-(으)ㄴ/는데 is a versatile connective ending that provides background information, sets context, or expresses gentle contrast. It can mean "but," "and," or simply provide a context for what follows.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ㄴ/는데
Breakdown:
- -(으)ㄴ데: For adjectives and past tense
- -는데: For present tense action verbs
- -ㄹ 텐데: For future/supposition
Meaning: "But/and/while [context]..." or "[context], so..."
Formation Rules
Present Tense Verbs: -는데
Action verbs in present:
- 가다 → 가는데 (while going / but [I] go)
- 먹다 → 먹는데 (while eating / but [I] eat)
- 읽다 → 읽는데 (while reading / but [I] read)
- 공부하다 → 공부하는데 (while studying / but [I] study)
Adjectives & Past Tense: -(으)ㄴ데
Adjectives (all tenses):
- 좋다 → 좋은데 (it's good, but...)
- 크다 → 큰데 (it's big, but...)
- 작다 → 작은데 (it's small, but...)
- 비싸다 → 비싼데 (it's expensive, but...)
Past tense verbs:
- 갔다 → 갔는데 (went, but...)
- 먹었다 → 먹었는데 (ate, but...)
- 공부했다 → 공부했는데 (studied, but...)
Vowel Ending Stems: -ㄴ데
No final consonant + adjective:
- 예쁘다 → 예쁜데 (it's pretty, but...)
- 크다 → 큰데 (it's big, but...)
있다/없다: Special Forms
Existence verbs:
- 있다 → 있는데 (there is, but... / have, but...)
- 없다 → 없는데 (there isn't, but... / don't have, but...)
Core Meaning: Multiple Functions
1. Background Context
Setting the scene:
- 배고픈데 뭐 먹을까요? (I'm hungry, [so] what should we eat?)
- 시간 있는데 같이 갈까요? (I have time, [so] shall we go together?)
- 날씨가 좋은데 산책할까요? (The weather is nice, [so] shall we take a walk?)
2. Soft Contrast/Opposition
Gentle "but":
- 좋긴 한데 비싸요 (It is good, but it's expensive)
- 가고 싶은데 시간이 없어요 (I want to go, but I don't have time)
- 열심히 했는데 잘 안 됐어요 (I worked hard, but it didn't go well)
3. Providing Information
Stating facts before a question or request:
- 내일 시험인데 도와줄 수 있어요? (I have an exam tomorrow, can you help me?)
- 여기가 명동인데 뭐가 유명해요? (This is Myeongdong, what's famous here?)
- 한국 사람인데 한국어 못 해요? (You're Korean, but you can't speak Korean?)
4. Trailing Off
Leaving thoughts incomplete:
- 가고 싶은데... (I want to go, but... [implied: can't/shouldn't])
- 좋긴 한데... (It is good, but... [implied: there's a problem])
- 말하고 싶은데... (I want to tell you, but... [implied: I can't])
Common Usage Patterns
Making Suggestions
Context + suggestion:
- 배고픈데 밥 먹을까요? (I'm hungry, shall we eat?)
- 시간 있는데 커피 마실까요? (We have time, shall we drink coffee?)
- 날씨 좋은데 나갈까요? (The weather is nice, shall we go out?)
Asking for Help
Situation + request:
- 어려운데 도와주세요 (It's difficult, please help me)
- 모르는데 가르쳐 주세요 (I don't know, please teach me)
- 바쁜데 빨리 해 주세요 (I'm busy, please do it quickly)
Expressing Surprise/Disappointment
Expectation vs reality:
- 공부했는데 시험 못 봤어요 (I studied, but I did poorly on the exam)
- 비싼데 별로예요 (It's expensive, but it's not that good)
- 열심히 했는데 안 됐어요 (I worked hard, but it didn't work)
Tense Forms
Present: -(으)ㄴ/는데
Adjectives:
- 좋은데 (it's good, but...)
- 비싼데 (it's expensive, but...)
Verbs:
- 가는데 (while going / but go)
- 먹는데 (while eating / but eat)
Past: -았/었는데
All verbs and adjectives:
- 갔는데 (went, but...)
- 먹었는데 (ate, but...)
- 좋았는데 (was good, but...)
- 비쌌는데 (was expensive, but...)
Future/Supposition: -(으)ㄹ 텐데
Future expectation:
- 갈 텐데 (will probably go, but...)
- 올 텐데 (will probably come, but...)
- 좋을 텐데 (will probably be good, but...)
Common Expressions
Daily Context Setting
- 배고픈데 (I'm hungry, [so]...)
- 피곤한데 (I'm tired, [so]...)
- 바쁜데 (I'm busy, [but]...)
- 시간 없는데 (I don't have time, [but]...)
Polite Opposition
- 좋긴 한데 (it is good, but...)
- 가고 싶은데 (I want to go, but...)
- 알긴 아는데 (I do know, but...)
- 할 수 있긴 한데 (I can do it, but...)
Making Requests
- 미안한데 (I'm sorry, but... [request coming])
- 죄송한데 (I apologize, but... [request coming])
- 실례지만 (excuse me, but... [formal])
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체): -는데요/ㄴ데요
- 좋은데요 (it's good, but...)
- 바쁜데요 (I'm busy, but...)
- 가는데요 (I'm going, but...)
Polite (해요체): -는데요/ㄴ데요
- 좋은데요 (it's good, but...)
- 비싼데요 (it's expensive, but...)
- 먹는데요 (I'm eating, but...)
Casual (반말): -는데/ㄴ데
- 좋은데 (it's good, but...)
- 가는데 (I'm going, but...)
- 먹는데 (I'm eating, but...)
Negative Forms
Negative Context
안 + Verb + -는데:
- 안 좋은데 (it's not good, but...)
- 안 가는데 (I'm not going, but...)
- 안 비싼데 (it's not expensive, but...)
Verb + -지 않는데:
- 좋지 않은데 (it's not good, but...)
- 가지 않는데 (I'm not going, but...)
Can't/Unable
못 + Verb + -는데:
- 못 가는데 (I can't go, but...)
- 못 먹는데 (I can't eat, but...)
- 못 하는데 (I can't do it, but...)
Special Pattern: -는데도
"Even though" / "Despite"
Adding emphasis to contrast:
- 열심히 했는데도 안 됐어요 (Even though I worked hard, it didn't work)
- 비싼데도 샀어요 (Even though it's expensive, I bought it)
- 아픈데도 왔어요 (Even though I'm sick, I came)
-(으)ㄴ/는데 in Questions
Seeking Explanation
Background + question:
- 여기가 어디인데요? (Where is this place?)
- 뭐 하는데요? (What are you doing?)
- 왜 그러는데요? (Why are you doing that?)
Polite Inquiry
With questioning tone:
- 시간 있는데 같이 갈래요? (You have time, do you want to go together?)
- 좋은데 왜 안 사요? (It's good, why don't you buy it?)
-(으)ㄴ/는데 vs Similar Patterns
-(으)ㄴ/는데 vs -지만
-(으)ㄴ/는데: Softer, more context-setting
- 좋은데 비싸요 (It's good, but it's expensive - softer)
-지만: Stronger contrast
- 좋지만 비싸요 (It's good, but it's expensive - stronger opposition)
-(으)ㄴ/는데 vs -아/어서
-(으)ㄴ/는데: Background/context (can show contrast)
- 배고픈데 먹을까요? (I'm hungry, shall we eat? - context)
-아/어서: Cause/reason (no contrast)
- 배고파서 먹어요 (I'm hungry, so I eat - direct cause)
-(으)ㄴ/는데 vs -(으)니까
-(으)ㄴ/는데: Softer, context-setting
- 비가 오는데 우산 있어요? (It's raining, do you have an umbrella?)
-(으)니까: Stronger causation, often with commands
- 비가 오니까 우산 가져가세요 (It's raining, so take an umbrella)
Summary Table
| Type | Formation | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present verb | -는데 | 가는데 | while going / but go |
| Adjective (vowel) | -ㄴ데 | 큰데 | it's big, but... |
| Adjective (consonant) | -은데 | 좋은데 | it's good, but... |
| Past (all) | -았/었는데 | 갔는데 | went, but... |
| 있다/없다 | -는데 | 있는데 | there is, but... |
| Future supposition | -(으)ㄹ 텐데 | 갈 텐데 | will probably go, but... |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Multiple functions: Background, contrast, context-setting
- ✅ Soft contrast: Gentler than -지만
- ✅ Very common: Essential daily expression
- ✅ Different forms: -는데 (verbs), -(으)ㄴ데 (adjectives/past)
- ✅ Natural speech: Makes Korean sound more native
- ✅ Versatile: Used for suggestions, requests, opposition
-(으)ㄴ/는데 is one of the most frequently used and versatile connective endings in Korean, essential for natural, fluent conversation and expressing subtle nuances in communication.