오죽하다
is one of very weird adjectives. It means ‘something is very serious’, but you have to guess the meaning from the context. Let’s look at the dialogue and samples below.
Situation: After A and B heard the news that Minsu got injured his legs.
A: 민수 씨 소식 들었어요?
Have you heard about Minsu?
B: 네, 운동하다가 다리를 크게 다쳤다면서요?
Yes, he got hurt his back when he was exercising.
A: 네, 그래서 지금 병원에 있대요. 최소 한 달은 병원에 있어야 한대요.
Yes, he is in the hospital. He has to stay there for at least one month.
B: 여자 친구가 참 많이 놀랐겠네요.
His girl friend should be very shocked.
A: 그러게요. 저도 많이 놀랐는데 여자 친구는 오죽하겠어요.
You are right. I was very surprised, his girl friend must be surprised.
B: 회사 끝나고 민수 씨 보러 병원에 가려고 하는데 같이 갈래요?
After work, I will go to the hospital to see him. Do you want to go with me?
A: 저는 오늘은 약속이 있어서 내일 가 보려고요. 민수 씨한테 제가 내일 간다고 전해 주세요.
I have a plan today, so I am going there tomorrow. Please tell him I will come tomorrow.
B: 네.
I will
오죽하다 : very (usually bad situation), It is often used with -(으)면 or -(으)ㄹ까?.
아이가 저렇게 아픈데 어머니 마음이 오죽할까? The kid is that sick, the mom must be so heart-breaking. (we can guess the meaning from 마음(heart))
오죽하면 도둑질을 했겠어요? He must be in a very bad situation because he stole someone else’s. (we can guess the meaning from 도둑질(stealing))
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