KoreanBlueprint
Daily Korean
Today’s Phrase
피곤해요
pi·gon·hae·yo
pigonhaeyo
I’m tired
Did You Know?
Korea has a strong work culture (빨리빨리 culture — hurry hurry), leading to significant workplace fatigue. The phrase 피곤해요 is extremely common in daily conversation, and many Koreans combat fatigue with 홍삼 (red ginseng) drinks or energy tonics.
Phrase Breakdown
피곤
pigon
tiredness, fatigue
From Chinese 疲困 (píkùn)
해요
haeyo
am (polite)
Polite declarative form of 하다 used with adjective nouns
Expresses that you feel tired — commonly used in conversation to explain low energy.
Example Phrases
요즘 너무 피곤해요.
Yojeum neomu pigonhaeyo.
I’m really tired these days.
요즘 means ‘lately/these days’.
피곤한데 잠이 안 와요.
Pigonhande jami an wayo.
I’m tired but can’t sleep.
-ㄴ데 expresses contrast (‘but’).
조금 쉬어야 할 것 같아요.
Jogeum swieoya hal geot gatayo.
I think I need to rest a little.
쉬어야 하다 means ‘must rest’.
Related Phrases
졸려요
jollyeoyo
I’m sleepy
Expressing sleepiness.
힘들어요
himdeureoyo
It’s hard / I’m exhausted
Stronger expression of difficulty or exhaustion.
쉬고 싶어요
swigo sipeoyo
I want to rest
Expressing the desire to take a break.
Quick Review
언제 시간 있어요?
Can you recall what this means?
eonje sigan isseoyo?
When are you free?