심심하다 vs 지루하다 | Which one to use

안녕하세요 리더님! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다|~

심심하다 and 지루하다 often get translated as the same thing in English - “Boring”.

It’s for that reason that you’ll hear many non-English speakers say “I’m boring”, when they want to say “I’m bored”. To prevent you from making that same mistake in Korean, let’s take a second to peep the difference.

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심심하다

Definition - Bored

Meaning: Feeling weary and having a dull time because one has nothing to do.

Example Sentences:

나는 약속이 없고 심심할 때 혼자 영화관에 가서 영화를 봐.

I don't have an appointment and when I'm bored, I go to the movie theater alone and watch a movie.

가:주말에 무엇을 했나요?

나:계속 집에서 혼자 있어서 심심했어요.

A: What did you do on the weekend?

B: I was bored because I was alone at home all the time.

할 일이 없어서 하루 종일 심심했어요.

I've been bored all day because I had nothing to do.

담배를 끊었더니 입이 심심해서 자꾸 뭔가를 먹게 된다.

Since I gave up smoking, I keep eating because I just have to put something in my mouth.

심심해 죽겠다.

I'm bored to death.

심심하던 차에 말동무를 만나 반가웠다.

I was glad to have someone to talk to since I was getting bored.

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지루하다

Definition - To Be Boring

Meaning: Feeling dull and tiresome because a certain act or state continues.

Example Sentences:

가: 이 로봇은 단순하고 지루한 집안일을 대신 해 줍니다.

나: 오! 그것 참 도움이 되는 상품이군요.

A: This robot does simple and boring housework for you.

B: Oh! That's a very helpful product.

가: 그 교수님 수업 어때?

나: 정말 지루해. 수업 시간에 깨어 있기가 힘들 정도야.

A: How are his lectures?

B: His lectures are so monotonous it's hard to stay awake during them.

나는 그 일이 지루해.

I'm bored with the job.

너무 지루해서 계속 졸았어요.

It was so boring that it put me to sleep.

그 사람이 얘기할 때면 (너무 지루해서) 하루가 십 년 같다.

The minutes seem like days when he's speaking.

지루해서 죽을 지경이야.

I'm bored to death.

지루해서 미치겠어.

I'm really bored out of my mind. / I'm just so bored that I can't even think straight. / I'm so bored I'm ready to start climbing the walls.

여기에 앉아 있으려니 지루해서 좀이 쑤신다

I'm bored stiff just sitting here.

기다리는 건 정말 지루한 일이야. 한참이나 손가락만 비비 꼬고 있었어.

Waiting is pretty boring. I've just been twiddling my thumbs.