-는데 is a versatile connective ending that provides background information, sets context, or expresses soft contrast. It can mean "but," "while," "when," or simply provide context for the following statement.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -는데/-은데/-ᄂ데
Breakdown:
- -는데: Contextual connective ending
- Different forms based on verb type and tense
- Softer than -지만 for contrast
Literal meaning: Provides background or context for what follows
Formation Rules
Present Tense - Action Verbs
Verb stem + -는데:
- 가다 → 가는데 (going, and/but...)
- 먹다 → 먹는데 (eating, and/but...)
- 공부하다 → 공부하는데 (studying, and/but...)
- 만들다 → 만드는데 (making, and/but...)
Present Tense - Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
Adjective stem + -ᄂ데/은데:
No final consonant: -ᄂ데
- 크다 → 큰데 (big, and/but...)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁜데 (pretty, and/but...)
With final consonant: -은데
- 좋다 → 좋은데 (good, and/but...)
- 작다 → 작은데 (small, and/but...)
- 많다 → 많은데 (many/much, and/but...)
Past Tense
All verbs + -았/었는데:
- 갔는데 (went, and/but...)
- 먹었는데 (ate, and/but...)
- 좋았는데 (was good, and/but...)
- 공부했는데 (studied, and/but...)
Future Tense
Verb stem + -(으)ᄅ 건데/ᄅ 텐데:
- 갈 건데 (will go, and/but...)
- 먹을 건데 (will eat, and/but...)
- 좋을 텐데 (will be good, and/but...)
With 이다
Noun + 인데:
- 학생인데 (is a student, and/but...)
- 의사인데 (is a doctor, and/but...)
- 한국 사람인데 (is Korean, and/but...)
Core Meanings and Uses
Providing Background Information
Setting context for main statement:
- 배가 고픈데 밥 먹을래요? (I'm hungry, shall we eat?)
- 시간이 없는데 어떻게 해요? (I don't have time, what should I do?)
- 내일 시험인데 공부 안 했어요 (The test is tomorrow, but I didn't study)
Soft Contrast
Milder than -지만:
- 비가 오는데 나갈 거예요 (It's raining, but I'll go out)
- 피곤한데 자고 싶지 않아요 (I'm tired, but I don't want to sleep)
- 비싼데 살 거예요 (It's expensive, but I'll buy it)
Asking for Opinions/Suggestions
Presenting situation and asking what to do:
- 시간이 있는데 뭐 할까요? (I have time, what shall we do?)
- 배고픈데 뭐 먹을까요? (I'm hungry, what shall we eat?)
- 날씨가 좋은데 나갈까요? (The weather is nice, shall we go out?)
Expressing Surprise or Disappointment
Unexpected outcomes:
- 열심히 했는데 안 됐어요 (I worked hard, but it didn't work out)
- 기다렸는데 안 왔어요 (I waited, but they didn't come)
- 좋을 줄 알았는데 별로예요 (I thought it would be good, but it's not)
Common Usage Patterns
Making Requests After Context
Explaining situation before asking:
- 길을 모르는데 도와줄 수 있어요? (I don't know the way, can you help?)
- 돈이 없는데 빌려줄 수 있어요? (I don't have money, can you lend me some?)
- 시간이 없는데 빨리 해주세요 (I don't have time, please do it quickly)
Explaining Circumstances
Giving reasons or context:
- 오늘 바쁜데 내일 만날까요? (I'm busy today, shall we meet tomorrow?)
- 지금 먹는데 나중에 전화할게요 (I'm eating now, I'll call later)
- 아픈데 집에 있을게요 (I'm sick, so I'll stay home)
Trailing Off
Leaving statement incomplete:
- 가고 싶은데... (I want to go, but...)
- 좋은데... (It's good, but...)
- 비싼데... (It's expensive, but...)
Politeness Levels
Formal Endings After -는데
- 가는데요 (going, and... - polite)
- 좋은데요 (it's good, but... - polite)
- 먹었는데요 (ate, but... - polite)
Casual Endings
- 가는데 (going, and...)
- 좋은데 (it's good, but...)
- 먹었는데 (ate, but...)
Negative Forms
Present Negative
안 + Verb + -는데:
- 안 가는데 (not going, and/but...)
- 안 좋은데 (not good, and/but...)
Verb + -지 않는데:
- 가지 않는데 (not going, and/but...)
- 좋지 않은데 (not good, and/but...)
Can't (Inability)
못 + Verb + -는데:
- 못 가는데 (can't go, and/but...)
- 못 먹는데 (can't eat, and/but...)
Common Expressions
Daily Situations
- 배고픈데 밥 먹을래요? (I'm hungry, want to eat?)
- 추운데 창문 닫을까요? (It's cold, shall I close the window?)
- 재미있는데 같이 볼래요? (It's interesting, want to watch together?)
- 늦었는데 빨리 가요 (We're late, let's hurry)
Expressing Concern
- 괜찮은데요? (Are you okay? / It's fine though)
- 좋은데요? (It's good though)
- 어려운데 어떻게 해요? (It's difficult, what should we do?)
Showing Interest
- 예쁜데요! (It's pretty!)
- 맛있는데요! (It's delicious!)
- 좋은데요! (It's good!)
Comparison with -지만
-는데 (Softer, Context)
Providing background or softer contrast:
- 비가 오는데 갈래요? (It's raining, do you want to go?)
- 피곤한데 자고 싶어요 (I'm tired, and I want to sleep)
-지만 (Stronger Contrast)
Clear opposition:
- 비가 오지만 갈 거예요 (It's raining, but I'll go)
- 피곤하지만 자고 싶지 않아요 (I'm tired, but I don't want to sleep)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋는데
Don't use -는데 with adjectives in present tense
✅ Correct: 좋은데
Use -ᄂ데/은데 for adjectives
❌ Incorrect: 학생는데
Wrong form with 이다
✅ Correct: 학생인데
Use 인데 with nouns
Summary Table
| Type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Action verb (現) | 가는데 | Going, and/but... |
| Adjective (現) | 좋은데 | Good, and/but... |
| Past | 갔는데 | Went, and/but... |
| Future | 갈 건데 | Will go, and/but... |
| With 이다 | 학생인데 | Is a student, and/but... |
| Negative | 안 가는데 | Not going, and/but... |
Usage Context Guide
When to Use -는데
Use -는데 when:
- Providing background information
- Making soft contrasts
- Asking for opinions after explaining situation
- Trailing off or being indirect
- Showing surprise (with -요 ending)
When to Use -지만 Instead
Use -지만 when:
- Making strong, clear contrasts
- Being direct and explicit
- Stating opposing facts firmly
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Versatile pattern: Multiple uses and meanings
- ✅ Different forms: Changes based on verb type and tense
- ✅ Softer than -지만: Less direct contrast
- ✅ Very common: Essential for natural Korean
- ✅ Context provider: Sets up following statement
- ✅ Can trail off: Doesn't always need completion
-는데 is one of the most frequently used Korean grammar patterns and is essential for sounding natural and conversational in Korean.