Endings & grammar
Attach to a verb or adjective to set meaning and tone
polite everyday sentence ending
저는 매일 아침 커피를 마셔요.— I drink coffee every morning.
오늘은 좀 바빠요.— I'm a bit busy today.
formal polite sentence ending
처음 뵙겠습니다. 김민수라고 합니다.— Nice to meet you. My name is Kim Min-su.
회의는 세 시에 시작합니다.— The meeting starts at three.
casual sentence ending
나 지금 밥 먹어.— I'm eating right now.
너 어디 가?— Where are you going?
past tense marker
어제 친구를 만났어요.— I met a friend yesterday.
밥 벌써 먹었어?— Have you eaten already?
marks intention or a guess
제가 하겠습니다.— I'll do it.
많이 힘들겠다.— That must be hard.
polite ending that honors the listener
여기 앉으세요.— Please have a seat here.
어디 가세요?— Where are you headed?
honorific marker for the subject
선생님께서 오셨어요.— The teacher has arrived.
아버지는 지금 주무십니다.— My father is sleeping right now.
and; and then
밥을 먹고 커피를 마셨어요.— I ate and then had coffee.
이 옷은 싸고 예뻐.— These clothes are cheap and pretty.
because; and then
늦어서 죄송합니다.— I'm sorry for being late.
친구를 만나서 영화를 봤어요.— I met a friend and we saw a movie.
because (leading to a suggestion)
비가 오니까 우산 가져가세요.— It's raining, so take an umbrella.
배고프니까 뭐 좀 먹자.— I'm hungry, let's eat something.
if; when
시간이 있으면 연락 주세요.— If you have time, get in touch.
봄이 오면 꽃이 펴.— When spring comes, flowers bloom.
but; although
조금 비싸지만 품질이 좋아요.— It's a bit pricey, but the quality is good.
가고 싶지만 시간이 없어.— I want to go, but I don't have time.
sets up background for what follows
지금 밖인데 이따 전화드릴게요.— I'm out right now, I'll call you later.
이 집 맛있는데 좀 비싸.— This place is good, but a bit expensive.
to want to do
한국에서 일하고 싶어요.— I want to work in Korea.
뭐 먹고 싶어?— What do you want to eat?
can / cannot do
한국어를 조금 할 수 있어요.— I can speak a little Korean.
오늘은 갈 수 없어.— I can't go today.
have to; must
내일까지 끝내야 합니다.— It has to be finished by tomorrow.
이제 가야 돼.— I have to go now.
must not; not allowed
여기서 담배를 피우면 안 됩니다.— You must not smoke here.
이거 만지면 안 돼.— You can't touch this.
may; it's okay to
여기 앉아도 될까요?— May I sit here?
먼저 가도 돼.— You can go on ahead.
I will (a promise to the listener)
제가 연락드릴게요.— I'll get in touch with you.
먼저 가 있을게.— I'll go ahead and wait.
shall we?; I wonder if
같이 점심 먹을까요?— Shall we have lunch together?
비가 올까?— I wonder if it'll rain.
to be doing (progressive)
지금 회의하고 있어요.— I'm in a meeting right now.
뭐 하고 있어?— What are you doing?
to do something for someone
이것 좀 도와주시겠어요?— Could you help me with this?
사진 좀 찍어 줘.— Take a photo for me.
it seems that
오늘은 좀 추운 것 같아요.— It seems a bit cold today.
그 사람 안 오는 것 같아.— I don't think he's coming.
to intend to; to be about to
내년에 한국에 가려고 해요.— I'm planning to go to Korea next year.
막 나가려던 참이야.— I was just about to head out.
before doing
식사하기 전에 손을 씻으세요.— Wash your hands before eating.
자기 전에 약 먹어.— Take your medicine before bed.
after doing
퇴근한 후에 만날까요?— Shall we meet after work?
밥 먹은 다음에 하자.— Let's do it after we eat.
while doing
음악을 들으면서 공부해요.— I study while listening to music.
웃으면서 얘기하더라.— He was smiling as he talked.
to go/come in order to
밥 먹으러 갈까요?— Shall we go get something to eat?
책 빌리러 왔어.— I came to borrow a book.
in order to
취업하기 위해서 자격증을 땄어요.— I got a certificate in order to find a job.
가족을 위해서 참았어.— I put up with it for my family.
please don't
여기에 주차하지 마세요.— Please don't park here.
걱정하지 마.— Don't worry.
expresses something just noticed
한국어를 정말 잘하시네요!— You speak Korean really well!
벌써 다 왔네.— Oh, we're here already.
you know (reminding the listener)
어제 말씀드렸잖아요.— I told you yesterday, remember?
내가 그랬잖아.— I told you so.
gives a reason the listener didn't know
제가 좀 늦었어요. 길이 막혔거든요.— I'm a little late — the traffic was bad.
나 오늘 못 가. 약속 있거든.— I can't come today; I have plans.
to have done before
한국에 가 본 적이 있어요?— Have you ever been to Korea?
그 영화 본 적 없어.— I've never seen that movie.
will; is going to
내일은 비가 올 거예요.— It'll rain tomorrow.
나 곧 도착할 거야.— I'll be there soon.
when
힘들 때 연락하세요.— Get in touch when things get hard.
어릴 때 여기 살았어.— I lived here when I was little.
because
비가 왔기 때문에 경기가 취소됐습니다.— The match was cancelled because it rained.
너 때문에 늦었잖아.— I'm late because of you.
so that
다치지 않도록 조심하세요.— Be careful so you don't get hurt.
잘 들리도록 크게 말해.— Speak up so we can hear you.
to know how to
운전할 줄 아세요?— Do you know how to drive?
저는 수영할 줄 몰라요.— I don't know how to swim.
to try doing
이거 한번 드셔 보세요.— Please try this.
나도 해 볼래.— I want to try it too.
a state that continues after the action
문이 열려 있어요.— The door is open.
아직 서 있어?— Are you still standing?
right? (seeking agreement)
오늘 많이 춥죠?— It's really cold today, isn't it?
그렇지요.— That's right.
to be thinking of doing
주말에 여행이나 갈까 해요.— I'm thinking of taking a trip this weekend.
그만둘까 하는데.— I'm thinking of quitting.
to decide to do
다음 주에 만나기로 했어요.— We agreed to meet next week.
담배 끊기로 했어.— I've decided to quit smoking.
tends to be; is rather
저는 매운 걸 잘 먹는 편이에요.— I'm fairly good with spicy food.
값은 싼 편이야.— The price is on the cheap side.
or
주말에는 쉬거나 운동을 해요.— On weekends I rest or work out.
먹거나 말거나.— Eat it or don't.
whether or not; either way
가든지 말든지 알아서 하세요.— Go or don't — it's up to you.
뭘 하든지 열심히 해.— Whatever you do, do it well.
even if; although
비가 와도 갈 거예요.— I'll go even if it rains.
아무리 바빠도 밥은 먹어.— No matter how busy you are, eat.
even though
약을 먹었는데도 낫지 않아요.— I took the medicine but I'm still not better.
추운데도 반팔을 입었네.— It's cold, yet you're in short sleeves.
must be ~, so…
많이 피곤하실 텐데 좀 쉬세요.— You must be tired — please get some rest.
배고플 텐데 이거라도 먹어.— You must be hungry; have this at least.