-고 나서 expresses doing something after completing another action. It means "after doing" or "after finishing" in English, with emphasis on completion.
Structure
Verb stem + -고 나서
Breakdown:
- -고: And, connective ending
- 나서: After coming out, after finishing
Literal meaning: "After doing and finishing..."
Formation Rules
All Verbs: -고 나서
Simple attachment to any verb stem:
- 가다 → 가고 나서 (after going)
- 먹다 → 먹고 나서 (after eating)
- 하다 → 하고 나서 (after doing)
- 보다 → 보고 나서 (after watching)
- 듣다 → 듣고 나서 (after listening)
- 자다 → 자고 나서 (after sleeping)
- 끝나다 → 끝나고 나서 (after finishing)
- 마시다 → 마시고 나서 (after drinking)
Note: Works with ALL action verbs.
Core Meaning: After Completion
Emphasizes Completion
Action 1 is fully completed before Action 2:
- 숙제를 하고 나서 놀았어요 (I played after finishing homework)
- 밥을 먹고 나서 설거지했어요 (I washed dishes after eating)
- 샤워하고 나서 잤어요 (I slept after showering)
- 영화를 보고 나서 집에 갔어요 (I went home after watching the movie)
Sequential Actions
Clear sequence with completed first action:
- 일을 끝내고 나서 쉬어요 (I rest after finishing work)
- 운동하고 나서 샤워해요 (I shower after exercising)
- 공부하고 나서 친구를 만나요 (I meet friends after studying)
Common Usage Patterns
Daily Routines
Actions in sequence:
- 일어나고 나서 세수해요 (I wash my face after waking up)
- 밥 먹고 나서 이를 닦아요 (I brush my teeth after eating)
- 퇴근하고 나서 집에 가요 (I go home after getting off work)
- 도착하고 나서 전화할게요 (I'll call after arriving)
Completing Tasks
After finishing something:
- 청소하고 나서 쉬었어요 (I rested after cleaning)
- 회의가 끝나고 나서 점심 먹었어요 (I ate lunch after the meeting ended)
- 프로젝트를 끝내고 나서 휴가 갈 거예요 (I'll go on vacation after finishing the project)
Time-Based Sequences
After a period of time:
- 한 시간이 지나고 나서 다시 전화했어요 (I called again after an hour passed)
- 일주일이 지나고 나서 답장을 받았어요 (I received a reply after a week passed)
Tense Usage
Present/Habitual
Regular sequential actions:
- 밥 먹고 나서 산책해요 (I walk after eating - habitual)
- 일하고 나서 운동해요 (I exercise after working - habitual)
Past
Completed sequences in the past:
- 숙제하고 나서 잤어요 (I slept after doing homework)
- 영화 보고 나서 집에 갔어요 (I went home after watching the movie)
Future
Planned sequences:
- 끝나고 나서 연락할게요 (I'll contact you after finishing)
- 도착하고 나서 문자 보낼게요 (I'll text after arriving)
Emphasis on Completion
-고 나서 vs -(으)ㄴ 후에
Both mean "after" but with different nuances:
-고 나서 (emphasizes completion and finality):
- 다 먹고 나서 (after finishing eating completely)
- Focus on the act being done and complete
-(으)ㄴ 후에 (neutral "after"):
- 먹은 후에 (after eating)
- More neutral time marker
Common Expressions
Daily Activities
- 먹고 나서 (after eating)
- 자고 나서 (after sleeping)
- 씻고 나서 (after washing)
- 보고 나서 (after watching/seeing)
- 듣고 나서 (after listening)
- 읽고 나서 (after reading)
Completing Tasks
- 끝내고 나서 (after finishing)
- 마치고 나서 (after completing)
- 하고 나서 (after doing)
- 정리하고 나서 (after organizing)
Events
- 도착하고 나서 (after arriving)
- 출발하고 나서 (after departing)
- 만나고 나서 (after meeting)
- 헤어지고 나서 (after separating)
Example Sentences
Sequential Actions
- 숙제를 다 하고 나서 게임했어요 (I played games after finishing all my homework)
- 샤워하고 나서 옷을 입었어요 (I got dressed after showering)
- 청소하고 나서 친구를 초대했어요 (I invited friends after cleaning)
- 일을 끝내고 나서 퇴근했어요 (I left work after finishing work)
Time Sequences
- 한 달이 지나고 나서 연락했어요 (I contacted them after a month passed)
- 졸업하고 나서 취직했어요 (I got a job after graduating)
- 결혼하고 나서 이사했어요 (I moved after getting married)
Daily Life
- 아침을 먹고 나서 출근해요 (I go to work after eating breakfast)
- 운동하고 나서 샤워해요 (I shower after exercising)
- 영화를 보고 나서 감상을 나눴어요 (We shared impressions after watching the movie)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Planning
A: 언제 출발할 거예요?
(When will you leave?)
B: 짐을 다 싸고 나서 출발할게요.
(I'll leave after packing everything.)
Dialogue 2: Sequence
A: 지금 뭐 해요?
(What are you doing now?)
B: 숙제하고 나서 친구를 만날 거예요.
(I'll meet my friend after doing homework.)
Dialogue 3: Past Action
A: 어제 뭐 했어요?
(What did you do yesterday?)
B: 영화를 보고 나서 카페에 갔어요.
(I went to a cafe after watching a movie.)
Dialogue 4: Instruction
A: 언제 연락할까요?
(When shall I contact you?)
B: 회의가 끝나고 나서 연락 주세요.
(Please contact me after the meeting ends.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 먹은 나서
Missing -고
✅ Correct: 먹고 나서
Need -고 before 나서
❌ Incorrect: 가나서
Missing -고
✅ Correct: 가고 나서
Always use -고 나서
❌ Incorrect: 가고나서 (no space)
Writing as one word
✅ Correct: 가고 나서
Keep as two words
Usage Notes
Emphasis on Completion
-고 나서 especially emphasizes:
- The first action is completely finished
- There's a clear endpoint to the first action
- The second action happens only after completion
Can Drop 나서
In casual speech, 나서 is sometimes dropped:
- 밥 먹고 나서 갈게요 (I'll go after eating - standard)
- 밥 먹고 갈게요 (I'll go after eating - casual, dropping 나서)
Meaning stays essentially the same
Comparison with Similar Expressions
-고 나서 vs -(으)ㄴ 후에
-고 나서 (emphasizes completion):
- 다 끝내고 나서 (after finishing completely - emphasis on completion)
- More conversational
-(으)ㄴ 후에 (neutral after):
- 끝낸 후에 (after finishing - neutral time marker)
- More formal/written
-고 나서 vs -고
-고 나서 (after completing, then):
- 먹고 나서 쉬어요 (I rest after eating - emphasis on eating being done)
-고 (and, then - can be sequential or simultaneous):
- 먹고 쉬어요 (I eat and rest - neutral connection)
-고 나서 vs -다가
-고 나서 (after completion):
- 공부하고 나서 놀았어요 (Played after studying - finished studying first)
-다가 (interrupted/changed):
- 공부하다가 놀았어요 (Was studying then played - didn't finish studying)
Summary Table
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + -고 나서 | After doing (completed) | 먹고 나서, 하고 나서 |
| -고 나서 + Verb | After doing A, do B | 먹고 나서 쉬어요 |
| -고 나서야 | Only after (emphasis) | 끝나고 나서야 |
Related Patterns
-고 나서야 (Only after)
Emphasizes "only after" or "not until":
- 끝나고 나서야 알았어요 (I realized only after it finished)
- 가고 나서야 후회했어요 (I regretted only after going)
-고 나면 (After doing, if/when)
Conditional after completing:
- 이 일을 끝내고 나면 편할 거예요 (It'll be comfortable after finishing this work)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Emphasizes completion: First action must be finished
- ✅ Simple formation: Verb stem + -고 나서
- ✅ Sequential actions: Clear order with completion
- ✅ Very common: Essential for daily conversation
- ✅ Similar to -(으)ㄴ 후에: But more conversational
- ✅ Can drop 나서: In casual speech, just -고 works
-고 나서 is crucial for expressing clear sequential actions with emphasis on completion. It's more conversational than -(으)ㄴ 후에 and perfectly captures the sense of "after finishing one thing, then doing another."