-거든 is a sentence-ending particle used to provide explanations, reasons, or background information. It means "because," "you see," or "you know" and often carries a slightly defensive or explanatory tone.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -거든(요)
Ending forms:
- Casual: -거든
- Polite: -거든요
Function: Explains reason or provides background
Basic Forms
With Action Verbs
Present tense:
- 바쁘거든 (because I'm busy)
- 좋아하거든 (because I like it)
- 가거든 (because I'm going)
- 모르거든 (because I don't know)
With Descriptive Adjectives
State descriptions:
- 좋거든 (because it's good)
- 어렵거든 (because it's difficult)
- 비싸거든 (because it's expensive)
- 힘들거든 (because it's hard)
With 이다
Copula form:
- 학생이거든 (because I'm a student)
- 선생님이거든 (because I'm a teacher)
- 친구거든 (because they're my friend)
Past Tense: -았/었거든
Past Explanations
Explaining past reasons:
- 바빴거든 (because I was busy)
- 갔거든 (because I went)
- 했거든 (because I did)
- 없었거든 (because there wasn't)
Examples:
- 못 갔어요. 바빴거든요 (Couldn't go. I was busy, you see)
- 안 먹었어요. 배불렀거든요 (Didn't eat. I was full, you see)
Main Functions
1. Providing Reasons
Explaining why:
- 못 가. 바쁘거든 (Can't go. I'm busy)
- 안 먹어요. 배불러거든요 (Won't eat. I'm full)
- 안 사요. 비싸거든요 (Won't buy it. It's expensive)
Tone: Slightly defensive, justifying
2. Background Information
Setting up context:
- 내일 시험이거든. 공부해야 해 (I have an exam tomorrow, you see. I need to study)
- 이거 정말 좋거든. 한번 먹어 봐 (This is really good, you see. Try it)
3. Asserting Facts
Insisting on truth:
- 진짜거든! (It's true, you know!)
- 내가 맞거든! (I'm right, you know!)
- 정말 맛있거든! (It's really delicious, you know!)
Tone: Emphatic, insistent
4. Gentle Correction
Correcting misunderstanding:
- 아니야, 이게 맞거든 (No, this is correct, you see)
- 그게 아니거든 (That's not it, you know)
Casual vs Polite Forms
Casual: -거든
Among friends/family:
- 바쁘거든 (because I'm busy)
- 좋아하거든 (because I like it)
- 못 하거든 (because I can't)
Usage: Close relationships, informal settings
Polite: -거든요
Polite contexts:
- 바쁘거든요 (because I'm busy - polite)
- 좋아하거든요 (because I like it - polite)
- 못 하거든요 (because I can't - polite)
Usage: Respectful but still conversational
Tone and Nuance
Defensive Explanation
Justifying yourself:
- 안 갔어요. 시간이 없었거든요 (Didn't go. I didn't have time, you see)
- 못 했어요. 어려웠거든요 (Couldn't do it. It was difficult, you see)
Implication: "Don't blame me, there was a reason"
Emphasis
Stressing a point:
- 진짜 좋거든! (It's really good, I tell you!)
- 정말 맛있거든! (It's really delicious, you know!)
Implication: "Believe me, I'm telling you"
Light Complaint
Mild grievance:
- 힘들거든 (It's hard, you know)
- 피곤하거든 (I'm tired, you know)
Implication: "You should understand my situation"
Common Usage Patterns
Refusing Offers/Requests
Explaining refusal:
- 못 가요. 바쁘거든요 (Can't go. I'm busy)
- 안 먹을래요. 배불러거든요 (Won't eat. I'm full)
- 안 할게요. 피곤하거든요 (Won't do it. I'm tired)
Declining Invitations
Polite refusal with reason:
- 오늘은 안 될 것 같아요. 약속이 있거든요 (Today won't work. I have plans)
- 다음에 갈게요. 지금 바쁘거든요 (I'll go next time. I'm busy now)
Explaining Situations
Providing context:
- 늦었어요. 차가 막혔거든요 (I'm late. There was traffic)
- 못 왔어요. 아팠거든요 (Couldn't come. I was sick)
In Conditional Contexts: -(으)면 -거든
If... then (you see)
Conditional with explanation:
- 시간 있으면 가거든 (If I have time, I'll go, you see)
- 돈 있으면 사거든 (If I have money, I'll buy it, you know)
Usage: Less common, but adds emphasis
Question Forms
Questioning for Confirmation
-(으)ㄴ/는 거야?:
- Used instead of -거든 for questions
- -거든 itself is not used in questions
Note: -거든 is declarative only
Comparison with Similar Forms
-거든 vs -아/어서
-아/어서 (because - neutral cause):
- 바빠서 못 가요 (Can't go because I'm busy)
- Neutral, objective reason
- More common
-거든 (because - explanatory/defensive):
- 바쁘거든요 (I'm busy, you see)
- More subjective, defensive
- Less common, more colloquial
-거든 vs -니까
-니까 (because - strong cause):
- 바쁘니까 못 가요 (Can't go because I'm busy)
- Strong causation
- Can be used with commands
-거든 (because - explanatory):
- 바쁘거든요 (I'm busy, you see)
- Softer, more conversational
- Cannot be used with commands
-거든 vs -는데
-는데 (background context):
- 바쁜데 나중에 얘기할까요? (I'm busy, shall we talk later?)
- Sets up context for suggestion
- More versatile
-거든 (explanatory because):
- 바쁘거든요 (I'm busy, you see)
- Ends the sentence
- More assertive
Positioning in Conversation
As Sentence Ending
Final position:
- Statement + 거든(요)
- Always at the end
Examples:
- 못 가요. 바쁘거든요 (Can't go. I'm busy)
- 안 먹어요. 배불러거든요 (Won't eat. I'm full)
Following Up
After initial statement:
- A: 왜 안 왔어요? (Why didn't you come?)
- B: 아팠거든요 (I was sick, you see)
Emotional Overtones
Slight Annoyance
When over-explaining:
- 바쁘거든! (I'm busy, okay!)
- 모르거든! (I don't know, alright!)
Context: When repeating explanation
Insistence
Standing your ground:
- 내 말이 맞거든! (I'm right, you know!)
- 진짜거든! (It's true!)
Softening
Gentle explanation:
- 잘 모르거든요 (I don't really know, you see)
- 어려워거든요 (It's difficult, you know)
Register and Formality
Conversational Only
Not for formal writing:
- Spoken language pattern
- Informal/semi-formal contexts
- Not appropriate for business/academic writing
Appropriate Contexts
Good for:
- Daily conversation
- Explaining to friends
- Casual workplace chat
- Family discussions
Avoid in:
- Formal presentations
- Business reports
- Academic writing
- Official correspondence
With Negative Forms
Negative Explanations
안/못 + -거든:
- 안 하거든 (because I don't do it)
- 못 하거든 (because I can't do it)
- 안 좋거든 (because it's not good)
Examples:
- 못 가요. 시간이 없거든요 (Can't go. I don't have time)
- 안 먹어요. 안 좋아하거든요 (Won't eat. I don't like it)
Common Expressions
진짜거든!
It's really true!:
- Emphatic assertion
- Often with younger speakers
- Shows frustration or insistence
그러니까 말이야, ... -거든
That's what I'm saying, ... you see:
- Reinforcing previous point
- "See, I told you"
Frequency of Use
Moderate Usage
Not as common as:
- -아/어서 (more common for "because")
- -니까 (stronger causation)
- -는데 (more versatile context)
More common with:
- Younger speakers
- Casual conversation
- Defensive explanations
Summary Table
| Form | Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -거든 | Present | 바쁘거든 | Because I'm busy |
| -거든요 | Present (polite) | 바쁘거든요 | Because I'm busy (polite) |
| -았/었거든 | Past | 바빴거든 | Because I was busy |
| -았/었거든요 | Past (polite) | 바빴거든요 | Because I was busy (polite) |
| -이거든 | Copula | 학생이거든 | Because I'm a student |
Key Characteristics
-거든 is best for:
- Providing explanations
- Justifying actions
- Defending choices
- Insisting on facts
- Conversational contexts
Remember:
- Always sentence-final
- Slightly defensive tone
- Conversational, not formal
- Cannot be used in questions
- More assertive than -아/어서