The connective ending -(으)ㄴ데/는데 (neunde) is one of the most versatile connectives in Korean. It provides background information, sets context, expresses mild contrast, or leads into a question or request.
Basic Functions
-(으)ㄴ데/는데 has multiple functions:
- Background information - setting the scene
- Mild contrast - softer than -지만
- Lead-in to questions - preparing for a question
- Lead-in to requests - softening requests
- Continuation - connecting related thoughts
Translation: but, and, while, context marker (often untranslatable)
Formation
For Action Verbs (Present)
Pattern: [Stem]는데
- 가다 → 가는데 (while going/but going)
- 먹다 → 먹는데 (while eating/but eating)
- 공부하다 → 공부하는데 (while studying/but studying)
For Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
After vowel or ㄹ → ㄴ데:
- 크다 → 큰데 (is big, but)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁜데 (is pretty, but)
- 멀다 → 먼데 (is far, but)
After consonant → 은데:
- 작다 → 작은데 (is small, but)
- 좋다 → 좋은데 (is good, but)
- 많다 → 많은데 (is many, but)
For Past Tense (All Verbs)
After vowel past → ㄴ데:
- 갔다 → 갔는데 → 간데 (went, but)
- 먹었다 → 먹었는데 → 먹은데 (ate, but)
After consonant past → 은데:
- 없었다 → 없었는데 → 없었는데 (didn't have, but)
Wait, let me correct this - past tense uses -었/았는데:
Past tense: -았/었는데
- 갔다 → 갔는데 (went, but)
- 먹었다 → 먹었는데 (ate, but)
- 했다 → 했는데 (did, but)
For Copula 이다
After consonant: 인데
- 학생이다 → 학생인데 (is a student, but)
After vowel: ㄴ데
- 의사이다 → 의사ㄴ데 → 의사인데 (is a doctor, but)
Actually, copula uses -인데 after both:
- 학생인데 (student, but)
- 의사인데 (doctor, but)
Function 1: Providing Background
Setting the Scene
Pattern: [Background]는데, [Main Information]
-
밖에 비가 오는데 우산이 없어요. (It's raining outside, (and) I don't have an umbrella.)
-
오늘 날씨가 좋은데 산책할까요? (The weather is nice today, (so) shall we take a walk?)
-
배가 고픈데 뭐 먹을까요? (I'm hungry, (so) what should we eat?)
Providing Context
-
어제 영화를 봤는데 정말 재미있었어요. (I watched a movie yesterday, (and) it was really fun.)
-
친구를 만났는데 오랜만이었어요. (I met a friend, (and) it had been a long time.)
Function 2: Mild Contrast
Softer Than -지만
Pattern: [Statement A]는데, [Contrasting B]
-
비싼데 좋아요. (It's expensive, but (it's) good.) - softer contrast
-
공부했는데 시험이 어려웠어요. (I studied, but the exam was difficult.) - softer
Compared to -지만:
- 비싸지만 좋아요. (It's expensive, but good.) - stronger contrast
- 비싼데 좋아요. (It's expensive, (though) good.) - softer
Unexpected Situations
-
기다렸는데 안 왔어요. (I waited, but they didn't come.)
-
전화했는데 안 받았어요. (I called, but they didn't answer.)
Function 3: Leading to Questions
Pattern: [Context]는데, [Question]?
Very common usage:
-
배가 고픈데 같이 먹을래요? (I'm hungry, (so) would you like to eat together?)
-
시간이 없는데 어떻게 할까요? (I don't have time, (so) what should I do?)
-
날씨가 좋은데 나갈래요? (The weather is nice, (so) do you want to go out?)
-
여기가 처음인데 추천해 주실래요? (This is my first time here, (so) could you recommend something?)
Seeking Advice
-
문제가 있는데 도와주실 수 있나요? (I have a problem, (so) can you help me?)
-
길을 모르는데 알려주세요. (I don't know the way, (so) please tell me.)
Function 4: Softening Requests
Pattern: [Reason]는데, [Request]
Makes requests more polite by providing reason:
-
춥은데 창문 좀 닫아 주세요. (It's cold, (so) please close the window.)
-
시끄러운데 조용히 해 주세요. (It's noisy, (so) please be quiet.)
-
무거운데 좀 도와주세요. (It's heavy, (so) please help me.)
Indirect Requests
- 목이 마른데... (I'm thirsty, (so)...) - implies: could you get me water?
- 피곤한데... (I'm tired, (so)...) - implies: can we rest?
Tense Distinctions
Present Action Verbs: -는데
- 가는데 (while going/am going, but)
- 먹는데 (while eating/am eating, but)
- 공부하는데 (while studying, but)
Present Descriptive Verbs: -(으)ㄴ데
- 좋은데 (is good, but)
- 큰데 (is big, but)
- 예쁜데 (is pretty, but)
Past Tense: -았/었는데
- 갔는데 (went, but)
- 먹었는데 (ate, but)
- 했는데 (did, but)
- 좋았는데 (was good, but)
Future Tense: -(으)ㄹ 건데
Less common, but exists:
- 갈 건데 (will go, but)
- 먹을 건데 (will eat, but)
With Different Subjects
Same Subject
- 저는 바쁜데 도와줄게요. (I'm busy, but I'll help.)
Different Subjects
-
저는 바쁜데 동생은 한가해요. (I'm busy, but my sibling is free.)
-
형은 키가 큰데 저는 작아요. (My brother is tall, but I'm short.)
Irregular Verbs
ㅂ Irregular
ㅂ stays before -는데/은데:
- 춥다 → 춥는데 (for action, rare)
- 춥다 → 추운데 (is cold, but) - adjective form
ㅎ Irregular
For -는데 with action verbs (rare):
- ㅎ stays
For -(으)ㄴ데 with adjectives:
- 빨갛다 → 빨간데 (is red, but) - ㅎ drops
- 하얗다 → 하얀데 (is white, but)
으 Irregular
- 크다 → 큰데 (is big, but)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁜데 (is pretty, but)
- 바쁘다 → 바쁜데 (is busy, but)
ㄹ Irregular
ㄹ drops before -는:
- 알다 → 아는데 (know, but)
- 살다 → 사는데 (live, but)
ㄹ stays for adjective form:
- 멀다 → 먼데 (is far, but)
- 길다 → 긴데 (is long, but)
Combining Multiple Clauses
Chaining -(으)ㄴ데/는데
Can use multiple times:
-
날씨가 좋은데 시간도 있는데 나갈까요? (The weather is nice, and I have time, so shall we go out?)
-
비싼데 작은데 그래도 좋아요. (It's expensive and small, but I still like it.)
Common Expressions
그런데 (but/by the way)
Standalone conjunction from 그렇다 + -은데:
-
좋아요. 그런데 비싸요. (It's good. But it's expensive.)
-
알아요. 그런데 문제가 있어요. (I know. But there's a problem.)
Can be shortened to 근데 in casual speech:
- 좋아요. 근데 비싸요. (It's good. But it's expensive.)
저기요/실례지만 + -(으)ㄴ데/는데
Polite way to get attention:
-
저기요, 길을 잃었는데 도와주세요. (Excuse me, I'm lost, so please help me.)
-
실례지만, 시간이 있으신데 잠깐 얘기할 수 있을까요? (Excuse me, if you have time, could we talk briefly?)
In Storytelling
Narrative Context
Providing background in stories:
-
어제 친구를 만났는데 오랜만이었어요. (Yesterday I met a friend, and it had been a while.)
-
길을 걷고 있었는데 갑자기 비가 왔어요. (I was walking, when suddenly it started raining.)
Ending Sentences with -(으)ㄴ데/는데
Trailing Off
Can end sentences with -(으)ㄴ데, implying continuation:
- 가고 싶은데... (I want to go, but...) - implies: there's a problem
- 배가 고픈데... (I'm hungry, (so)...) - implies: let's eat
- 비싼데... (It's expensive, but...) - implies: uncertainty
This creates an open-ended, suggestive tone.
Politeness and Softening
Making Statements Less Direct
-
저기... 실수하신 것 같은데요. (Um... I think you made a mistake.) - softened
-
좀 시끄러운데요. (It's a bit noisy.) - softer complaint
Adding -요 makes it even more polite:
- 좋은데요. (It's good, but...) - polite hedge
Comparison with -지만
-지만 (Stronger Contrast)
- 비싸지만 살 거예요. (It's expensive, but I'll buy it.) - definite contrast
-(으)ㄴ데/는데 (Softer, More Context)
- 비싼데 살 거예요. (It's expensive, (but) I'll buy it.) - softer, more thoughtful
Usage Difference
-지만: Clear opposition, stronger contrast -(으)ㄴ데/는데: Background, softer contrast, more conversational
In Questions
Rhetorical Questions
-
좋은데 왜 안 사요? (It's good, (so) why don't you buy it?)
-
시간 있는데 왜 안 가요? (You have time, (so) why don't you go?)
Seeking Confirmation
- 맞는데요? (It's correct, right?)
- 좋은데요? (It's good, right?)
Expressing Hesitation
Uncertain Statements
-
가고 싶은데 시간이... (I want to go, but the time...)
-
좋은데 돈이... (It's good, but the money...)
This trailing creates hesitation or uncertainty.
Regional Variations
Standard: -(으)ㄴ데/는데
Most common in standard Korean.
Casual: -은디/는디
In some dialects or very casual speech:
- 좋은디 (It's good, but)
- 가는디 (Going, but)
Stick to standard -(으)ㄴ데/는데 in formal contexts.