All the way until: -기까지 하다

This grammar attaches to verb stems. It combines the nominalizer -기 with the particle 까지 (meaning "even" or "until"). Finally, it ends with the verb 하다. Together, they mean "to go as far as to do [verb]." It often appears at the end of a sentence. You usually mention a few actions first. Then, you drop -기까지 하다 as the grand finale. It’s like building a tower and then adding a giant flag on top. The focus isn't just on the action itself. The focus is on the extreme extent of the action. It implies that the previous actions were already a lot. This final action is the icing on the cake. Or sometimes, it's the straw that breaks the camel's back. It works in both positive and negative contexts.

1. 1Take any verb stem like 먹다 (to eat) or 울다 (to cry).
2. 2Attach the ending -기 to turn the verb into a noun. Now you have 먹기 or 울기.
3. 3Add the particle 까지 to show the limit or extreme. Now it's 먹기까지 or 울기까지.
4. 4Finish with the verb 하다 to complete the thought. Result: 먹기까지 하다 or 울기까지 하다.
5. 5To use it in the past, change 하다 to 했다. For example, 울기까지 했다 (They even cried).
6. 6For politeness, add -어요 or -습니다. 울기까지 했어요 sounds natural and friendly.
7. 7Don't worry about batchim (final consonants). The rule is the same for all verbs. Even irregular ones like 듣다 (to listen) become 듣기까지 하다. It’s quite friendly like that.

Use this when describing a series of escalating events. Imagine you are in a job interview. You answered every question perfectly. Then, you showed them a portfolio of your personal projects. Finally, you even spoke to them in three different languages. You would say, 외국어를 3개나 하기까지 했어요. It shows you went the extra mile. You can also use it for negative surprises. Suppose your car broke down. Then it started raining. Finally, you even lost your phone. 휴대폰을 잃어버리기까지 했어요 captures that "bad luck" peak perfectly. It’s great for gossiping about celebrities too. "They broke up, deleted their photos, and even blocked each other!" That last part needs -기까지 하다. Use it when the degree of an action feels "too much" or "impressive."

Avoid this for everyday, boring sequences. If you just ate breakfast and then went to school, don't use it. Saying "I ate toast and even went to school" sounds weird. Unless, of course, going to school was an extreme struggle for you that day. Don't use it if there is no sense of escalation. It requires a feeling of "going further" than expected. If the actions are just a simple list, use -고 or -기도 하다. Also, be careful with simple descriptions. If you say "The apple is red and even big," it feels a bit dramatic for an apple. Save this for moments that actually deserve an arched eyebrow or a "Wow."

One big mistake is forgetting the -기 part. You cannot attach 까지 directly to a verb stem. 먹까지 하다 is a total no-go. Another slip-up is confusing it with -기도 하다. While -기도 하다 just means "also does," -기까지 하다 adds that "even" flavor. Using the wrong tense is common too. If the event is over, you MUST use -기까지 했다. Don't say 하기까지 하다 if you are talking about last week. Some learners try to use it with adjectives alone. While possible in some contexts, it usually pairs with verbs or "become" patterns like -아/어지기까지 하다. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. If it's a normal action, stay at green (-고). If it's getting intense, go to yellow (-기도 하다). If it's extreme, hit the red and use -기까지 하다!

Let's compare this to -기도 하다. If you say 공부하기도 해요, it just means "I also study." It’s a neutral addition. But if you say 밤을 새워 공부하기까지 해요, it means "I even stay up all night studying." See the difference? The second one feels much more intense. There is also -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라. That means "not only A but also B." It’s more formal and structured. -기까지 하다 feels more conversational and emotional. It focuses on the surprise factor. Another cousin is -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가. This is for adding one fact on top of another. It’s like stacking bricks. -기까지 하다 is like throwing a brick through a window—it’s more impactful and emphasizes the extreme end of the scale.