-던데(요) is used to share observations, experiences, or information you personally witnessed or heard. It means "I noticed/saw/heard that..."
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -던데(요)
Meaning: "I noticed that..." / "I saw that..." / "I heard that..." / "When I [verb], ..."
Formation
All Verbs and Adjectives
Stem + -던데요:
- 가다 → 가던데요 (I saw [them] going)
- 먹다 → 먹던데요 (I saw [them] eating)
- 좋다 → 좋던데요 (I noticed it was good)
- 크다 → 크던데요 (I saw it was big)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘던데요 (I noticed it was pretty)
With 이다 (Copula)
Noun + 이던데요/던데요:
- 학생이던데요 (I heard [they] were a student)
- 의사던데요 (I heard [they] were a doctor)
- 한국 사람이던데요 (I heard [they] were Korean)
Core Meanings
Personal Observation
Sharing what you directly saw/experienced:
- 어제 비가 오던데요 (I noticed it was raining yesterday)
- 그 식당 음식이 맛있던데요 (I found the restaurant's food delicious)
Indirect Suggestion
Implying recommendation or suggestion:
- 저기 좋은 카페가 있던데요 (I noticed there's a good cafe there - you should try)
- 세일하던데요 (I saw they were having a sale - maybe you're interested)
Leading to Follow-up
Setting up for further discussion:
- 아까 전화하던데요? (I heard you called earlier?)
- 찾으시던데요? (I noticed you were looking for something?)
Usage Contexts
Sharing Observations
What you personally witnessed:
- 어제 그 사람 봤는데 아파 보이던데요 (I saw that person yesterday and they looked sick)
- 그 영화 재미있던데요 (I found that movie interesting)
Making Suggestions
Indirect recommendations:
- 저기 새로 생긴 빵집이 맛있던데요 (I noticed the new bakery there is delicious - suggesting to try)
- 이 옷 예쁘던데요 (I thought this outfit was pretty - maybe you should buy)
Reporting Information
Conveying what you heard/learned:
- 내일 비 온다던데요 (I heard it will rain tomorrow)
- 가격이 올랐던데요 (I heard the price went up)
Politeness Levels
Polite: -던데요
Standard polite form:
- 좋던데요 (I noticed it was good)
- 가던데요 (I saw [them] going)
Casual: -던데
With close friends/family:
- 좋던데 (I noticed it was good)
- 가던데 (I saw [them] going)
Very Casual: -던데~
Extended final particle:
- 좋던데~ (I noticed it was good~)
Common Patterns
-던데요? (Question Form)
Seeking confirmation or elaboration:
- 전화하던데요? (I heard you called?)
- 찾으시던데요? (I noticed you were looking?)
- 물어보던데요? (I heard someone was asking?)
-던데 + Statement
Leading to explanation:
- 비싸던데 살 거예요? (I noticed it was expensive, will you buy it?)
- 어렵던데 할 수 있어요? (I saw it was difficult, can you do it?)
그러던데요 (That's What I Heard)
Reporting hearsay:
- 그렇게 하라고 그러던데요 (That's what they said to do)
Time Reference
Recent Past Observation
What you noticed recently:
- 아까 비 오던데요 (It was raining earlier - I noticed)
- 어제 보던데요 (I saw yesterday)
- 조금 전에 가던데요 (I saw [them] going a moment ago)
General Past Experience
Something you experienced before:
- 작년에 가봤는데 좋던데요 (I went last year and it was good)
- 먹어봤는데 맛있던데요 (I tried it and it was delicious)
-던데 vs -는데
-던데 (Past Observation)
Something you witnessed/experienced:
- 비싸던데요 (I noticed it was expensive - I saw the price)
- Personal observation
-는데 (Current Situation + Follow-up)
Current state with continuation:
- 비싼데요 (It's expensive - stating fact now)
- Not necessarily personal observation
Negative Forms
안/못 + Verb + -던데요
- 안 가던데요 (I noticed [they] didn't go)
- 못 먹던데요 (I saw [they] couldn't eat)
Verb + -지 않던데요
- 가지 않던데요 (I noticed [they] didn't go)
- 좋지 않던데요 (I found it wasn't good)
Common Expressions
Recommendations
- 맛있던데요 (I found it delicious - you should try)
- 좋던데요 (I thought it was good - recommendation)
- 예쁘던데요 (I noticed it was pretty - suggestion)
Reporting
- 비 온다던데요 (I heard it will rain)
- 세일한다던데요 (I heard there's a sale)
- 문 닫는다던데요 (I heard they're closing)
Questions
- 전화하던데요? (I heard you called?)
- 찾으시던데요? (Were you looking for something?)
- 물어보던데요? (Someone was asking?)
Indirect Speech with -던데
-다던데요 (Quotation)
I heard that... (someone said):
- 좋다던데요 (I heard it's good)
- 간다던데요 (I heard [they]'re going)
- 학생이라던데요 (I heard [they]'re a student)
Nuance Difference
-던데요: Personal observation -다던데요: Heard from others (hearsay)
Special Patterns
그러던데요 (So I Heard)
General hearsay marker:
- 그러던데요 (So I heard / That's what they said)
- Used to report what others said
-던데 말이에요
Emphatic form:
- 정말 좋던데 말이에요 (It really was good, I'm telling you)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 가는던데요
Wrong tense marker combination
✅ Correct: 가던데요
Just -던데요, no present tense marker
❌ Incorrect: 학생던데요
Missing copula
✅ Correct: 학생이던데요
Need 이 after consonant-ending noun
Summary Table
| Type | Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb | -던데요 | 가던데요 | I saw [them] going |
| Adjective | -던데요 | 좋던데요 | I noticed it was good |
| Noun | 이던데요 | 학생이던데요 | I heard [they] were a student |
| Question | -던데요? | 전화하던데요? | I heard you called? |
| Hearsay | -다던데요 | 좋다던데요 | I heard it's good |