How to say "Max out one's borrowing" in Korean? 🚀

Hello!

Today, we’re learning a common Korean expression that rarely appears in textbooks: 영끌 (yeong-kkeul). Let’s see how Koreans use it when buying a home, investing, or putting nearly all their financial resources into something.

What does '영끌' mean? 🏠

To understand the nuance, it helps to know where the word comes from.

영끌 is short for 영혼까지 끌어모으다 (yeong-hon-kka-ji kkeu-reo-mo-eu-da), literally “to scrape together everything—even your soul.”

The expression became widely used in Korean real-estate and financial news. It usually means gathering all your available money—including savings and the maximum amount you can borrow—to buy a home or make an investment.

It often implies financial strain or risk rather than simply working hard.

Here are two common ways to use it.

1. When you borrow as much as possible: "Max out your borrowing" 💳

Use 영끌 when someone combines their savings with the largest loan they can obtain to make a major purchase.

• Korean: 아파트 사려고 영끌했어.

• Pronunciation: a-pa-teu sa-ryeo-go yeong-kkeul-hae-sseo.

• Meaning: I scraped together everything I could and maxed out my borrowing to buy an apartment.

This sentence is casual and may suggest that the speaker has stretched their finances to the limit.

2. When you put all your money into something: "Go all in" 🎲

영끌 can also describe putting nearly all your available money into an investment.

• Korean: 코인 사려고 영끌했어.

• Pronunciation: ko-in sa-ryeo-go yeong-kkeul-hae-sseo.

• Meaning: I went all in financially to buy crypto.

Unlike the general English expression “go all in,” 영끌 usually focuses on money and borrowing—not simply effort or enthusiasm.

💡 Quick Grammar Tip:

영끌 is a noun, but it is commonly combined with 하다 to form 영끌하다 (yeong-kkeul-ha-da), meaning “to scrape together every available financial resource.”

영끌했어 (yeong-kkeul-hae-sseo) is casual past tense. The polite form is 영끌했어요 (yeong-kkeul-hae-sseo-yo).

You may also hear 영끌족 (yeong-kkeul-jok), referring to people who stretch their finances—often through heavy borrowing—to buy property or invest.

Takeaway of the Day

영끌했어! (yeong-kkeul-hae-sseo!)

Use it when someone has gathered all their available money and borrowing power for a purchase or investment.

One expression a day, make it yours.

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