-껏
To One's Heart's Content
-껏 is a suffix added to nouns like 힘 (strength) or 마음 (heart) to mean 'to the fullest extent of that quality'. It's like saying 'with all one's might' or 'to one's heart's content'.
How It Works
-껏 is a suffix that attaches directly to certain nouns to create an adverbial phrase. This phrase modifies the following verb, indicating that the action is done 'to the full extent of [Noun]' or 'as much as [Noun] allows'.
It is most commonly used with a specific set of nouns related to personal capacity, effort, and emotion. Here are the most frequent combinations:
- 힘껏 (from 힘 'strength'): with all one's strength/might
- 마음껏 (from 마음 'heart/mind'): to one's heart's content; as much as one pleases
- 정성껏 (from 정성 'sincerity/devotion'): with all one's sincerity; with the utmost care
- 목청껏 (from 목청 'voice/throat'): at the top of one's lungs
A very common related adverb is 실컷, which means 'as much as one likes' or 'to one's heart's content'. While its origin is related, it's often used on its own.
This pattern is often used to give permission or encouragement, as in '마음껏 드세요' (Please eat to your heart's content). It carries a nuance of reaching the absolute limit, which distinguishes it from similar patterns like -만큼 (as much as).
Examples (4)
- 오늘은 제가 살 테니 마음껏 드세요.
I'm paying today, so please eat to your heart's content.
Word by Word: Today I will buy so to your heart's content eat (please).
마음껏 is formed from 마음 (heart/mind) + 껏, giving the meaning of 'without reservation' or 'as much as you desire'.
- 공을 힘껏 던졌지만 멀리 가지 못했어요.
I threw the ball with all my might, but it didn't go far.
Word by Word: Ball with all strength threw but far couldn't go.
힘껏 (힘 'strength' + 껏) modifies the verb 던지다 (to throw), indicating the action was done with maximum effort.
- 어머니는 항상 정성껏 음식을 준비해 주셨어요.
My mother always prepared food with the utmost care and sincerity.
Word by Word: Mother always with sincerity food prepared for me.
정성껏 (정성 'sincerity' + 껏) describes how the food was prepared—with full devotion and care.
- 아이들이 운동장에서 목청껏 소리를 질렀다.
The children shouted at the top of their lungs on the playground.
Word by Word: Children at the playground at the top of their lungs shouted.
목청껏 (목청 'voice' + 껏) means to use one's voice to its maximum capacity.
Common Mistakes
Using -껏 with verbs or adjectives instead of nouns.
Not Quite열심히껏 공부했어요.Better마음껏 공부했어요.-껏 is a suffix that attaches only to nouns. To express a similar meaning with a verb, you would need a different structure, like '할 수 있는 만큼 열심히 공부했어요' (I studied as hard as I could).
Attaching -껏 to nouns that don't relate to personal capacity or effort.
Not Quite시간껏 기다렸어요.Better오랫동안 기다렸어요.-껏 is not used with general nouns like 시간 (time) or 돈 (money). It is limited to nouns like 힘 (strength), 마음 (heart), and 정성 (sincerity) that describe an internal limit or capacity, plus a few time words such as 지금껏 (until now).
Related Patterns
- -만큼As Much as, To the Extent
Both can mean 'as much as'. However, -껏 implies reaching the absolute maximum internal capacity (e.g., 힘껏 - with ALL your strength). -만큼 is broader and often used for comparison or equivalence (e.g., 노력한 만큼 - as much as you worked).
- -대로As, According to
-대로 means 'according to' or 'as'. '마음대로 하세요' (Do as you please) is similar to '마음껏 하세요' (Do it to your heart's content), but -대로 focuses on following one's choice or will, while -껏 emphasizes doing it without any limits or hesitation.
- -도록So That, In Order to
-도록 means 'to the point that' or 'so that'. It can express a similar idea of reaching a limit, but it focuses on the result. '목이 아프도록 노래했다' (I sang to the point that my throat hurt) describes the outcome, whereas '목청껏 노래했다' (I sang at the top of my lungs) describes the intensity of the action itself.