On the verge of

The pattern -(으)ㄹ락 말락 하다 describes a situation where an action is on the verge of happening, or flickers between happening and not happening. It conveys a sense of tension, uncertainty, or being just shy of a certain state.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: "to be on the verge of V-ing," "to be about to V," "to almost V (but not quite)."

When to use: Use it when an outcome is uncertain and could go either way at any moment. Think of a flickering light, drifting in and out of sleep, or a word on the tip of your tongue.

Formation

This pattern attaches directly to a verb stem.

Vowel or ㄹ ending stem + -ㄹ락 말락 하다:

오다 (to come) -> 올락 말락 하다

들다 (to enter/fall) -> 들락 말락 하다

Consonant ending stem + -을락 말락 하다:

잡다 (to catch) -> 잡을락 말락 하다

먹다 (to eat) -> 먹을락 말락 하다

비가 올락 말락 해. / 잠이 들락 말락 해요. / 손에 닿을락 말락 해.

This pattern does more than just say "almost." It paints a picture of a state that is unstable and wavering.

Tension and Suspense

-(으)ㄹ락 말락 하다 creates a feeling of suspense. The action is so close to happening that it creates tension. This is why it's perfect for describing:

Emotions: 눈물이 나올락 말락 해요. (I'm on the verge of tears.)

Physical States: 숨이 넘어갈락 말락 해요. (I'm about to pass out.)

External Events: 불이 꺼질락 말락 해요. (The light is flickering.)

Not Just "Almost"

While 거의 also means "almost," it usually refers to progress towards a goal (e.g., 거의 다 했어요 - I'm almost finished). -(으)ㄹ락 말락 하다 describes the state of being on the threshold itself, often for things outside of your direct control like memories, sleep, or visibility.

기억이 날락 말락 해. (The memory is flickering in and out of existence.)

보일락 말락 해. (It's barely visible, appearing and disappearing.)

컴퓨터가 꺼질락 말락 해. / 머리카락이 보일락 말락 해요. / 숨이 넘어갈락 말락 해.

A very common and nearly identical pattern is -(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯 하다. For most conversational purposes, you can use them interchangeably.

-(으)ㄹ락 말락 하다 vs. -(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯 하다

Both patterns express the idea of being on the verge of something. -(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯 하다 might feel slightly more common in modern everyday speech for some speakers, but both are perfectly natural.

Original: 비가 올락 말락 해요.

Synonym: 비가 올 듯 말 듯 해요. (It seems like it's about to rain, but then it doesn't.)

Original: 기억이 날락 말락 해요.

Synonym: 기억이 날 듯 말 듯 해요. (It seems like I'm about to remember, but then I don't.)

Learning both will help you recognize them when you hear them, but you can stick to one when you speak and be understood perfectly.

비가 올 듯 말 듯 해요. / 기억이 날 듯 말 듯 해. / 손에 닿을 듯 말 듯 해요.

The formality of this pattern is controlled by the final verb, 하다. You can easily switch between casual and polite speech by changing its ending.

Casual (반말): -(으)ㄹ락 말락 해

Used with close friends, family, or people younger than you.

기억이 날락 말락 해. (It's on the tip of my tongue.)

Polite (해요체): -(으)ㄹ락 말락 해요

Used in most everyday conversations with colleagues, acquaintances, or service staff. This is the standard polite form.

기억이 날락 말락 해요. (It's on the tip of my tongue.)

The script for this lesson provides both forms for every example, giving you a chance to practice both levels of politeness.

눈물이 나올락 말락 해. / 눈물이 나올락 말락 해요. / 떨어질락 말락 해. / 떨어질락 말락 해요.