action is completely out of your hands. You combine a main verb with this auxiliary verb. You must use the 아/어/여 connecting form first. Then you add 버리다 and conjugate it. Most often, you will see it in the past tense. This is because we usually talk about things already finished. It acts like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener that the path is closed. The action is totally done. There is no lingering or halfway state here. It is all or nothing.

1. 1Find the dictionary form of your main verb. Let's use 먹다 (to eat).
2. 2Change the verb into the 아/어/여 form. 먹다 becomes 먹어.
3. 3Add 버리다 to the end. Now you have 먹어 버리다.
4. 4Conjugate 버리다 for your sentence. Usually, this is past tense: 먹어 버렸어요.
5. 5If the verb stem ends in ㅏ or ㅗ, use 아 버리다. Example: 가다 -> 가 버리다.
6. 6If it ends in other vowels, use 어 버리다. Example: 잊다 -> 잊어 버리다.
7. 7For 하다 verbs, use 해 버리다. Example: 공부하다 -> 공부해 버리다.

Use this when you feel regret about something. Maybe you spent all your money on clothes. You would say 돈을 다 써 버렸어요. It implies you are a bit sad about it. You can also use it for relief. Imagine finishing a huge mountain of homework. You can say 숙제를 다 끝내 버렸어요. This shows you are happy it is over. Use it when something happens unexpectedly. If your phone breaks suddenly, use 고장 나 버렸어요. It emphasizes the total state of the break. It is great for real-world scenarios. Use it when ordering the last piece of cake. Use it when you accidentally tell a secret. It adds that "Oops!" or "Whew!" feeling to your words.

Do not use this for neutral, boring facts. If you just want to say you ate lunch, stick to 먹었어요. Using 먹어 버렸어요 makes it sound like a big deal. Do not use it for ongoing actions. You cannot use it with 고 있다. It only works for things that can be finished. Avoid using it with adjectives like "pretty" or "tall." Adjectives describe states, not actions that finish. Also, be careful in very formal business reports. It can sound a bit too emotional or personal. Stick to plain endings for dry data. Think of it like salt. A little bit makes the food great. Too much makes it hard to swallow.

Many people forget the 아/어/여 connector. They might say 먹 버렸어요 which is wrong. Always remember the bridge between the two verbs. Another mistake is using it for every single past action. If you use it too much, you sound overly dramatic. It is like crying wolf with your grammar. Some people try to use it with "to know" (알다). But you don't usually "finish" knowing something in this way. Don't worry, even native speakers get the nuance slightly off sometimes. Just remember it needs a verb that has a clear end point. If the action doesn't have a finish line, 버리다 doesn't fit.

You might know 고 말다. Both mean an action finished. But 고 말다 often implies a long process or effort. It is like saying "I ended up doing it after all." 버리다 is more about the emotional result or the speed. 버리다 feels more sudden or complete. Think of 고 말다 as a marathon finish. Think of 버리다 as dropping a glass on the floor. One is about the journey, the other is about the finality. Another contrast is the simple past tense -았/었-. The simple past is just a fact. 버리다 is a fact plus a feeling. It is the difference between "I lost my keys" and "I went and lost my keys!"