To avoid harshness or directness of questions or statements in Korean, there is a lot of grammar used to soften language. One piece of grammar that I could never quite grasp was 뭐뭐~(ㄴ/는)걸. This is actually a conjunction (but), so generally the first sentence is assumed.
So lets compare it to a few other easier bits of grammar.~네 – Direct statement / question
맛있네? – “But this is tasty?**’
맛있네 – “This is tasty.”~(ㄴ/는)데 – Contrasting statement / question
맛있는데? – “But this is delicious?**”
맛있는데 – “This is delicious, but~”** – These are rhetorical answers that provide a passive form of contradiction
~(ㄴ/는)걸 – Indirect supposition
맛있는걸? – “It tastes better than I expected.”Basic Conversation:
A: 벌써 11시네?
B: 피곤하네 ㅠㅠ
A: 그래도 졸리진 않은데?
B: 피곤한데 더 놀고 싶어
… 놀고싶은데 피곤한걸
A: 그럼 너 이제 자야겠는걸?A: It’s already 11 o’clock?
B: I’m tired ㅠㅠ
A: Still, are you not sleepy?
B: I’m tired, but I want to hang out more.
… I want to hang out, but I’m more tired than I expected.
A: Then you should probably get some sleep now?So as you can see, a lot of the meaning comes from the intonation of the speaker. (ㄴ/는)데 can be positive or negative depending on the inflection in the person’s voice or following comments. However, (ㄴ/는)걸 is an indirect way to speak (as if you’re speaking to yourself) to soften unexpected negative answers.
Ex. “먹을래? (Want to eat?)” “이미 먹었는걸?” This may seem like you’re saying “But I already ate?” but is really an indirect way to say “Sorry, I already ate.”
As a native English speaker this may seem weird, but these are the nuances that help us truly become fluent. 🙂 This form is very informal so use it among friends.Thanks for reading and see you soon!
Tag: 는데
You will often see these common mistakes especially on SNS. Sometimes you’ll see them on variety shows, and news articles.
There’s a mistake in this post about common mistakes.
-데요 vs. -대요
The examples given for ー데요 seem to be more for the grammar ー는데요.
As the explanation in that image states, ー데요 is used when the speaker is discussing something they have experienced or seen first-hand. In that sense, it can be easily switched out for -더라고요. Unlike in the examples given in the post, -는 is not attached to -데요.
An example of the two (-는데, -데) together:
지난 주말에 친구 집들이에 갔는데 지하철역이 친구 집에서 진짜 가깝데요.
친구 집이 아파트인 줄 알았는데 원룸이데요.
친구가 살기에는 집이 커 보이데요.
자기 집이라고 예쁘게 꾸며 놓았데요.
Also, since this grammar is used for what the speaker has seen personally, it can not be used with a first person subject to describe something the speaker has done or said as is shown in the original post’s examples.
This grammar did cause a lot of confusion with -대요 in my class when we first studied it. Context is your friend when deciphering which one is being used!
Thank you for pointing this out! I didn’t even know you could use just ~데 I have only seen ~던데. I’m having trouble finding many resources on this so I’d love it if anyone has info on using just ~데 to share??
전라도 사투리 어미 (Sentence Endings)
~잉 (attached to end of words)
재미없다잉
참 쉽죠~잉?
힘들어 죽겄넹
~(ㄴ/는)디 = ~(ㄴ/는)데
그런데 -> 그런디
그게 뭔데 -> 그게 뭔디
~제/졔/쟤 = ~지
그렇지 -> 그라제
그지 -> 그졔
~당께, ~
랑게 =
~다니까,
~라니까 (~게 =
~니까)
(이수니 숙제했냐??)
했당께요!!!
이러니까 ->
이랑게
그러니까 -> 근께
네가 형이니까 -> 니가 형인께
~부러, ~브렀다 =
~버렸다
큰일나브렀다, 끝나븠어야
죽어브렀단게
미쳐부러
~것다 = ~겠다
나는 모르겠다 -> 나사 모르것다
배고파 죽겠는데 -> 배고파 죽겄는디
~게 = ~자
나가자 -> 나가게
시내 가자 -> 시내 가게
~여 = ~야
저것이 뭐야? -> 저거시 뭐시여?
뭐야?! -> 뭐여?!
~갑다, ~갑서 = ~인가 보다
철수 자식인가보다 -> 철수 새낀갑네
–ㄴ/는다는데 = Giving background or contrasting information which you’ve heard from somewhere else (Quoted speech + -ㄴ/는데)
-(ㄴ/는)다는데 = -(ㄴ/는)다고 하는데
-(이)라는데 = -(이)라고 하는데
You can also use -자는데, -(으)라는데 and -냐는데
(Often followed by suggestions/imperatives/questions)
이번 주말에 한강에서 불꽃 축제 한다는데 같이 갈래요?
라디에서 오늘 날씨가 진짜 춥다는데 따뜻하게 입고 가세요.
술을 못 마신다는데 자꾸 권하면 안 되지요.
친구가 오늘 같이 놀자는데 너도 같이 가자.
내일 일본 친구가 올 거라는데 밥을 같이 먹을래요?
-ㄴ/는다던데(요) = Very similar but has the nuance of something you remember hearing in the past (던) and tends to show you expect some reaction from the listener
공원이라던데요 = They say they are at a park (Shall we go there?)
여기 위험하다던데요= I heard that this place is dangerous (Should we leave?)
그 사람도 모른다던데요 = He said that he doesn’t know either (So why keep asking him?)
한국에 겨울에 가면 많이 춥다던데요 = I heard that it’s very cold in Korea if you go there in winter (Perhaps you should pack more clothes)
1. ~하는 데에 돈을 쓰다, ~하느라 돈을 쓰다 = To spend money ~ing
2. 전개가 느리다 = The story in a book/film etc. is slow (전개 = development)
3. use ~지만 or ~는데도 instead of ~는데 for ‘although’
4. ~밖에 못 했다 is more precise than ~만 했다
5. 보는 것이 좋았다 = I liked seeing something. 봐서 좋았다 = Seeing something made me happy. 보기 좋다 = something looks good/is pleasant to look at.
6. ~는 것만으로 instead of ~는 뿐으로.
~는데
Most commonly translated as “even though”. It has a weaker distinction than “~지만”. It can also be used to prepare the listener for an upcoming clause. Here are some examples:
아이유의 음악을 안 좋아하는데 듣고 있을 거에요. Even though I don’t like IU’s music, I will listen to it.
질문이 있는데 이 숙제까지 해야 되나요? I have a question… until when does this homework need to be finished?
나는 미국에서 왔는데 이제 한국에서 산 지 3년 됐어. Even though I’m from America, I have been living in Korea for 3 years now.
When attached to an adjective, “~ ㄴ/은데” is used.
그 여자가 예쁜데 재미없어. That girl is pretty, but not interesting.
문제가 별로 없을 것 같은데 혹시 문제가 생기면 내게 전화해주세요. There probably won’t be a problem, but if a problem forms, please call me.
Finally, it can be used when the speaker is expecting/eliciting a response from the listener.
돈이 없는데. I don’t have money… (do you?)
이 시험이 좀 어려웠은데. That test was difficult… (your thoughts?)
This grammar form is very useful and adds naturalness to your speech.
(동사)~기는 (동사/하다), ~긴 = Contrast and emphasis
(명사)~(이)기는 하다, ~(이)긴 하다
가기는 갔/했어요 = I DID go (there) but…
가기는 갔는데, 일찍 왔어요 = I DID go there, but I came back early.
가기는 갈 거예요 = I WILL go, but …
보기는 봤는데 기억이 안 나요 = I DID see it, but I don’t remember.
어제 친구를 만나기는 했는데, 금방 헤어졌어요 = I DID meet a friend yesterday, but we parted soon.
시간 맞춰서 도착하기는 했는데, 준비를 못 했어요 = I DID manage to get there on time, but I couldn’t prepare.
읽기는 읽었는데 이해가 안 돼요 = I DID read it, but I don’t understand it.
좋기는 좋은데, 너무 비싸요 = It IS good, but it’s too expensive.
맛있기는 맛있는데, 좀 짜요 = It IS delicious, but it’s a bit salty
전통 무술이기는 하지만 잘 몰라요 = It is a traditional martial art, but I don’t know it well.
좋은 선물이기는 하지만 저는 못 받겠어요. = Although it is a nice gift, I cannot accept it.
사랑 이야기긴 한데 판타지적 요소가 있어서 재미있다 = It is love story but it has fantasy elements too so it’s fun.
V. ~(으)니까, (으)니 – since, because
Similar to ~아/어서. Often used in an interrogative or ‘let’s’ sentence.
Often used as an excuse for why something can’t be done.
지금 바쁘니까 나중에 전화해 주세요 = I am busy now so call me later
지금 피곤하니까 우리 영화 내일 봐요 = I am tired now so let’s watch the movie tomorrow
더우니까 에어컨 켤까요? = It’s hot, so shall we turn on the air conditioner?
냉장고에 불고기 있으니까 먹어. = There is some bulgogi in the refrigerator so eat it
내일 일요일이니까 내일 하세요. = Tomorrow is Sunday so do it tomorrow.
지금 피곤하니까 우리 영화 내일 봐요 = I am tired now so let’s watch the movie tomorrow
더우니까 에어컨 켤까요? = It’s hot, so shall we turn on the air conditioner?
냉장고에 불고기 있으니까 먹어. = There is some bulgogi in the refrigerator so eat it
내일 일요일이니까 내일 하세요. = Tomorrow is Sunday so do it tomorrow.
시간이 없으니까 빨리 가자 – Since we don’t have much time, let’s go quickly.
그 동안 열심히 공부했으니까 잘 할 거예요 – Since you have studied hard, you will do well.
택시는 비싸니까 지하철을 탈까요? – Since taxi fare is expensive, should we take the subway?
버스가 복잡하니까 택시를 타자! = Let’s take a taxi because the bus is so crowded!
너무 더우니까 시원한 것을 먹을래요? = Let’s eat something cool because it is so hot
밥이 없으니까 라면 먹자! = Let’s eat Ramen because there is no rice
약을 먹으니까 머리 아픈 게 없어졌다 – Because I took the medicine, I don’t have a headache.
학교에 가 야 되니까 지금 못 만나요 = I need to go to school, so I won’t be able to meet
그 셔츠를 사고 싶은데 돈이 없으니까 살 수 없어요 = Although I want to buy that, I have no money, so I cannot
어제 너무 바빴으니까 못 갔어요 = I couldn’t go yesterday because I was so busy
너를 좋아하지 않았으니까 헤어졌어 = I broke up with you because I didn’t like you
at the end of sentence when answering a question.
sounds informal, like talking back to someone
지금 만날 수 있어요? – Can you meet now?
아니요~ 못 만나요. 학교에 가 야 되니까요 – No, I can’t meet. because I have to go to school
그 것을 살 거 야? – Are you going to buy that?
아니요~ 못 사요. 돈이 없으니까요 – No, I can’t buy it. because I have no money
나랑 왜 헤어졌어? = Why did you break up with me?
Person 2: 너를 좋아하지 않았으니까 = (I broke up with you)… because I didn’t like you
~(으)니 – because, giving background info
Similar to ~는데.
제가 고기를 안 좋아하니 안 먹을 거에요 = Because I don’t like meat, I’m not going to eat it
벌써 5시(이)니 우리가 빨리 가 야 돼요 = it is already 5, so we have to go quickly
밥이 다 됐으니 많이 드세요! = the rice is ready, so eat a lot!
빨래를 다 했으니 지금 자도 돼요 = I have finished the laundry, so I can go to bed now
제가 숙제를 다 했으니 이제 영화를 볼 수 있어요 = Now that I am finished my homework, I can see a movie
나는 요즘에 맨날 한식만 먹었는데, 친구를 만났으니 이탈리안 음식 먹자! = These days, I only eat Korean food every day, so now that I have met you, let’s eat Italian food!
처음에는 30살이 되면 나이가 많은 거라고 생각했는데 제가 30살이 되었으니 그렇게 생각하지 않아요 = At first I thought 30 years old was old, but since I am now 30, I don’t think that way
Linking verbs ~은/는데
action verbs ~는데 (있다, 없다, ~았, ~겠)
descriptive verbs ~(으)ㄴ데 (이다, 아니다, drop ㄹ 받침)
하다 – 하는데
있다 – 있는데
먹다 – 먹는데
예쁘다 – 예쁜데
작다 – 작은데
Explain situation/background before making suggestion, request, or question:
내일 일요일인데, 뭐 할 거예요 = it’s Sunday tomorrow, what are you going to do?
오늘 뉴스에서 봤는데, 그거 진짜예요? = I saw it in the news today, is that for real?
Explain situation before explaining what happened:
어제 자고 있었는데, 한국에서 전화가 왔어요. = I was sleeping yesterday, I got a phone call from Korea
이거 일분에서 샀는데, 선물이에요 = I bought this in japan, it’s a present for you.
영화 봤는데, 무서웠어요 = I saw a movie, it was scary
Show situation/result that is contrasted from previous action or situation:
아직 9시인데 벌써 졸려요 = it’s still 9 o’clock but I am already sleepy.
저 지금 학생인데, 일도 하고 있어요 = I am a student now, but I’m working too.
내일 친구 생일인데, 선물을 아직 못 샀어요 = it’s my friend’s birthday tomorrow, but I haven’t been able to buy a present.
Second clause can be omitted when the meaning is implied:
준비 많이 했는데(요).. = I prepared a lot, but..
Show surprise/exclaim:
멋있는데 = oh, that’s cool!
이거 좋은데요! = I like this! This is good!
Asking a question, expecting explanation:
지금 어디에 있는데요? = so where are you now?
Expecting an answer or response:
지금요? 지금 바쁜데요 = now? I’m busy now, so…
어? 여기 있었는데 = huh? It was here…
Sutdy-Korean 