TOPIK II Grammar (Level 5-6) | Korean Grammar Documentation

TOPIK II Levels 5-6 test advanced Korean grammar for professional, academic, and sophisticated discourse. This guide covers complex grammar patterns essential for achieving high scores.

Overview

Level 5-6 Requirements:

Level 5: Discuss specialized topics, understand formal discourse, use Korean in professional contexts
Level 6: Near-native proficiency, understand and produce complex texts on abstract topics

Grammar Focus:

Complex literary expressions
Advanced formal/written patterns
Sophisticated connectives
Idiomatic constructions
Academic and professional language

Advanced Connectives

In That/The Fact That: -다는 점에서

Focusing on a particular aspect:

편리하다는 점에서 좋습니다 (It's good in that it's convenient)
경제적이라는 점에서 인기가 많습니다 (Popular in that it's economical)
혁신적이라는 점에서 주목받고 있습니다 (Receiving attention in that it's innovative)

In Terms Of: -는 데 있어서/-는 데 있다

Regarding a certain aspect:

언어 배우는 데 있어서 환경이 중요합니다 (Environment is important in terms of language learning)
성공하는 데 있어 노력이 필수적입니다 (Effort is essential in achieving success)
문제는 실행하는 데 있습니다 (The problem lies in the execution)

Whereas/On The Other Hand: -는 반면(에)

Contrast between two situations:

여름은 덥다는 반면 겨울은 춥습니다 (Summer is hot, whereas winter is cold)
가격은 비싼 반면 품질은 좋습니다 (The price is high, whereas the quality is good)
경험은 풍부한 반면에 학력은 부족합니다 (Experience is abundant, whereas education is lacking)

Not Only...But Also: -을/를 뿐만 아니라

Adding information:

맛있을 뿐만 아니라 건강에도 좋습니다 (Not only delicious but also good for health)
경제적일 뿐만 아니라 환경 친화적입니다 (Not only economical but also eco-friendly)
한국어뿐만 아니라 영어도 할 수 있습니다 (Can speak not only Korean but also English)

Let Alone/Not To Mention: -은/는 커녕

Emphasizing impossibility of even basic expectation:

여행은커녕 외출도 못 했어요 (Let alone travel, couldn't even go out)
돈은커녕 시간도 없어요 (Not to mention money, don't even have time)
칭찬은커녕 인정도 안 해줘요 (Let alone praise, doesn't even acknowledge)

Advanced Reasons & Causes

Due To/Owing To: -(으)로 인해(서)

Formal causation:

태풍으로 인해 피해가 발생했습니다 (Damage occurred due to the typhoon)
기술 발전으로 인해 생활이 편리해졌습니다 (Life became convenient due to technological advancement)
코로나로 인해서 계획이 바뀌었습니다 (Plans changed owing to COVID)

Because Of: -기에/-(으)므로

Formal written reasons:

시간이 부족하기에 서둘러야 합니다 (Must hurry because time is insufficient)
중요하므로 꼭 확인하십시오 (Please check because it's important)
날씨가 좋기에 산책하기 좋습니다 (Good for a walk because the weather is nice)

Given That: -다는 점을 고려하면

Considering a fact:

초보자라는 점을 고려하면 잘했습니다 (Did well given that you're a beginner)
경험이 없다는 점을 고려하면 훌륭합니다 (Excellent considering the lack of experience)

Inasmuch As: -는 한

Within the extent:

아는 한 대답하겠습니다 (Will answer inasmuch as I know)
가능한 한 도와드리겠습니다 (Will help as far as possible)
살아있는 한 노력하겠습니다 (Will try as long as I'm alive)

Advanced Conditionals

Unless: -지 않는 한/-지 않고서는

Negative condition:

노력하지 않는 한 성공할 수 없습니다 (Cannot succeed unless you make effort)
직접 보지 않고서는 믿을 수 없어요 (Can't believe unless I see it myself)
변화하지 않는 한 발전이 없습니다 (No progress unless there's change)

Assuming That: -다면/-ㄴ다면

Hypothetical condition:

내가 당신이라면 그렇게 하지 않을 거예요 (If I were you, I wouldn't do that)
시간이 있다면 여행하고 싶어요 (If I had time, I'd like to travel)
다시 태어난다면 뭐가 되고 싶어요? (If you were born again, what would you want to be?)

Provided That: -는 조건으로/-는 조건이다

Conditional requirement:

열심히 한다는 조건으로 허락하겠습니다 (Will allow on the condition that you work hard)
비밀을 지킨다는 조건이에요 (The condition is keeping it secret)

In Case: -(으)ㄹ 경우(에)

Specific circumstance:

문제가 생길 경우에 연락하세요 (Contact in case a problem arises)
비가 올 경우 취소됩니다 (Will be cancelled in case of rain)
그럴 경우에는 다른 방법을 써야 합니다 (In that case, must use another method)

Sophisticated Expressions

Nothing But/Only: -에 불과하다

Merely, only:

농담에 불과합니다 (It's nothing but a joke / just a joke)
시작에 불과해요 (It's only the beginning)
일시적인 현상에 불과합니다 (It's merely a temporary phenomenon)

Far From: -기는커녕

Contrary to expectation:

좋기는커녕 나빠요 (Far from being good, it's bad)
쉽기는커녕 너무 어려워요 (Far from being easy, it's very difficult)
도움이 되기는커녕 방해만 돼요 (Far from being helpful, it's only a hindrance)

To The Point Where: -을/를 정도로/-을/를 정도이다

Degree or extent:

울 정도로 슬펐어요 (Was sad to the point of crying)
믿을 수 없을 정도로 아름답습니다 (Beautiful to an unbelievable degree)
포기하고 싶을 정도예요 (To the point of wanting to give up)

All The More: -면/-을수록 더

Proportional increase:

알면 알수록 더 재미있어요 (The more you know, the more interesting it is)
보면 볼수록 더 좋아요 (The more I see it, the better I like it)
생각하면 할수록 더 화가 나요 (The more I think about it, the angrier I get)

Be Bound To: -을/를 수밖에 없다/-지 않을 수 없다

Inevitability:

그렇게 할 수밖에 없었습니다 (Was bound to do so / Had no choice)
인정하지 않을 수 없습니다 (Cannot help but acknowledge)
놀라지 않을 수 없었어요 (Could not help but be surprised)

Advanced Nominalizations

The Matter Of: -는 바

Formal nominalization:

제가 말씀드리는 바는 이것입니다 (What I'm saying is this)
아는 바가 없습니다 (Have no knowledge of / Don't know anything about it)
보고 느낀 바를 말씀드리겠습니다 (Will tell you what I saw and felt)

In Terms Of: -ㄴ/는 데 있어(서)

Regarding aspect:

언어를 배우는 데 있어서 (in terms of learning a language)
성공하는 데 있어 (in terms of succeeding)
문제를 해결하는 데 있어 (in terms of solving problems)

The Act Of: -는 행위/-는 일

Action nominalization:

거짓말하는 행위는 나쁩니다 (The act of lying is bad)
포기하는 일은 쉽지 않아요 (The act of giving up isn't easy)

Advanced Passives & Causatives

Advanced Passive: -게 되다

Come to be/become (natural change):

알게 됐어요 (Came to know)
유명하게 됐습니다 (Became famous)
할 수 있게 됐어요 (Came to be able to do)

Make Someone Do: -게 만들다

Causative (forcing):

생각하게 만들었어요 (Made me think)
웃게 만드는 영화 (Movie that makes you laugh)
노력하게 만듭니다 (Makes you try hard)

Suffer/Undergo: 당하다/받다

Passive suffering:

피해를 당했습니다 (Suffered damage)
비난을 받았어요 (Received criticism)
공격을 당했어요 (Was attacked)

Complex Sentence Structures

Despite/Although: -음에도 불구하고/-는데도 불구하고

Formal concession:

어려움에도 불구하고 성공했습니다 (Succeeded despite difficulties)
비가 오는데도 불구하고 갔어요 (Went despite the rain)
노력했음에도 불구하고 실패했습니다 (Failed despite making effort)

According To: -에 따르면/-에 의하면

Citation:

뉴스에 따르면 (according to the news)
연구에 의하면 (according to research)
전문가에 따르면 (according to experts)

In Accordance With: -에 따라/-에 의해

Following standard/agency:

법에 따라 처리됩니다 (Processed in accordance with law)
결과에 따라 결정됩니다 (Decided according to results)
정부에 의해 시행됩니다 (Implemented by the government)

Regarding/Concerning: -에 관하여/-에 대하여

About/concerning:

환경에 관한 토론 (discussion regarding the environment)
한국 문화에 대한 책 (book about Korean culture)
이 문제에 관하여 말씀드리겠습니다 (Will speak concerning this issue)

Advanced Time Expressions

Ever Since: -(으)ㄴ 이래로/-ㄴ 이후로

From that time onward:

만난 이래로 친하게 지내요 (Have been close ever since we met)
졸업한 이후로 연락이 없어요 (No contact since graduation)

Up Until: -기까지/-까지

Extent up to:

우는 데까지 갔어요 (Went so far as to cry)
성공하기까지 오랜 시간이 걸렸어요 (Took a long time until success)

By The Time: -을/를 무렵

Around that time:

졸업할 무렵 (by the time of graduation)
떠날 무렵에 (around the time of leaving)

Advanced Quotes & Speech

They Say That: -다고 하다/-다더라

Hearsay:

내일 비가 온다고 해요 (They say it will rain tomorrow)
좋다더라 (I heard it's good)
성공했다고 합니다 (They say he/she succeeded)

Is Called/Known As: -(이)라고 하다/-(이)라고 불리다

Naming:

한글이라고 합니다 (It's called Hangeul)
세종대왕이라고 불립니다 (Is called King Sejong)

Quote Within Quote: Complex indirect speech

Nested quotations:

간다고 했다고 들었어요 (I heard that they said they're going)
좋다고 말했다고 합니다 (They say he/she said it's good)

Academic & Formal Patterns

For The Purpose Of: -을/를 목적으로

Objective:

연구를 목적으로 왔습니다 (Came for the purpose of research)
교육을 목적으로 합니다 (For the purpose of education)

By Means Of: -을/를 통해(서)/-을/를 통하여

Method or medium:

인터넷을 통해 배웠어요 (Learned by means of the internet)
경험을 통하여 알게 됐습니다 (Came to know through experience)

Based On: -을/를 토대로/-을/를 바탕으로

Foundation:

사실을 토대로 작성했습니다 (Written based on facts)
연구를 바탕으로 결론을 내렸습니다 (Drew conclusions based on research)

In Relation To: -와/과 관련하여/-에 관련된

Related to:

이 문제와 관련하여 (in relation to this problem)
환경에 관련된 정책 (policies related to the environment)

On Behalf Of: -을/를 대신하여/-을/를 대표하여

Representing:

회사를 대신하여 사과드립니다 (Apologize on behalf of the company)
국민을 대표하여 말씀드립니다 (Speaking on behalf of the people)

Emphasis & Degree

Indeed/Truly: -기는 하다

Acknowledgment with caveat:

비싸기는 하지만 좋아요 (It is indeed expensive, but it's good)
어렵기는 한데 불가능하지는 않아요 (It is difficult, but not impossible)

Extremely: -을/를 금할 수 없다

Cannot help but feel:

놀라움을 금할 수 없었습니다 (Could not help but be amazed)
기쁨을 금할 수 없어요 (Cannot help but feel joy)

Cannot Be More: -을/를 수 없을 정도로

To an extreme degree:

더 이상 좋을 수 없을 정도로 완벽해요 (Perfect to the point where it couldn't be better)
믿을 수 없을 정도로 빨라요 (Fast to an unbelievable degree)

Literary & Idiomatic

Whether...Or: -든지 -든지/-든 -든

Alternatives (any):

가든지 오든지 마음대로 하세요 (Whether you go or come, do as you please)
비가 오든 눈이 오든 갈 거예요 (Will go whether it rains or snows)

No Matter: -아/어도/-더라도

Regardless:

아무리 어려워도 포기하지 마세요 (No matter how difficult, don't give up)
누가 뭐라고 하더라도 (no matter what anyone says)

Such That: -도록

Extent or purpose:

이해하도록 설명하겠습니다 (Will explain so that you understand)
울도록 슬펐어요 (Was sad to the point of crying)
성공하도록 노력하세요 (Try hard so that you succeed)

Complex Modifiers

Retrospective: -던

Past ongoing (interrupted):

먹던 음식 (food that was being eaten)
읽던 책 (book that was being read)
살던 집 (house where [someone] used to live)

Habitual Past: -곤 하던

Used to habitually:

자주 가곤 하던 식당 (restaurant I used to go to often)
즐겨 듣곤 하던 노래 (song I used to enjoy listening to)

Study Tips for Level 5-6

Key Focus Areas

Grammar priorities:

Master all complex connectives
Understand literary and formal patterns
Practice advanced nominalizations
Know academic writing structures
Study idiomatic expressions and 한자어 patterns

Reading Section

Advanced patterns:

-다는 점에서 (in that)
-는 반면 (whereas)
-(으)로 인해 (due to)
-을 뿐만 아니라 (not only...but)
-에 불과하다 (nothing but)

Writing Section

Essential for high scores:

-음에도 불구하고 (despite)
-을/를 통해(서) (through)
-을/를 토대로 (based on)
-다는 점을 고려하면 (considering that)
-에 따르면 (according to)

Listening Section

Complex structures:

-기는커녕 (let alone)
-은/는 커녕 (not to mention)
-을 정도로 (to the point where)
Advanced indirect speech
Literary expressions

Grammar Checklist

Level 5 Core

✅ -다는 점에서 (in that)
✅ -는 반면 (whereas)
✅ -(으)로 인해 (due to)
✅ -을 뿐만 아니라 (not only)
✅ -은/는 커녕 (let alone)
✅ -음에도 불구하고 (despite)
✅ -을/를 통해 (through)
✅ -에 불과하다 (nothing but)
✅ Complex passive forms
✅ Advanced indirect speech

Level 6 Core

✅ All literary patterns
✅ Complex nested structures
✅ Advanced 한자어 expressions
✅ Sophisticated connectives
✅ Academic writing patterns
✅ -는 바 (formal nominalization)
✅ -기는커녕 (far from)
✅ -지 않을 수 없다 (cannot help but)
✅ -을/를 금할 수 없다 (cannot restrain)
✅ Idiomatic literary expressions

Key Takeaways

✅ Master complexity: Combine multiple advanced patterns naturally
✅ Formal register: Know when to use literary vs conversational forms
✅ Academic language: Use proper formal structures for essays
✅ Nuanced expression: Choose precise patterns for subtle meanings
✅ 한자어 patterns: Understand Sino-Korean grammatical constructions
✅ Context sensitivity: Match formality to situation perfectly

Level 5-6 requires near-native understanding of sophisticated grammar patterns, the ability to navigate between formal and casual registers seamlessly, and the skill to express complex, nuanced ideas with precision. Focus on mastering literary expressions, academic structures, and idiomatic patterns to achieve the highest proficiency level.