-을/를 토대로 - Based on

-을/를 토대로 expresses "based on" or "on the basis of." It indicates using something as a foundation, basis, or groundwork for an action, decision, or creation. The word 토대 means "foundation" or "basis."

Structure

Noun + -을/를 토대로 (하다)

Breakdown:

• -을/를: Object particle
• 토대: Foundation, basis
• -로: Direction/means particle
• 하다 (optional): To do

Literal meaning: "Making [noun] the foundation..." → "Based on..."

Formation Rules

With Final Consonant: -을 토대로

• 경험을 토대로 (based on experience)
• 사실을 토대로 (based on facts)
• 연구를 토대로 (based on research)
• 결과를 토대로 (based on results)

No Final Consonant: -를 토대로

• 데이터를 토대로 (based on data)
• 이야기를 토대로 (based on a story)
• 조사를 토대로 (based on investigation)
• 증거를 토대로 (based on evidence)

Core Meaning: Foundation and Basis

Using as a Foundation

Building upon something:

• 이 영화는 실화를 토대로 만들어졌어요 (This movie was made based on a true story)
• 연구 결과를 토대로 결론을 내렸습니다 (We drew conclusions based on research results)
• 경험을 토대로 조언해 드릴게요 (I'll give you advice based on experience)
• 데이터를 토대로 분석했습니다 (We analyzed based on the data)

Making Decisions/Judgments

Grounding decisions in something:

• 사실을 토대로 판단하세요 (Judge based on facts)
• 증거를 토대로 수사합니다 (Investigate based on evidence)
• 통계를 토대로 예측했어요 (We predicted based on statistics)
• 의견을 토대로 개선하겠습니다 (We'll improve based on feedback)

Common Usage Patterns

Creative Works Based On

Stories, movies, shows:

• 실화를 토대로 한 영화 (a movie based on a true story)
• 소설을 토대로 만든 드라마 (a drama made based on a novel)
• 역사를 토대로 쓴 책 (a book written based on history)
• 전설을 토대로 한 이야기 (a story based on legend)

Research and Analysis

Academic and professional work:

• 연구를 토대로 논문을 썼어요 (I wrote a paper based on research)
• 조사를 토대로 보고서를 작성했습니다 (We prepared a report based on investigation)
• 실험을 토대로 결론을 냈어요 (We reached a conclusion based on experiments)
• 분석을 토대로 전략을 세웠어요 (We developed a strategy based on analysis)

Facts and Evidence

Grounding in objective information:

• 사실을 토대로 말하세요 (Speak based on facts)
• 증거를 토대로 판결했습니다 (The verdict was based on evidence)
• 데이터를 토대로 결정했어요 (We decided based on data)
• 통계를 토대로 예상합니다 (We estimate based on statistics)

Experience and Knowledge

Drawing from personal or collective experience:

• 경험을 토대로 조언합니다 (I advise based on experience)
• 지식을 토대로 설명해 드릴게요 (I'll explain based on knowledge)
• 과거를 토대로 배웁니다 (We learn based on the past)

Tense Conjugations

Present Tense

Polite: Noun + -을/를 토대로 + Present verb

• 사실을 토대로 합니다 (do based on facts)
• 연구를 토대로 진행해요 (proceed based on research)
• 데이터를 토대로 분석해요 (analyze based on data)

Past Tense

Polite: Noun + -을/를 토대로 + Past verb

• 사실을 토대로 했어요 (did based on facts)
• 연구를 토대로 진행했어요 (proceeded based on research)
• 데이터를 토대로 분석했어요 (analyzed based on data)

Future Tense

Polite: Noun + -을/를 토대로 + Future verb

• 사실을 토대로 할 거예요 (will do based on facts)
• 연구를 토대로 진행할 거예요 (will proceed based on research)
• 데이터를 토대로 분석할 거예요 (will analyze based on data)

Common Expressions

Research and Academia

• 연구를 토대로 (based on research)
• 실험을 토대로 (based on experiments)
• 조사를 토대로 (based on investigation)
• 분석을 토대로 (based on analysis)
• 논문을 토대로 (based on a thesis/paper)
• 이론을 토대로 (based on theory)

Facts and Evidence

• 사실을 토대로 (based on facts)
• 증거를 토대로 (based on evidence)
• 데이터를 토대로 (based on data)
• 통계를 토대로 (based on statistics)
• 기록을 토대로 (based on records)

Experience and Stories

• 경험을 토대로 (based on experience)
• 실화를 토대로 (based on a true story)
• 역사를 토대로 (based on history)
• 전설을 토대로 (based on legend)
• 이야기를 토대로 (based on a story)

Decisions and Planning

• 의견을 토대로 (based on opinions)
• 계획을 토대로 (based on plans)
• 결과를 토대로 (based on results)
• 정보를 토대로 (based on information)

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

• 사실을 토대로 판단합니다 (We judge based on facts)
• 연구를 토대로 진행하겠습니다 (We will proceed based on research)

Polite (해요체)

• 경험을 토대로 말해요 (I speak based on experience)
• 데이터를 토대로 결정했어요 (We decided based on data)

Casual (반말)

• 사실을 토대로 해 (Do it based on facts)
• 이야기를 토대로 만들었어 (Made it based on a story)

Adnominal Form: -을/를 토대로 한

Modifying Nouns

"Based on..." as an adjective phrase:

• 실화를 토대로 한 영화 (a movie based on a true story)
• 연구를 토대로 한 결론 (a conclusion based on research)
• 경험을 토대로 한 조언 (advice based on experience)
• 사실을 토대로 한 보도 (reporting based on facts)

Structure: Noun1 + -을/를 토대로 한 + Noun2

Negative Forms

Not Based On

다른 것을 토대로:

• 사실이 아닌 것을 토대로 하지 마세요 (Don't base it on non-facts)
• 추측을 토대로 하지 말고 증거를 보세요 (Don't base it on guesses, look at evidence)

-없이 (without basis):

• 근거 없이 판단하지 마세요 (Don't judge without basis)

Question Forms

Asking About Basis

What is it based on?:

• 무엇을 토대로 했어요? (What was it based on?)
• 어떤 자료를 토대로 분석했나요? (What materials was the analysis based on?)
• 뭘 토대로 그렇게 말해요? (What are you basing that statement on?)

Confirming Basis

Is it based on...?:

• 이게 사실을 토대로 한 거예요? (Is this based on facts?)
• 연구를 토대로 한 결과예요? (Are these results based on research?)

Related Patterns

-을/를 토대로 vs -을/를 바탕으로

-을/를 바탕으로: Also means "based on"

Difference: Minimal - largely interchangeable

• 경험을 토대로 ≈ 경험을 바탕으로 (both: based on experience)
• 토대: Slightly more emphasis on "foundation" (literal platform)
• 바탕: Slightly more emphasis on "groundwork" (underlying base)

In practice, both are used similarly

-을/를 토대로 vs -을/를 기준으로

-을/를 기준으로: Based on a standard/criterion

Difference:

• 토대로: Based on (as foundation for creation/analysis)
  • 연구를 토대로 썼어요 (wrote based on research)
• 기준으로: Based on (as a standard for judgment)
  • 성적을 기준으로 뽑아요 (select based on grades)

-을/를 토대로 vs -에 따라

-에 따라: According to/depending on

Difference:

• 토대로: Using as foundation (creative/analytical basis)
  • 소설을 토대로 만든 영화 (movie made based on novel)
• 따라: Following rules or varying by conditions
  • 법에 따라 처리합니다 (handle according to law)

Perspective and Usage

When to Use -을/를 토대로

Use when:

• Creating something based on source material
• Making decisions grounded in facts/evidence
• Conducting analysis using certain data
• Building upon previous work or knowledge

Emphasis:

• Highlights the foundational nature of the basis
• Often used in formal, academic, or professional contexts
• Suggests careful, grounded approach

Summary Table

Context	Example	Meaning
True story	실화를 토대로	Based on a true story
Research	연구를 토대로	Based on research
Facts	사실을 토대로	Based on facts
Experience	경험을 토대로	Based on experience
Data	데이터를 토대로	Based on data
Evidence	증거를 토대로	Based on evidence

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Expresses foundation: Using something as a basis
• ✅ Noun + -을/를 토대로: Attaches to nouns
• ✅ 토대 = foundation: Literal meaning clear in usage
• ✅ Academic/professional: Common in formal contexts
• ✅ Similar to -을/를 바탕으로: Largely interchangeable
• ✅ -을/를 토대로 한: Adnominal form for modifying nouns

-을/를 토대로 is essential for expressing that something is grounded in or built upon a particular foundation, whether facts, research, experience, or creative source material. It conveys careful, reasoned work based on solid foundations.