Endings & grammar
Attach to a verb or adjective to set meaning and tone
it might / may ...
오후에 비가 올지도 몰라요. 우산 챙기세요.— It might rain this afternoon. Take an umbrella.
내가 좀 늦을지도 몰라.— I might be a little late.
easy to ... / likely to ...
이 앱은 쓰기 쉬워요.— This app is easy to use.
이런 문장은 오해하기 쉽다.— Sentences like this are easy to misunderstand.
hard to ...
주말에는 자리 잡기 어려워요.— It's hard to get a table on weekends.
이 발음은 정말 하기 어렵다.— This pronunciation is really hard to do.
need to / there's no need to
미리 예약할 필요는 없어요.— There's no need to book in advance.
이 부분은 다시 확인할 필요가 있습니다.— This part needs to be checked again.
it looks like / apparently (based on evidence)
불이 꺼져 있네요. 벌써 퇴근한 모양이에요.— The lights are off. It looks like they've already left.
밖이 시끄럽다. 무슨 일이 생긴 모양이다.— It's noisy outside. Something seems to have happened.
all you have to do is ... / whenever ...
버튼을 누르기만 하면 끝이에요.— All you have to do is press the button.
그 사람은 술을 마시기만 하면 우는 버릇이 있어.— Every time he drinks, he cries.
just keeps ...-ing / does nothing but
아무 말도 없이 웃기만 했어요.— He said nothing and just smiled.
걱정만 하고 있기만 하면 달라지는 게 없어.— If you only sit there worrying, nothing changes.
after doing it (repeatedly), I came to ...
매일 듣다 보니 이제 좀 들려요.— I listened every day, and now I can make some of it out.
얘기하다 보니 시간이 다 갔네.— We got to talking and the time just went.
if you keep ...-ing, you'll eventually ...
계속 연습하다 보면 익숙해질 거예요.— If you keep practicing, you'll get used to it.
살다 보면 그런 날도 있어.— That's life — you get days like that.
once I did it, I found that ...
와서 보니 아무도 없었어요.— When I got there, there was nobody.
사고 보니 집에 똑같은 게 있더라.— After buying it I realized I already had the same thing at home.
have been ...-ing (up to now)
십 년 동안 이 일을 해 왔어요.— I've been doing this job for ten years.
지금까지 잘 참아 왔다.— I've held out well so far.
keep on ...-ing (from now on) / be getting close to
앞으로도 하나씩 배워 갈 거예요.— I'll keep learning one thing at a time from now on.
일이 거의 끝나 간다.— The work is nearly done.
do ... in advance and keep it that way
표는 미리 사 두는 게 좋아요.— It's better to buy the tickets in advance.
여기 적어 뒀으니까 나중에 봐.— I've written it down here, so check it later.
do ... for someone (humble/respectful)
제가 도와드릴까요?— Shall I help you?
가방 들어 드릴게요.— Let me carry your bag for you.
asked (me/us) to do ... for them
친구가 사진을 보내 달라고 했어요.— My friend asked me to send the photos.
사장님이 조금만 기다려 달라고 하셨어.— The boss asked us to wait a little longer.
start ...-ing
갑자기 비가 오기 시작했어요.— It suddenly started raining.
작년부터 한국어를 배우기 시작했다.— I started learning Korean last year.
after finishing ...
운동하고 나서 샤워했어요.— I showered after working out.
밥 먹고 나서 얘기하자.— Let's talk after we eat.
once you've done ..., then ...
이 약을 먹고 나면 좀 나아질 거예요.— Once you take this medicine, you'll feel better.
한번 해 보고 나면 별거 아니야.— Once you try it, it's nothing.
have no choice but to ...
차가 없으니 걸어갈 수밖에 없어요.— There's no car, so we have no choice but to walk.
그렇게 말하면 화가 날 수밖에 없지.— If you say it like that, of course people get angry.
make / let someone do ...
아이를 먼저 자게 했어요.— I put the child to bed first.
왜 사람을 기다리게 해?— Why do you keep people waiting?
see that you ... / I'll make sure to ...
회의 자료는 미리 읽어 오도록 하세요.— Please make sure to read the meeting materials beforehand.
다음부터는 늦지 않도록 하겠습니다.— I'll make sure not to be late from now on.
do not / is not (long negation)
저는 커피를 마시지 않아요.— I don't drink coffee.
생각만큼 어렵지 않았다.— It wasn't as hard as I thought.
be unable to ...
어제는 잠을 잘 자지 못했어요.— I couldn't sleep well last night.
바빠서 연락하지 못했다.— I was busy, so I couldn't get in touch.
that's how it is / as a rule
노력하면 결과가 따라오는 법이에요.— If you work hard, results follow — that's how it is.
급하게 서두르면 실수하는 법이다.— Rush things and you're bound to make mistakes.
for (the purpose of) ...-ing, it's (too) ...
혼자 살기에는 방이 좀 커요.— For living alone, the room is a bit big.
이 옷은 면접 보기엔 너무 화려하다.— These clothes are too flashy for a job interview.
oh, not at all (politely denying a compliment)
잘하기는요, 아직 많이 부족해요.— Good at it? Not at all, I still have a long way to go.
고맙기는요. 제가 더 고마워요.— Don't thank me — I should be thanking you.
know / don't know whether (or what, why) ...
여기서 얼마나 걸리는지 아세요?— Do you know how long it takes from here?
왜 화가 났는지 모르겠어.— I don't know why he got angry.
it takes (time/money) to do ...
여기서 공항까지 가는 데 한 시간 걸려요.— It takes an hour to get from here to the airport.
집을 사는 데 돈이 많이 들었다.— Buying a house cost a lot of money.
would you like to ...? (most polite)
음료는 무엇으로 하시겠습니까?— What would you like to drink?
이쪽에서 잠시 기다리시겠습니까?— Would you mind waiting over here for a moment?
could you please ...? (polite request)
여기 사인 좀 해 주시겠어요?— Could you sign here, please?
조금만 더 크게 말해 주시겠어요?— Could you speak a little louder, please?
intend to / wish to (formal)
오늘은 세 가지를 말씀드리고자 합니다.— Today I would like to speak about three things.
이 자리를 빌려 감사를 전하고자 합니다.— I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you.
archaic middle-formal ending (dramas, signs)
어서 오시오.— Please come in.
문을 당기시오.— Pull the door.
since we ... (highly formal written humble style)
아래와 같이 안내드리오니 참고하시기 바랍니다.— We inform you as follows; please take note.
행사가 예정되어 있사오니 많이 참석해 주십시오.— An event is scheduled, so we kindly ask for your attendance.
please do / shall we (deferential suggestion)
이쪽으로 앉으시지요.— Please have a seat over here.
그럼 다음 주에 뵙시죠.— Then let's meet next week.
we ask that you ... (formal announcement)
안전벨트를 착용하시길 바랍니다.— Please fasten your seatbelt.
시간을 지켜 주시길 바랍니다.— We ask that you keep to the schedule.
you just need to ... (polite instruction)
여기에 이름만 적으시면 됩니다.— You just need to write your name here.
삼 번 창구로 가시면 됩니다.— Please go to counter number three.
they say that ... (contracted reported speech)
민수는 오늘 못 온대요.— They say Minsu can't come today.
그 집이 진짜 맛있대.— They say that place is really good.
they said to ... (reported command)
과장님이 지금 오래요.— The manager says to come now.
엄마가 일찍 자래.— Mom said to go to bed early.
they said let's ... (reported suggestion)
친구들이 내일 같이 가재요.— My friends say let's go together tomorrow.
형이 이따 밥 먹재.— My brother says let's eat later.
they asked whether ... (reported question)
부장님이 자료 다 됐냬요.— The director asks whether the materials are ready.
친구가 너 어디 사냬.— My friend asked where you live.
you're saying ...? (asking to repeat / surprise)
네? 지금 출발한다고요?— Sorry? You're leaving now?
제가 그렇게 말했다고요? 아닌데요.— I said that? I don't think so.
you want me to ...? (repeating an order in disbelief)
이걸 오늘까지 하라고요?— You want this done by today?
혼자 다 들라고?— You want me to carry all this alone?
I heard that ... (inviting the listener's reaction)
거기 주말에는 사람이 많다던데요.— I heard it gets crowded there on weekends.
그 영화 재미없다던데. 그래도 볼래?— I heard that movie isn't good. Still want to watch it?
ask whether / ask why ... (full quoted question)
언제 오냐고 물어봤어요.— I asked when he was coming.
왜 늦었냐고 하더라.— She asked why I was late.
said let's ... (quoted suggestion)
다들 회식하자고 해서 갔어요.— Everyone said let's have a team dinner, so I went.
친구가 오늘은 쉬자고 했다.— My friend said let's rest today.
they say ... (casual reported speech)
내일 비 온대.— They say it'll rain tomorrow.
그 카페 다음 달에 문 닫는대요.— They say that cafe is closing next month.
to the extent that / as much as one can
배가 터질 만큼 먹었어요.— I ate until I was about to burst.
먹을 만큼만 담아라.— Only take as much as you'll eat.
even if you try ..., it's pointless
지금 가 봤자 이미 늦었어요.— Even if you go now, it's already too late.
말해 봤자 안 들을 거야.— Even if you tell him, he won't listen.
whether you ... or not (I don't care)
오든 말든 저는 먼저 갈게요.— Whether you come or not, I'm heading off first.
믿든 말든 사실이야.— Believe it or not, it's true.
of course! / certainly (warm agreement)
도와드리고말고요. 언제든 말씀하세요.— Of course I'll help. Just say the word anytime.
그럼 알고말고. 우리 십 년 친구야.— Of course I know. We've been friends ten years.