-(으)ㄴ/는 대로 expresses "as" or "just as," indicating that one action follows immediately after another, or that something is done exactly as it is or was. It means doing something right when/as something happens, or following something exactly.
Structure
Verb stem + -(으)ㄴ/는 대로
Breakdown:
- -(으)ㄴ/는: Adnominal ending
- 대로: As it is, according to
Two main meanings:
- "As soon as" - immediate succession
- "Just as/exactly as" - following exactly
Formation Rules
Present Tense: -는 대로
Action verbs:
- 오다 → 오는 대로 (as soon as [someone] comes)
- 가다 → 가는 대로 (as soon as [someone] goes)
- 듣다 → 듣는 대로 (as soon as [someone] hears)
- 보다 → 보는 대로 (as soon as [someone] sees)
- 알다 → 아는 대로 (as [someone] knows / exactly as known)
Past Tense: -(으)ㄴ 대로
With final consonant: -은 대로
- 먹다 → 먹은 대로 (just as [someone] ate)
- 듣다 → 들은 대로 (just as [someone] heard)
- 읽다 → 읽은 대로 (just as [someone] read)
No final consonant: -ㄴ 대로
- 하다 → 한 대로 (just as [someone] did)
- 보다 → 본 대로 (just as [someone] saw)
- 오다 → 온 대로 (just as [someone] came)
Core Meaning 1: As Soon As
Immediate Action After
Acting right when something happens:
- 도착하는 대로 연락할게요 (I'll contact you as soon as I arrive)
- 듣는 대로 알려 드릴게요 (I'll let you know as soon as I hear)
- 끝나는 대로 갈게요 (I'll go as soon as it's finished)
- 알게 되는 대로 말씀드리겠습니다 (I'll tell you as soon as I find out)
Present -는 대로 for Future/Habitual
Used for actions that will happen:
- 오는 대로 시작하세요 (Start as soon as [they] come)
- 준비되는 대로 출발합시다 (Let's depart as soon as we're ready)
- 받는 대로 확인해 주세요 (Please check as soon as you receive it)
Core Meaning 2: Just As/Exactly As
Following Exactly
Doing something the same way:
- 본 대로 하세요 (Do it just as you saw)
- 들은 대로 말했어요 (I said it just as I heard)
- 배운 대로 했어요 (I did it just as I learned)
- 쓰여 있는 대로 읽으세요 (Read it just as it's written)
As It Is
Without change:
- 있는 대로 말해 주세요 (Tell me as it is / everything you know)
- 아는 대로 대답하세요 (Answer with what you know)
- 생각나는 대로 쓰세요 (Write as things come to mind)
- 느끼는 대로 표현하세요 (Express as you feel)
Tense Conjugations
Present Action: -는 대로
For current or future actions:
- 도착하는 대로 (as soon as [someone] arrives)
- 끝나는 대로 (as soon as it ends)
- 보는 대로 (as [someone] sees / exactly as seen)
Past Action: -(으)ㄴ 대로
For completed actions or states:
- 들은 대로 (just as [someone] heard)
- 한 대로 (just as [someone] did)
- 본 대로 (just as [someone] saw)
- 계획한 대로 (just as planned)
Common Expressions
As Soon As (Future Actions)
- 도착하는 대로 (as soon as arriving)
- 끝나는 대로 (as soon as finishing)
- 듣는 대로 (as soon as hearing)
- 알게 되는 대로 (as soon as finding out)
- 준비되는 대로 (as soon as ready)
- 오는 대로 (as soon as coming)
Just As (Past/Completed)
- 본 대로 (just as seen)
- 들은 대로 (just as heard)
- 한 대로 (just as done)
- 배운 대로 (just as learned)
- 말한 대로 (just as said)
- 계획한 대로 (just as planned)
As It Is/Spontaneously
- 있는 대로 (everything there is / as it is)
- 아는 대로 (everything one knows / as known)
- 생각나는 대로 (as things come to mind)
- 느끼는 대로 (as one feels)
- 하고 싶은 대로 (as one wants to do)
- 마음 가는 대로 (as one's heart leads)
Special Expressions
있는 대로
Everything available / All that exists:
- 있는 대로 다 주세요 (Give me everything you have)
- 있는 대로 말해 주세요 (Tell me everything / all you know)
아는 대로
Everything one knows:
- 아는 대로 대답하세요 (Answer with what you know)
- 아는 대로 설명해 주세요 (Explain with what you know)
생각나는 대로
As things come to mind:
- 생각나는 대로 쓰세요 (Write as things occur to you)
- 생각나는 대로 말하세요 (Speak as things come to mind)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 도착하는 대로 연락드리겠습니다 (I'll contact you as soon as I arrive)
- 본 대로 하십시오 (Please do it just as you saw)
Polite (해요체)
- 끝나는 대로 갈게요 (I'll go as soon as it's finished)
- 들은 대로 말했어요 (I said it just as I heard)
Casual (반말)
- 오는 대로 시작해 (Start as soon as [you] come)
- 본 대로 해 (Do it just as you saw)
Negative Forms
Not As Soon As
안/못 in main clause:
- 끝나는 대로 안 갔어요 (Didn't go as soon as it finished)
- 도착하는 대로 연락 못 했어요 (Couldn't contact as soon as I arrived)
Not Just As
다르게 (differently):
- 본 대로 안 했어요 (Didn't do it as seen)
- 들은 대로 하지 마세요 (Don't do it just as you heard)
Question Forms
Asking About Timing
When will you do as...?:
- 언제 도착하는 대로 연락할 거예요? (When will you contact upon arriving?)
- 끝나는 대로 바로 올 거예요? (Will you come right as it finishes?)
Asking About Method
Should I do it just as...?:
- 본 대로 하면 돼요? (Should I do it just as I saw?)
- 들은 대로 말하면 돼요? (Should I say it just as I heard?)
With 마음대로
Special Expression: As One Wishes
마음대로: As one pleases / freely
- 마음대로 하세요 (Do as you please)
- 마음대로 골라도 돼요 (You can choose as you like)
- 마음대로 안 돼요 (It doesn't go as I want)
Note: This is a set phrase, not the same as 마음 가는 대로
Related Patterns
-(으)ㄴ/는 대로 vs -자마자
-자마자: As soon as (immediately after)
Difference:
- -는 대로: As soon as (emphasis on following/proceeding)
- 도착하는 대로 연락할게요
- -자마자: Right after (emphasis on immediate timing)
- 도착하자마자 연락할게요
Both similar but slight nuance difference
-(으)ㄴ/는 대로 vs -처럼
-처럼: Like, as if
Difference:
- -는 대로: Exactly as (following something precisely)
- 본 대로 하세요 (Do it exactly as you saw)
- -처럼: Like, similar to (resemblance)
- 본 것처럼 하세요 (Do it like what you saw)
Perspective and Usage
When to Use -(으)ㄴ/는 대로
Use when:
- One action follows immediately after another
- Doing something exactly as it was done/said/seen
- Acting spontaneously or naturally
- Following instructions or examples precisely
Emphasis:
- Immediate succession (as soon as)
- Exact replication (just as)
- Naturalness (as it comes)
Summary Table
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present -는 대로 | 도착하는 대로 | As soon as arriving |
| Past -(으)ㄴ 대로 | 본 대로 | Just as seen |
| Present state | 있는 대로 | Everything there is |
| Spontaneous | 생각나는 대로 | As it comes to mind |
| Desire | 하고 싶은 대로 | As one wants |
| As heard | 들은 대로 | Just as heard |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Two meanings: "As soon as" and "just as/exactly as"
- ✅ Present -는 대로: For immediate future actions
- ✅ Past -(으)ㄴ 대로: For completed actions or exact replication
- ✅ Common expressions: 있는 대로, 아는 대로, 생각나는 대로
- ✅ Shows immediacy: Or exact following of something
- ✅ Very common: Essential for describing timing and methods
-(으)ㄴ/는 대로 is essential for expressing both immediate succession of actions and doing things exactly as they were shown, said, or done. It's widely used in everyday Korean to convey timing and precision.