Endings & grammar
Attach to a verb or adjective to set meaning and tone
almost did (but didn't)
하마터면 넘어질 뻔했어요.— I almost fell.
지갑 잃어버릴 뻔했어.— I nearly lost my wallet.
to do completely (with regret or relief)
다 먹어 버렸어요.— I ate it all up.
그냥 말해 버려.— Just say it and get it over with.
to do in advance and leave it
미리 예약해 놓았습니다.— I've made a reservation in advance.
밥 해 놨으니까 먹어.— I've cooked, so help yourself.
to become
날씨가 많이 따뜻해졌어요.— The weather has gotten much warmer.
얼굴이 빨개졌네.— Your face has turned red.
to end up doing
한국에서 일하게 되었습니다.— I ended up working in Korea.
어쩌다 보니 그렇게 됐어.— It just turned out that way.
it has been (time) since
한국에 온 지 삼 년 됐어요.— It's been three years since I came to Korea.
밥 먹은 지 얼마 안 됐어.— I ate not long ago.
after doing
일 끝난 다음에 만나요.— Let's meet after work.
씻은 다음에 자.— Wash up and then go to bed.
as soon as
집에 도착하자마자 연락드릴게요.— I'll contact you as soon as I get home.
눕자마자 잠들었어.— I fell asleep the moment I lay down.
while; during
제가 없는 동안 잘 부탁드립니다.— Please take care of things while I'm away.
기다리는 동안 커피 마셨어.— I had coffee while waiting.
the more ~, the more ~
보면 볼수록 마음에 들어요.— The more I look at it, the more I like it.
많이 쓸수록 늘어.— The more you use it, the better you get.
just as; as soon as
도착하는 대로 연락드리겠습니다.— I'll contact you as soon as I arrive.
네 마음대로 해.— Do as you like.
to be in the middle of
지금 회의 중이에요.— I'm in a meeting right now.
가는 중이야.— I'm on my way.
worth doing; decent enough
그 영화 한번 볼 만해요.— That movie is worth a watch.
먹을 만하네.— It's decent enough to eat.
while still in that state
신발을 신은 채로 들어오시면 안 됩니다.— Please don't come in with your shoes on.
불 켠 채로 잤어.— I fell asleep with the light on.
because I was busy doing
일하느라고 전화를 못 받았어요.— I was working, so I missed your call.
자느라 못 들었어.— I was asleep, so I didn't hear it.
that used to be; that was left unfinished
여기가 제가 다니던 학교예요.— This is the school I used to attend.
먹던 거 마저 먹어.— Finish what you were eating.
reports what you experienced firsthand
거기 음식이 참 맛있더라고요.— The food there was really good.
생각보다 춥더라.— It was colder than I expected.
they say that (indirect quotation)
내일 비가 온다고 합니다.— They say it will rain tomorrow.
안 온대.— He says he's not coming.
told (someone) to do
과장님이 다시 하라고 하셨어요.— The manager told me to redo it.
엄마가 일찍 오래.— Mom told me to come home early.
I'd better; I should
이제 슬슬 일어나야겠어요.— I should get going now.
병원에 가 봐야겠다.— I'd better see a doctor.
I'll do it, so…
제가 준비할 테니까 걱정 마세요.— I'll take care of it, so don't worry.
내가 갈 테니까 기다려.— I'll come, so wait for me.
because of (something unexpected)
차가 막히는 바람에 늦었습니다.— I was late because of the traffic.
깜빡하는 바람에 못 챙겼어.— I forgot, so I didn't bring it.
it is ~, but…
좋기는 한데 좀 비싸네요.— It's nice, but a bit expensive.
가긴 갈게.— I will go, but still…
I should have (regret)
미리 예약할 걸 그랬어요.— I should have booked in advance.
우산 가져올 걸.— I should've brought an umbrella.
I thought (mistakenly) that
오늘 쉬는 줄 알았어요.— I thought we were off today.
네가 온 줄 알았어.— I thought you had arrived.
it seems (from what I can see)
밖에 비가 오나 봐요.— It looks like it's raining outside.
많이 바쁜가 보네.— You seem really busy.
not only ~ but also
값이 쌀 뿐만 아니라 품질도 좋아요.— Not only is it cheap, the quality is good too.
일도 잘할 뿐 아니라 성격도 좋아.— He's good at his job and easy to get along with.
sometimes does; also is
가끔 집에서 요리하기도 해요.— I sometimes cook at home.
무섭기도 하고 신기하기도 했어.— It was scary and fascinating at once.
and then; because (spoken)
돈이 없어 가지고 못 샀어요.— I had no money, so I couldn't buy it.
이거 사 가지고 갈게.— I'll buy this and bring it over.
I wish; it would be nice if
빨리 나으셨으면 좋겠어요.— I hope you get well soon.
돈이 많았으면 좋겠다.— I wish I had a lot of money.
Oh, I see / so it is ... (fresh realization)
여기 생각보다 훨씬 넓군요.— This place is much bigger than I thought.
아, 그래서 오늘 길이 막혔군.— Ah, so that's why the traffic was bad today.
I found that ... (past first-hand observation)
어제 가 보니까 사람이 정말 많더군요.— I went yesterday and there really were a lot of people.
그 식당, 값은 싼데 맛은 별로더군.— That restaurant is cheap, but the food wasn't great.
oh, so ... (casual realization)
아, 네가 민수 동생이구나.— Ah, so you're Minsu's younger brother.
생각보다 일이 많았구나. 고생했어.— So there was more work than expected. Good job.
oh, you're ...-ing (casual realization, with verbs)
너 혼자 다 먹는구나!— You're eating it all by yourself!
요즘 열심히 공부하는구나. 보기 좋다.— You've been studying hard lately. Good to see.
I'd rather / I want to; do you want to ...?
저는 여기서 좀 쉴래요.— I think I'll rest here for a bit.
커피 마실래요, 아니면 차 마실래요?— Do you want coffee, or tea?
want to ...? (casual invitation)
오늘 저녁에 영화 볼래?— Want to watch a movie tonight?
저 다음 주에 이사해요. 도와줄래요?— I'm moving next week. Would you help me?
let's ... (casual)
배고프다. 밥 먼저 먹자.— I'm hungry. Let's eat first.
오늘은 여기까지 하고 내일 다시 하자.— Let's stop here for today and continue tomorrow.
let's ... (formal)
시간이 없으니까 빨리 시작합시다.— We don't have much time, so let's start quickly.
다음 회의에서 다시 이야기합시다.— Let's talk about it again at the next meeting.
please do ... (most formal command)
안전선 안쪽으로 물러나 주십시오.— Please step back behind the safety line.
이쪽으로 앉으십시오.— Please have a seat over here.
plain-but-not-rude ending used downward by an elder
어서 오게. 오래 기다렸네.— Come on in. I've been waiting a while.
자네 말이 맞네.— You're right about that.
soft polite question ending
혹시 지금 통화 괜찮나요?— Is now an okay time to talk?
이 버스가 시청까지 가나요?— Does this bus go to City Hall?
polite question about a state or fact
여기서 많이 먼가요?— Is it very far from here?
이 자리 비어 있나요? 혹시 예약석인가요?— Is this seat free? Or is it reserved?
was it ...? (asking about the listener's own past experience)
어제 회의 분위기는 어떻던가요?— How was the mood at yesterday's meeting?
그 집 음식 맛있던가?— Was the food at that place good?
I can't believe that ...! (shock at news)
벌써 다 끝났다니, 믿을 수가 없어.— I can't believe it's already all over.
그 사람이 사장님이라니요!— He's the boss? No way!
I heard that ..., is that right?
다음 달에 이사 가신다면서요?— I heard you're moving next month?
너 요즘 운동 시작했다면서?— I heard you started working out lately?
blunt casual question ending
너 지금 어디냐?— Where are you right now?
밥은 먹었냐?— Have you eaten?
shall we ...? / I wonder if ... (casual)
우리 저기 앉을까?— Shall we sit over there?
내일 비 올까? 우산 챙겨야 하나.— I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow. Maybe I should take an umbrella.
I bet it's ... / it's probably ... (mild disagreement)
지금 가면 벌써 문 닫았을걸요.— If you go now, it'll probably already be closed.
그 영화 벌써 내렸을걸.— That movie has probably left theaters already.
plain declarative ending (written style)
나는 매일 아침 여섯 시에 일어난다.— I get up at six every morning.
오늘은 하루 종일 비가 온다.— It's raining all day today.
plain imperative (to a child or close friend)
늦었으니까 빨리 자라.— It's late, go to sleep.
이거 먼저 읽어라.— Read this one first.