-다면 - If (hypothetical)

-다면 expresses hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions. It means "if (hypothetically)," "supposing that," or "if [imagining]."

Structure

Verb/Adjective stem + -다면

Meaning: "If [hypothetically/imaginatively]" / "Supposing that"

Note: More hypothetical than -(으)면

Conjugation Rules

Verbs (Action): -(느)ㄴ다면

Present actions:

• 가다 → 간다면 (if one were to go)
• 오다 → 온다면 (if one were to come)
• 먹다 → 먹는다면 (if one were to eat)
• 하다 → 한다면 (if one were to do)

Pattern: Use declarative -(느)ㄴ다 + 면

Adjectives: -다면

States:

• 좋다 → 좋다면 (if it were good)
• 크다 → 크다면 (if it were big)
• 바쁘다 → 바쁘다면 (if one were busy)
• 없다 → 없다면 (if there weren't)

Pattern: Stem + 다면

Past: -았/었다면

Past hypothetical:

• 갔다면 (if I had gone)
• 먹었다면 (if I had eaten)
• 좋았다면 (if it had been good)

Usage: Contrary to fact (didn't actually happen)

Core Usage: Hypothetical Situations

Imaginary Scenarios

"What if" questions:

• 내가 새라면 날 수 있을 텐데 (If I were a bird, I could fly)
• 돈이 많다면 뭐 할 거예요? (If you had a lot of money, what would you do?)
• 시간이 있다면 도와줄게요 (If I had time [hypothetically], I'd help)

Contrary to Fact

Situations that aren't true:

• 내가 부자라면 세계 여행할 거예요 (If I were rich, I'd travel the world) → But I'm not rich
• 그 사람이 온다면 좋겠어요 (If that person came, it would be nice) → Uncertain they'll come

Common Patterns

Hypothetical Questions

"What if" scenarios:

• 다시 태어난다면 뭐가 되고 싶어요? (If you were reborn, what would you want to be?)
• 복권에 당첨된다면 어떻게 할 거예요? (If you won the lottery, what would you do?)
• 하루만 슈퍼맨이 된다면? (If you became Superman for just one day?)

Philosophical Discussions

Abstract thinking:

• 시간 여행이 가능하다면 언제로 가고 싶어요? (If time travel were possible, when would you want to go?)
• 마법이 있다면 뭘 하고 싶어요? (If magic existed, what would you want to do?)

Polite Hypothetical Requests

Softening requests:

• 가능하다면 도와주실 수 있어요? (If it's possible, could you help?)
• 괜찮다면 내일 만날까요? (If it's okay, shall we meet tomorrow?)
• 시간이 있다면 연락 주세요 (If you have time, please contact me)

Contrast with -(으)면

-다면 vs -(으)면

-다면: Hypothetical, imaginary

• 내가 부자라면 (If I were rich [but I'm not])
• → Contrary to fact, imaginary

-(으)면: General conditional (real or imaginary)

• 내가 부자면 (If I'm rich [could be real])
• → More neutral, less hypothetical

Nuance Difference

-다면:

• More hypothetical
• Imaginary scenarios
• "Supposing that..."
• Often impossible situations

-(으)면:

• Real possibilities
• Natural conditions
• "If/when..."
• More practical

Past Hypothetical: -았/었다면

Regret or Contrary to Past

What didn't happen:

• 갔다면 만났을 거예요 (If I had gone, I would have met them) → But I didn't go
• 공부했다면 합격했을 텐데 (If I had studied, I would have passed) → But I didn't study

Pattern: Past -다면 + -(으)ㄹ 텐데/-(으)ㄹ 거예요

Common Expressions

Hypothetical Scenarios

• 내가 너라면 (If I were you)
• 다시 시작한다면 (If I started again)
• 가능하다면 (If possible [hypothetically])
• 괜찮다면 (If it's okay [politely])

Philosophical Questions

• 신이 있다면 (If God exists)
• 외계인이 있다면 (If aliens exist)
• 영원히 산다면 (If one lived forever)
• 투명 인간이 된다면 (If one became invisible)

Polite Requests

• 실례가 아니라면 (If it's not rude)
• 괜찮으시다면 (If it's okay with you - honorific)
• 가능하다면 (If it's possible)

With Different Result Patterns

With -(으)ㄹ 텐데

Hypothetical result (but it's not):

• 돈이 있다면 살 텐데 (If I had money, I'd buy it [but I don't])
• 시간이 있다면 갈 텐데 (If I had time, I'd go [but I don't])

With -(으)ㄹ 거예요

Hypothetical future:

• 부자라면 행복할 거예요 (If I were rich, I'd be happy)
• 가능하다면 하고 싶을 거예요 (If possible, I'd want to do it)

Example Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Hypothetical Question

A: 복권에 당첨된다면 뭐 할 거예요?
(If you won the lottery, what would you do?)

B: 세계 여행하고 싶어요.
(I'd want to travel the world.)

Dialogue 2: Advice

A: 이 상황에서 어떻게 해야 할까요?
(What should I do in this situation?)

B: 제가 당신이라면 포기하지 않을 거예요.
(If I were you, I wouldn't give up.)

Dialogue 3: Polite Request

A: 괜찮다면 도와주실 수 있어요?
(If it's okay, could you help?)

B: 네, 물론이죠.
(Yes, of course.)

Dialogue 4: Imagination

A: 마법이 있다면 뭘 하고 싶어요?
(If magic existed, what would you want to do?)

B: 하늘을 날고 싶어요.
(I'd want to fly in the sky.)

Special Pattern: 내가 너라면

"If I Were You"

Giving advice hypothetically:

• 내가 너라면 그렇게 안 할 거야 (If I were you, I wouldn't do that)
• 제가 당신이라면 기회를 잡을 거예요 (If I were you, I'd take the opportunity)

Usage: Very common for giving advice

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 가면다면

Mixing forms

✅ Correct: 간다면 or 가면

Use one form consistently

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❌ Incorrect: 좋는다면

Wrong verb ending

✅ Correct: 좋다면

Adjectives just add -다면

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❌ Incorrect: 먹다면 (for verbs)

Missing -(느)ㄴ

✅ Correct: 먹는다면

Verbs need -(느)ㄴ다면

When to Use

Use -다면 for:

Hypothetical scenarios:

• ✓ Imaginary situations
• ✓ "What if" questions
• ✓ Contrary to fact
• ✓ Philosophical discussions
• ✓ Polite suppositions

Use -(으)면 for:

Real conditions:

• Daily practical conditions
• Real possibilities
• Simple if/when statements
• Natural conditionals

Summary Table

Type	Form	Example	Meaning
Verb	-(느)ㄴ다면	간다면	If one were to go
Adjective	-다면	좋다면	If it were good
Past	-았/었다면	갔다면	If one had gone
Copula	-라면	학생이라면	If one were a student

Key Takeaways

✅ Hypothetical conditional: "If [imagining/supposing]"
✅ Verbs: -(느)ㄴ다면
✅ Adjectives: -다면
✅ More hypothetical: Than -(으)면
✅ Common for: "What if" questions
✅ Past form: -았/었다면 (contrary to past fact)
✅ Polite usage: Softens requests and suggestions

-다면 is perfect for expressing hypothetical and imaginary scenarios in Korean. While -(으)면 is more versatile and common for everyday conditions, -다면 is specifically designed for "what if" questions, contrary-to-fact situations, and polite hypothetical suppositions.