-다니(요) is a sentence ending expressing surprise, disbelief, or strong emotional reaction to information. It means "What!" "Really!" or "I can't believe...!" It's used when the speaker is shocked, surprised, or finds something unexpected or unacceptable.
Structure
Statement + -다니(요)
Formation depends on the quoted form:
- Verb/Adj + -다니(요): Plain form quote + 다니요
- Noun + -(이)라니(요): Noun quote + 라니요
Meaning: Expresses surprise, disbelief, or emotional reaction to a statement
Formation Rules
Verbs and Adjectives: -다니(요)
Present tense verbs:
- 가다 → 간다 → 간다니요! (What, they're going?!)
- 먹다 → 먹는다 → 먹는다니요! (What, they're eating?!)
- 하다 → 한다 → 한다니요! (What, they're doing it?!)
Adjectives:
- 좋다 → 좋다니요! (What, it's good?!)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘다니요! (What, it's pretty?!)
- 비싸다 → 비싸다니요! (What, it's expensive?!)
Past Tense: -았/었다니(요)
Past actions:
- 갔다니요! (What, they went?!)
- 먹었다니요! (What, they ate it?!)
- 했다니요! (What, they did it?!)
Nouns: -(이)라니(요)
With final consonant: -이라니(요):
- 학생이라니요! (What, a student?!)
- 의사라니요! (What, a doctor?!)
- 거짓말이라니요! (What, a lie?!)
No final consonant: -라니(요):
- 친구라니요! (What, a friend?!)
- 가수라니요! (What, a singer?!)
- 선생님이라니요! (What, a teacher?!)
Core Meaning: Surprise and Disbelief
Expressing Shock
Can't believe what you heard:
- 그 사람이 결혼한다니요! (What, that person is getting married?!)
- 벌써 떠났다니요! (What, they already left?!)
- 시험이 내일이라니요! (What, the exam is tomorrow?!)
- 회사를 그만뒀다니요! (What, they quit their job?!)
Disbelief or Denial
Finding something hard to believe:
- 거짓말이라니요! (What, it's a lie?! / I can't believe it's a lie!)
- 불가능하다니요! (What, it's impossible?!)
- 믿을 수 없다니요! (What, you can't believe it?!)
Indignation or Dismay
Negative surprise or disappointment:
- 벌써 끝났다니요! (What, it already ended?! - disappointed)
- 안 된다니요! (What, it's not allowed?! - frustrated)
- 취소됐다니요! (What, it was cancelled?! - upset)
Politeness Levels
Polite: -다니요
Standard polite form:
- 간다니요! (What, they're going?!)
- 비싸다니요! (What, it's expensive?!)
- 학생이라니요! (What, a student?!)
Casual: -다니
Informal speech:
- 간다니! (What, going?!)
- 비싸다니! (What, expensive?!)
- 학생이라니! (What, a student?!)
Very Casual: 다니 + Exclamation
With 그래/야:
- 간다니 그래! (What, they're going?!)
- 비싸다니 그래! (What, so expensive?!)
Tense Conjugations
Present: -다니(요)
Current situation surprise:
- 지금 온다니요! (What, they're coming now?!)
- 아프다니요! (What, you're sick?!)
- 바쁘다니요! (What, you're busy?!)
Past: -았/었다니(요)
Past event surprise:
- 어제 갔다니요! (What, they went yesterday?!)
- 벌써 끝났다니요! (What, it already finished?!)
- 결혼했다니요! (What, they got married?!)
Future: -(으)ㄹ 거라니(요)
Future plan surprise:
- 그만둘 거라니요! (What, you're going to quit?!)
- 떠날 거라니요! (What, you're going to leave?!)
- 이사할 거라니요! (What, you're going to move?!)
Common Usage Patterns
Repeating What You Heard
Quote + 다니요:
-
A: 내일 시험이에요. (The exam is tomorrow.)
-
B: 내일이라니요?! (What, tomorrow?!)
-
A: 그 사람 결혼해요. (That person is getting married.)
-
B: 결혼한다니요?! (What, getting married?!)
Expressing Disbelief
Strong reaction to news:
- 벌써 끝났다니요! (What, it already ended?!)
- 취소됐다니요! (What, it was cancelled?!)
- 안 온다니요! (What, they're not coming?!)
- 거짓말이라니요! (What, it's a lie?!)
Indignation
Negative reaction:
- 그렇게 비싸다니요! (What, it's so expensive?!)
- 안 된다니요! (What, it's not allowed?!)
- 불가능하다니요! (What, it's impossible?!)
- 너무하다니요! (What, that's too much?!)
Positive Surprise
Happy or excited shock:
- 정말이라니요! (What, it's really true?! - happy)
- 합격했다니요! (What, you passed?! - excited)
- 1등을 했다니요! (What, you got first place?! - impressed)
Common Expressions
Strong Reactions
- 믿을 수 없다니요! (What, you can't believe it?! / Unbelievable!)
- 정말이라니요! (What, it's really true?!)
- 거짓말이라니요! (What, it's a lie?!)
- 그럴 리 없다니요! (What, that can't be?!)
Time-Related Surprise
- 벌써 끝났다니요! (What, it already ended?!)
- 이제 와서 그런다니요! (What, you're doing this now?!)
- 내일이라니요! (What, tomorrow?!)
Negative Reactions
- 안 된다니요! (What, it's not allowed?!)
- 불가능하다니요! (What, it's impossible?!)
- 취소됐다니요! (What, it was cancelled?!)
- 너무하다니요! (What, that's too much?!)
Identity/Status Surprise
- 의사라니요! (What, a doctor?!)
- 학생이라니요! (What, a student?!)
- 그 사람이라니요! (What, that person?!)
Negative Forms
Negative Statement Surprise
안/못 + Verb + -다니요:
- 안 온다니요! (What, they're not coming?!)
- 못 한다니요! (What, you can't do it?!)
- 안 된다니요! (What, it's not allowed?!)
-지 않다니요:
- 오지 않는다니요! (What, they're not coming?!)
- 하지 않는다니요! (What, you're not doing it?!)
With Quoted Speech
Quoting Others' Words
Someone said... + 다니요:
- 그 사람이 간다고 했다니요! (What, you said that person is going?!)
- 비싸다고 하던데, 정말 비싸다니요! (They said it's expensive, and it really is expensive?!)
Indirect Quote Pattern
-(으)ㄴ/는다고 하다 → 한다니요:
- 한다고 했어요 → 한다니요! (You said you'd do it?!)
- 간다고 했어요 → 간다니요! (You said you'd go?!)
Emotional Nuances
Shock (Neutral/Negative)
- 벌써 갔다니요! (What, they already left?! - shocked)
- 없어졌다니요! (What, it disappeared?! - alarmed)
Happy Surprise
- 합격했다니요! (What, you passed?! - delighted)
- 성공했다니요! (What, you succeeded?! - thrilled)
Disappointment
- 취소됐다니요... (What, it was cancelled... - disappointed)
- 끝났다니요... (What, it ended... - sad)
Indignation
- 안 된다니요?! (What, it's not allowed?! - frustrated)
- 너무하다니요! (What, that's too much! - upset)
Comparing Similar Endings
-다니(요) vs -다고(요)
Different functions:
- -다니(요): Surprise/reaction to statement
- 간다니요! (What, they're going?! - shocked)
- -다고(요): Quoting what someone said
- 간다고요 (They say they're going / repeat clarification)
-다니(요) vs -네(요)
Different reactions:
- -다니(요): Strong surprise/disbelief
- 비싸다니요! (What, it's expensive?! - can't believe it)
- -네(요): Gentle realization
- 비싸네요 (Oh, it's expensive - just noticed)
Self-Talk Usage
Expressing Own Disbelief
To oneself (casual):
- 벌써 끝났다니! (What, it already ended?! - to self)
- 믿을 수 없다니! (I can't believe it! - to self)
- 이럴 수가 있다니! (This can happen?! - to self)
Perspective and Usage
When to Use -다니(요)
Use when:
- Reacting to surprising information
- Expressing disbelief about what you heard
- Showing shock or strong emotion
- Repeating something you find hard to accept
Nuance:
- More emotional than neutral endings
- Often implies the speaker is affected by the news
- Can be positive (happy surprise) or negative (shock/dismay)
- Shows active emotional engagement
Natural Contexts
Common scenarios:
- Hearing unexpected news
- Learning shocking information
- Reacting to unacceptable situations
- Expressing dismay or excitement
Summary Table
| Type | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb | -다니요 | 간다니요! | What, they're going?! |
| Adjective | -다니요 | 비싸다니요! | What, it's expensive?! |
| Past | -았/었다니요 | 갔다니요! | What, they went?! |
| Noun | -(이)라니요 | 학생이라니요! | What, a student?! |
| Negative | 안 -다니요 | 안 온다니요! | What, not coming?! |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Strong surprise: "What!" / "Really!" - emotional reaction
- ✅ Quote + -다니(요): Reacting to statements
- ✅ Nouns + -(이)라니요: Special form for nouns
- ✅ Shows disbelief: Can't believe what you heard
- ✅ Emotional: More intense than -네요 or -군요
- ✅ Polite -다니요: Casual -다니
-다니(요) is an essential ending for expressing strong emotional reactions to surprising or unexpected information. It shows that you're genuinely shocked, pleased, or dismayed by what you've heard, making your Korean sound more natural and emotionally expressive.