Are You Boring? 지루해요?

상현 : 지금 뭐 해요?    What are you doing now?
조안나 : 블로그 하고 있어요.   I am blogging.
상현 : 재미있어요?   Is it fun?
조안나 : 그냥 그래요. 조금 지루해요.  It is just so so. It is a bit boring.
상현 : 지루해요?  Are you boring?
조안나 : Am I boring?


지루하다 is an interesting word. 지루하다 has 2 meaning, to be boring and to be bored.
This is why Many Koreans often make the mistake of asking whether you are boring, not bored.

Please don't be upset if someone asks you if you are boring, most of them probably want to ask whether you are bored.

How can you know which meaning of 지루하다 is being used?
You just need to understand the context.

Please see the conversation below.
상현 : 취미가 뭐에요?   What is your hobby?
콩쥐 : 없어요.   I don't have one.
상현 : 지난 주말에 뭐 했어요?   What did you do last weekend?
콩쥐 : 집에서 잤어요.  I slept at home.
상현 : 콩쥐씨 인생은 너무 지루해요!  인생을 즐기세요!  Your life is boring! Please enjoy your life! 
In this conversation, 지루하다 means "to be boring".


Please see the another conversation below.
상현 : 어떤 스타일의 남자를 좋아해요?   What kind of guy do you like?  (What is your type?)
팥쥐 : 나는 웃긴 남자를 좋아해요.  I like funny guys.
상현 : 나는 어때요?   How about me?
팥쥐 : 상현씨는.. 음.... 조금 지루해요.  You are... hm.. a bit boring.
In this conversation, 지루하다 means "to be boring".



Please see the another conversation below.
상현 : 주말에 뭐 했어요?   What did you do last weekend?
콩쥐 : 집에서 잤어요.  I slept at home.
상현 : 안 지루했어요?  Weren't you bored?
콩쥐 : 괜찮았어요.  It was ok.
In this conversation, 지루하다 means "to be bored".

Let's check other verbs.

심심하다  :  to be bored
심심하다 does NOT mean "to be boring".


역겹다 : to be disgusting, to be disgusted
Ex. 번데기 냄새는 역겨워요.  The smell of the silk worm larva is disgusting.
      번데기 냄새 때문에 역겨워요.  I am disgusted by the smell of silk worm larvae.


무섭다 : to be scared, to be scary
Ex. 이 영화는 무서워요.  This movie is scary.
      어제 혼자 잤어요. 그래서 무서웠어요.  I slept alone yesterday. So I was scared.


헷갈리다 : to be confused, to be confusing
Ex. 여기 지도를 잘 보면, 헷갈리지 않을 거예요.  If you see this map carefully, you will not be confused.
      이 지도는 너무 헷갈려요.  This map is very confusing.


Homework: Make one sentence using 지루하다 as "to be bored" and "to be boring". Write one more sentences using the additional verbs at the end of the lesson. Post your sentences in the comments or email them to us!