토픽 문법
Korean grammar for TOPIK
484 grammar patterns from TOPIK level 1 to level 6. Each one has its meaning, how to build it, the rules, example sentences, the forms learners confuse it with, and the classic mistake.
Level 1
TOPIK I · 33 patterns- -(으)로-(으)로 marks the direction you head toward, the means or tool you use, or what something is made of.
- -(이)나(이)나 links two nouns as alternatives ("A or B"), and after a number it shows an approximate amount in questions or a surprisingly large amount in statements.
- -(으)ㄹ 거예요Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to say what you plan to do in the future, or to make a guess about something you are not sure of.
- -(으)시--(으)시- goes inside a verb or adjective to show respect to the person doing the action (the subject).
- -(으)려고Links an intention to the action taken to achieve it: 'in order to, so as to'. Neutral, everyday register.
- -(으)세요-(으)세요 is the polite honorific ending: it shows respect to the subject in statements and questions (선생님은 책을 읽으세요), and with action verbs it politely tells or asks the listener to do something (앉으세요).
- -(으)ㅂ시다-(으)ㅂ시다 suggests doing something together: 'let's …' in a formal, polite style.
- -(으)ㄹ까요?Use -(으)ㄹ까요? to suggest something ("Shall we…?"), offer help ("Shall I…?"), or ask someone's guess ("Do you think…?").
- -도-도 attaches to a noun to say that this thing is 'also' included, adding it to something already mentioned.
- -만Attach 만 to a noun to say 'only this one and nothing else'.
- -에에 marks the place where something is, the place you go to, or the time when something happens.
- -의-의 links two nouns to show possession or belonging: A의 B = A's B.
- -고 싶다Add -고 싶다 to a verb to say what you want to do.
- -지 않다Add -지 않다 to a verb or adjective stem to say that something does not happen or is not true, like 'do not' or 'is not'.
- -은/는-은/는 marks what the sentence is about (the topic), often something already known, or something you are contrasting with another thing.
- -을/를을/를 sits right after a noun to show it is the thing the action is done to, the direct object.
- -이/가이/가 attaches to a noun to show it is the subject, the one who does something or is described, and often presents it as new or focused information.
- -와/과 (하고/랑)와/과, 하고 and (이)랑 join two nouns as "A and B" or show the person you do something "with".
- -이/가 아니다Negates a noun: 'is not N'. It is the negative of 이다 and conjugates like an adjective: 아니에요, 아닙니다, 아니야.
- -았/었-Add -았/었- to a verb or adjective stem to say that something happened or was true in the past.
- -에서에서 marks the place where an action happens, or the place something starts from.
- -이다이다 is the copula 'to be': attached to a noun, it says what something is (X is Y). It conjugates like an adjective into every speech style.
- -부터 -까지N부터 N까지 marks a range: where something starts and where it ends, usually in time or order ("from ... to/until ...").
- -아요/어요-아요/어요 is the everyday polite ending: add it to a verb or adjective stem to speak politely to almost anyone, about the present or habits.
- -에게/한테에게/한테 attaches to a person or animal to mark who receives something or who an action is directed at, like 'to' in English.
- -이에요/예요-이에요/예요 means 'to be' and links a noun to the subject in polite everyday speech, as in 'X is Y.'
- -ㅂ니까/습니까Asks a question in the formal polite style (하십시오체): interviews, announcements, customer service, presentations, the military.
- -ㅂ니다/습니다-ㅂ니다/습니다 ends a statement in the formal polite style (하십시오체), as in news, speeches, presentations and when talking to strangers or superiors.
- 몇몇 asks 'how many' or 'what number' and always comes right before a counter such as 개, 명, 시 or 살.
- 이/그/저 + NPut 이, 그 or 저 before a noun to point at it: 이 = near me, 그 = near you or already mentioned, 저 = far from both of us.
- N부터 (순서·시작)부터 on its own marks where something starts: the thing done first ('X first, starting with X') or the starting point of a series, such as a number, page, day or person.
- 못 VPut 못 before a verb to say you cannot do it because of lack of ability or outside circumstances, not because you don't want to.
- 안 VPut 안 right before a verb or adjective to say that something does not happen or is not the case, often by choice.
Level 2
TOPIK I · 73 patterns- -(으)면-(으)면 attaches to a verb or adjective to set a condition: "if X happens or is true, then Y," and it can also mean "whenever X" for things that regularly happen.
- -(으)ㄴ 지Shows how much time has passed since an action happened.
- -(으)ㄹ 것Ends a written instruction or rule with a noun-like command: 'do X; X is to be done'. Impersonal and firm; used in notices, exam instructions, memos and rule lists.
- -(으)ㄹ 때Attaches to a verb or adjective to say at what time or in what situation something happens: 'when …'.
- -(으)면 안 되다States that an action is not allowed or not acceptable: 'you must not… / it's not okay to…'.
- -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다Attach it to a verb to say that someone can or cannot do something, either because of their ability or because the situation allows or prevents it.
- -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다Use it to say whether someone knows how to do something, meaning a skill or method they have learned.
- -(으)ㄴ 후에Shows that the second action happens after the first action is finished.
- -(으)면 되다-(으)면 되다 means 'you just have to / it's enough to do A' — A is all that's needed.
- -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다Says whether you have ever had a certain experience in the past: "I have (ever) done…" / "I have never done…".
- -(으)러 가다/오다-(으)러 가다/오다 says you go or come somewhere to do something.
- -(으)ㄹ 것이다 (것이에요)-(으)ㄹ 거예요 talks about the future: with 'I/we' it states a plan you already have, and about others or things it gives your guess ("probably will").
- -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다Says there is no other choice or that a result is unavoidable: 'have no choice but to, can't help but, is bound to'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다Use it to say that something seems to be true based on what you notice, or to make your own opinion sound softer and more polite.
- -(으)ㄴ/는지-(으)ㄴ/는지 turns a question into part of a sentence: 'whether / what / where …' (embedded question).
- -(으)니까-(으)니까 gives a reason, especially when you then tell, ask or suggest something to the listener.
- -(으)려면-(으)려면 means 'if you want/intend to do A', followed by what is needed to do it.
- -(으)면서-(으)면서 links two actions or states that one person does or has at the same time: "while doing A, (also) B."
- -(으)ㄹ까 보다Expresses a vague intention the speaker is considering: 'I think I might…, I'm thinking of…'. Spoken, about the speaker's own plans.
- -(으)려고 하다-(으)려고 하다 says what someone intends or plans to do; with things or nature, it can also mean that something is about to happen.
- -(이)라고 하다Attach -(이)라고 하다 to a noun to say what someone or something is called, or to report that someone said something is that noun.
- -(으)ㄹ게요-(으)ㄹ게요 is how you tell someone 'I'll do it': a promise or decision you make with the listener in mind.
- -(으)십시오-(으)십시오 is the formal, polite way to tell or ask someone to do something: 'please do …'.
- -(으)ㄹ래요?Use it to ask what the listener wants to do ("Do you want to…?") or to say what you yourself want to do ("I'll… / I want to…") in a friendly, polite way.
- -(으)ㄴ가요?/-나요?-(으)ㄴ가요?/-나요? make a soft, gentle polite question.
- -게-게 turns an adjective (or verb) into a word that describes how an action is done, or shows the goal "so that…".
- -고-고 links two actions or states like "and": it either lists them side by side or puts actions in order ("do A, and then B").
- -께-께 is the honorific form of 에게/한테: 'to' a person you respect.
- -씩-씩 after an amount means 'each' or 'at a time': the same amount for every person or every unit.
- -자-자 is the casual way to say "let's (do something)" to close friends or people younger than you.
- -지Casual (반말) sentence ending that, depending on intonation, seeks agreement ('…, right?'), states something as obvious, asks oneself a question, or makes a soft suggestion ('why don't you…'). Its polite form is -지요/죠.
- -쯤-쯤 after a time, amount or place means 'about / around'.
- -기 (명사형)-기 turns a verb or adjective into a noun ('doing', 'being'), especially in set expressions and lists.
- -는 것-는 것 turns a verb into a noun phrase: 'the act of doing', 'doing'.
- -는 게 좋겠다-는 게 좋겠다 gives soft advice or a suggestion: 'it would be better to …'.
- -고 있다-고 있다 shows that an action is in progress at a certain moment, or is ongoing over a period of time ("be doing").
- -기 전에-기 전에 means 'before doing': the main action happens before the action of the verb that -기 전에 attaches to.
- -지 말다-지 말다 is the negative used in commands, suggestions and wishes: 'don't', 'let's not', 'not A but B', 'told me not to'. Plain 안/-지 않다 cannot be used there.
- -고 싶어 하다-고 싶어 하다 says what someone else wants to do (third person).
- -기 위해(서)-기 위해(서) means 'in order to': the first clause is the purpose of the second.
- -지 마세요Add -지 마세요 to a verb to politely ask someone not to do something.
- -지 못하다-지 못하다 says someone cannot do something (lack of ability or circumstances), the long form of 못.
- -기 시작하다-기 시작하다 means 'to begin to do / start doing'.
- -겠--겠- shows the speaker's intention ('I will') or a guess based on what they see or hear ('it must be').
- -아/어 보다-아/어 보다 means 'to try doing something' to see what it is like, and in the past tense (-아/어 봤어요) it says you have had that experience.
- -아/어 있다-아/어 있다 describes a state that continues after an action has finished, like a door that stays open after it was opened.
- -아/어 주다Attach -아/어 주다 to a verb to show that you do the action for someone else, for their benefit.
- -을/를 위해(서)N을/를 위해(서) means 'for the sake of N / for N'.
- -아/어도-아/어도 means 'even if / even though': the second clause happens regardless of the first.
- -아/어하다-아/어하다 turns a feeling adjective (기쁘다, 무섭다…) into a verb that describes how someone else feels or behaves.
- -았/었으면 좋겠다-았/었으면 좋겠다 expresses a wish or hope: 'I wish …', 'I hope …'.
- -거나-거나 links two actions or states as alternatives, like 'or': you do A or B.
- -고요-고요 adds one more point to what was just said, in a friendly spoken way: 'and also …'.
- -께서-께서 is the honorific subject particle: it replaces 이/가 when the subject is someone you respect.
- -네요-네요 expresses your fresh reaction, often mild surprise, to something you have just seen, heard or experienced yourself.
- -다가-다가 means you were doing one thing and then stopped or switched to another: 'while doing A, (then) B'.
- -마다Attached to a noun, 마다 means "every" or "each": the same thing happens with every one of those times, people, or places.
- -밖에-밖에 means 'only / nothing but' and is always followed by a negative verb.
- -보다보다 attaches to the thing you measure against, like English "than": X is more (or less) than the noun with 보다.
- -지만-지만 links two clauses that contrast with each other, like "but" or "although" in English.
- -기로 하다-기로 하다 means that someone has decided, or agreed with someone else, to do something.
- -군요/-는군요-군요 expresses that you have just realized or noticed something: 'Oh, I see — …'.
- -는데/(으)ㄴ데-는데 sets up the background or a contrast in the first clause, preparing the listener for the second clause, which can be a statement, a question or a request.
- -아서/어서-아서/어서 links two clauses to show a reason ("so, because") or a closely connected sequence ("did A and then B with/at it").
- -처럼/같이Attached to a noun, 처럼/같이 mean 'like N': something looks, acts or is done the same way as N.
- -아도/어도 되다-아도/어도 되다 means 'it's okay to / you may do it', and it is used to give or ask for permission.
- -아야/어야 되다(하다)Use it to say that someone must or has to do something, or that a certain state is necessary.
- -지요(죠)-지요 (short: -죠) checks that the listener agrees or softly states something both people know: 'right? / you know'.
- -에게로Marks a person or animal as the direction or destination of a movement: 'toward, to (someone)'. Mostly written or narrative; in speech 한테로.
- -에게서/한테서-에게서/한테서 marks the person something comes from: 'from (someone)'.
- -에서부터Marks a starting point, usually a place, sometimes the point where an action or list begins, stressing 'right from there'. 서부터 is its shortened form.
- -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ + NAdd -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ to a verb or adjective so it describes the noun right after it, and the ending you choose shows when the action happens.
- 아무 N도/(이)나아무 N도 + negative = 'no N at all'; 아무 N(이)나 = 'any N (it doesn't matter which)'.
Level 3
TOPIK II · 123 patterns- -(으)ㅁ-(으)ㅁ turns a verb or adjective into a noun; it is used in notes, notices, memos and written records.
- -(으)며-(으)며 is a formal, written 'and' (listing) or 'while' (two actions at once).
- -(이)야-(이)야 emphasizes a topic as obvious or as the only one meant: 'as for N, of course …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 겸-(으)ㄹ 겸 gives one of two or more purposes for a single action: 'partly to …, and also to …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 걸 그랬다-(으)ㄹ 걸 그랬다 expresses regret: 'I should have done …' (but didn't).
- -(으)ㄴ 채(로)-(으)ㄴ 채(로) means doing something while a previous state is still kept: 'with … still on / still …ing'.
- -(으)ㄴ 결과Presents what came out of a completed action or process: 'as a result of doing A, B'. Formal; common in reports, news and essays.
- -(으)ㄹ 텐데-(으)ㄹ 텐데 states what the speaker expects is probably true and uses that guess as background for advice, a contrast, or an unfinished feeling of worry or wish.
- -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라Use it to say that besides the first fact, a second fact of the same kind is also true: "not only ... but also ...".
- -(으)ㄴ 다음에'After doing A, B': the second event follows the first. It means the same as -(으)ㄴ 후에 / -(으)ㄴ 뒤에 but sounds more conversational.
- -(으)ㄹ 만하다Use it to say an action is worth doing, or that something is good enough or bearable to do.
- -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다-(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 means something almost happened, usually something bad, but in the end it did not.
- -(으)ㄹ 정도로-(으)ㄹ 정도로 shows how strong or intense something is by naming a result or situation it reaches: "so much that…".
- -(으)ㄹ 테니까-(으)ㄹ 테니까 gives the speaker's intention ('I will…') or strong guess ('it will probably…') as the reason for a request or suggestion to the listener.
- -(으)면 좋겠다Expresses a wish or hope: 'it would be nice if…, I hope…'. With -아/어 주시면 좋겠다 it also makes a soft, polite request.
- -(으)ㄹ 필요가 있다/없다-(으)ㄹ 필요가 있다/없다 means 'it is necessary / there is no need to …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 생각이다-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 states a plan or intention you've thought about: 'I plan to / I'm going to'.
- -(으)ㄹ 예정이다-(으)ㄹ 예정이다 says something is scheduled or planned to happen: 'be scheduled to'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 줄 알다/모르다-(으)ㄴ/는 줄 알다 = 'I thought (wrongly) that …'; -(으)ㄴ/는 줄 모르다 = 'I didn't know that …'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 김에Use it when you take the chance of doing one thing to also do another thing: 'while I'm at it, I'll also…'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 대로Shows that an action is done exactly the way something was said, done, seen or planned.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에-(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 gives the cause of a bad result and puts the blame on that cause.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에)-(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에) means 'instead of' (replacement) or 'in exchange for / but on the other hand' (trade-off).
- -(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에Use -(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에 to say that something good happened thanks to a person, action or situation.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가-(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 adds a second fact on top of the first, usually pointing the same way, like "and on top of that…".
- -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에-(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 links two facts that show opposite sides of something, like "whereas" or "on the other hand".
- -(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다Use -(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 to say that, when you add up the facts, something is practically true even if it is not literally exact.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 척하다Shows that someone deliberately acts as if something were true when it is not: 'pretend to / act as if'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 softly says that something is 'rather' or 'on the whole' a certain way compared with what is usual or average.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다Use -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 to make a guess about someone or something based on what you have just seen or heard: "it looks like / apparently".
- -(으)ㄴ/는데도-(으)ㄴ/는데도 means 'even though': a real situation is stated, and the result goes against what you would expect from it.
- -(이)라도N(이)라도 means "at least N": you settle for something that is not ideal but is better than nothing.
- -(이)라고 (직접 인용)A particle placed right after words quoted exactly as they were said or written, followed by a verb such as 하다, 말하다, 묻다 or 쓰다.
- -(으)ㄹ까 하다-(으)ㄹ까 하다 means 'I'm thinking of doing …' — a loose, not yet fixed plan.
- -(으)냐고 하다You use it to pass on a question someone asked: "X asked whether / what / where …".
- -(으)라고 하다Use -(으)라고 하다 to report what someone told another person to do, turning a command or request into indirect speech.
- -(으)ㄹ까 말까 하다-(으)ㄹ까 말까 하다 means 'I can't decide whether to do it or not'.
- -(으)ㄹ지 모르다Use -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다 to say that something might happen or might be true, while you are not sure.
- -(느)ㄴ다/-다 (해라체)-(느)ㄴ다/-다 is the plain written style used in diaries, essays, newspapers and the TOPIK writing section.
- -(느)ㄴ다면-(느)ㄴ다면 means 'if (hypothetically)': a condition that is unlikely or imagined.
- -(느)ㄴ대요-(느)ㄴ대요 is the short spoken form of '-(느)ㄴ다고 해요': 'they say / I heard that …'.
- -(으)ㄹ걸요-(으)ㄹ걸요 gives a soft guess, often gently disagreeing: 'probably …, I think …'.
- -(으)ㄹ수록-(으)ㄹ수록 means 'the more A happens or the stronger A is, the more B changes along with it.'
- -(으)려다가-(으)려다가 means 'was about to / intended to do A, but (changed and) did B instead'.
- -(느)ㄴ다고 (이유·의도)Gives the reason or intention behind an action as the subject stated or thought it: 'saying that…, because (as he put it)…, intending to…'. It often carries a light note of excuse or irony.
- -(느)ㄴ다고 하다Use it to retell a statement someone made in your own words, like English 'he said that…'.
- -(느)ㄴ다거나Lists actions or states as examples, 'things like doing A or B'; it comes from -다고 하거나 and gives representative options rather than a full list.
- -던-던 describes a noun with an action that was ongoing, repeated or left unfinished in the past: 'that I used to / was doing'.
- -뿐Attached to a noun, it means 'only N, nothing but N', usually as N뿐이다 'it is only N' or N뿐만 아니라 'not only N'. More emphatic than 만.
- -요 (높임 조사)A particle added to a word, phrase or connective ending to make a short or unfinished utterance polite (해요-style): 저요, 커피요, 왜요?, 그래서요.
- -는 데 (걸리다/도움이 되다)-는 데 means 'in doing / for doing A', used with words like 걸리다 'take (time)', 필요하다, 도움이 되다, 좋다.
- -는 게 낫다-는 게 낫다 means 'it's better to A (than B)', comparing options.
- -게 되다-게 되다 says that someone comes to do something or ends up in a new situation, usually because of circumstances or the passing of time rather than their own plan.
- -게 하다-게 하다 means 'make / let someone do something' (or cause a state).
- -고 나다Marks that an action has been fully completed before what follows; used in -고 나면 'once A is done', -고 나니(까) 'after A, (I found)…' and -고 난 후/뒤/다음에.
- -고 나서-고 나서 means "after (fully) finishing A, then B" and stresses that the first action is completed before the next begins.
- -고 말다Says that something ended up happening in the end, usually against one's wishes or expectations (often with regret); with -겠다 it expresses strong determination.
- -곤 하다-곤 하다 says something was done repeatedly, as a habit: 'used to / would often'.
- -는 길에-는 길에 means 'on the way to / while going somewhere': doing B along the way.
- -는 동안-는 동안 marks the whole stretch of time an action lasts, during which something else happens or continues.
- -다 보면-다 보면 means 'if you keep doing A (for a while), B will happen'.
- -나 보다/-(으)ㄴ가 보다-나 보다/-(으)ㄴ가 보다 express a guess based on something you notice: 'it seems that …'.
- -다 보니(까)-다 보니(까) means 'as I kept doing A, I came to realize / it turned out B'.
- -에 관해(서)N에 관해(서) means 'concerning / about N', a slightly formal way to name a topic.
- -에 대해(서)N에 대해(서) means 'about / regarding N', the most common way to say what something is about.
- -기 때문에-기 때문에 states a reason clearly and firmly, like 'because', and is mainly used in explanations, not in requests or suggestions.
- -기 바라다-기(를) 바라다 expresses a hope or wish, often for someone else: 'I hope (that you) …'.
- -는 바람에Names a sudden, unexpected event as the reason something bad or unwanted happened.
- -는 사이에-는 사이에 means 'while (A is going on), B happened' — often B happens without the subject noticing.
- -는 중이다Shows that someone is right in the middle of an action, either now or at a given moment in the past.
- -에 따르면N에 따르면 means 'according to N' when citing a source of information.
- -에 의하면N에 의하면 means 'according to N', a slightly more formal way to cite a source.
- -지 않으면 안 되다-지 않으면 안 되다 is a strong 'must' (literally 'if you don't, it won't do').
- -지 그래요?-지 그래요? is a friendly suggestion: 'why don't you …?'
- -니?/-냐?-니?/-냐? are plain (casual) question endings, used to friends, younger people, and in quoted questions.
- -아/어 오다 (화자 쪽으로)Shows that someone else's action is directed toward the speaker or the speaker's side: 'X contacted us, X proposed to me, X came asking'. Common in reports and news.
- -아/어 가다/오다-아/어 가다 means a change continuing from now into the future; -아/어 오다 means a change that has continued up to now.
- -아/어 두다(놓다)-아/어 두다(놓다) means you do something on purpose and leave the result in place, usually so it is ready for later.
- -아/어 가지고-아/어 가지고 is a casual spoken 'and so / having done A': a reason, or A done first and kept for B.
- -아/어 드리다The humble form of -아/어 주다: do something for someone older or higher in status, such as parents, teachers or customers. Also the polite way to offer help: 도와드릴까요?
- -아/어 버리다-아/어 버리다 shows that an action is completely finished and gone, usually adding the speaker's feeling of regret ("ended up") or relief ("got it over with").
- -아/어 보이다A-아/어 보이다 means 'to look / seem (adjective)' based on appearance.
- -아/어라-아/어라 is the plain (casual) command ending, used to children, close friends, and in written instructions.
- -아/어야-아/어야 means 'only if / you have to A for B to happen': A is a necessary condition.
- -아/어서 그런지-아/어서 그런지 gives a possible reason the speaker isn't sure of: 'maybe because …'.
- -았/었었--았/었었- is the 'more past' form: something was true or done in the past but is no longer so.
- -아/어다가Do A to get or handle an object, then take that object to another place and do B with it: 'get/buy A and (bring it to) B'. Often shortened to -아/어다.
- -아/어지다Attach -아/어지다 to an adjective to say that something becomes that way, changing from its earlier state.
- -았/었다가-았/었다가 means 'did A (completely) and then B', often B reverses or follows A: went and came back, put on and took off.
- -아/어야지 (필수 조건)An emphatic, conversational form of -아/어야: 'only if A (can B)'. It insists that A is required, often with an obvious or rhetorical second clause: 먹어 봐야지 알지.
- -아/어서는 안 되다-아/어서는 안 되다 means 'must not / should not do A' (prohibition).
- -아/어야겠다-아/어야겠다 shows the speaker deciding, usually right now, that something needs to be done: "I'd better…" or "I should…".
- -아/어야지요-아/어야지요 (-아/어야죠) means 'of course one should / I really must …' — a firm intention or obvious duty.
- -기(가) 쉽다/어렵다-기(가) 쉽다/어렵다 means 'easy / hard to do A'; also 'likely / unlikely to happen'.
- -거든-거든 means 'if / when (that happens), then …', and the second clause is usually a request, suggestion or intention.
- -더니-더니 links something the speaker saw in the past with what happened next — a change, a result or a contrast.
- -도록-도록 links an action to the result or limit it aims at: "so that (something happens)" or "until / to the point that".
- -든지-든지 means 'either … or' or 'whatever / whenever': any of the options is fine.
- -만큼Attached to a noun, it marks the standard of comparison: 'as … as N, to the same degree as N'. 만치 is an older, less common variant.
- -보고Colloquial particle marking the person a remark, request or label is aimed at: 'to (someone)', with verbs of saying. Often carries a note of complaint or surprise.
- -기는 하다You admit that something is true, but only partly or with a reservation, usually followed by a 'but'.
- -기도 하다-기도 하다 adds 'also' or 'sometimes': A is also true, or A happens now and then.
- -기만 하다-기만 하다 means 'only / just keep doing A' (and nothing else), often with a complaining tone.
- -기만 하면-기만 하면 means 'whenever / every time A happens, B (always) follows' or 'as long as you just do A'.
- -자고 하다Use -자고 하다 to report that someone suggested "let's do ~", that is, an action the speaker and the listener would do together.
- -구나/-는구나A plain (반말) ending for a fresh realization or mild surprise: 'Oh, so…!'. Used to friends, younger people and children, or when talking to oneself.
- -던데(요)-던데(요) shares something you observed in the past, often as background or a soft contrast: 'I noticed …, (but/so) …'.
- -거든요-거든요 ends a sentence by giving a reason or background fact the speaker assumes the listener doesn't know yet, like "you see" in English.
- -기는요-기는요 politely denies or plays down a compliment or statement: 'Not at all / Me? No way'.
- -느라고-느라고 means 'because I was busy doing A', and the second clause is usually a negative result: couldn't do something, was tired, was late.
- -다가도Even while A is going on, B suddenly happens, usually something opposite: 'A one moment, then (suddenly) B'. Stresses how quickly a situation or mood changes.
- -더라도-더라도 means "even if (we suppose) this happens": the main clause stays true or must still be done regardless.
- -에다가-에다가 marks the place where something is put or added ('onto / into'), or something added on top ('in addition to').
- -자마자-자마자 means the second action happens right after the first one, with almost no gap in between: 'as soon as'.
- -잖아요-잖아요 reminds the listener of something they already know or should know, often to justify what you are saying or as a mild complaint.
- -고말고요-고말고요 is a strong, friendly 'of course!' agreeing with what the other person asked or said.
- -더라고요-더라고요 tells someone about something you saw, heard or felt yourself in the past: 'I noticed that …'.
- -다면서요?-다면서요? checks something you heard from others: 'I heard that …, is that right?'
- 피동 -이/히/리/기-The passive suffixes -이-/-히-/-리-/-기- turn some verbs into passives: the subject has the action done to it.
- 사동 -이/히/리/기/우/구/추-The causative suffixes -이-/-히-/-리-/-기-/-우-/-구-/-추- mean 'make or let someone do something / make something happen'.
- 아무리 -아/어도아무리 -아/어도 means 'no matter how (much) …': the result stays the same however much A happens.
- N만 아니면'If it weren't for N / if only N weren't the case': names the one obstacle that stops something from happening, often with regret.
- N대로The particle 대로 on a noun means 'according to N, just as N says' (약속대로, 계획대로), 'as one likes' in 마음대로, and, in N은 N대로, 'each on its own, separately'.
Level 4
TOPIK II · 71 patterns- -(으)나-(으)나 is a formal written 'but / however', linking two contrasting clauses.
- -(으)되-(으)되 states or allows a first action and then adds a condition or limit to it, in a formal or written style.
- -(이)면 (조사)Attaches to a noun to mean 'if it is N / whenever it is N'; repeated as N(이)면 N, it means 'in every field, whatever you name'.
- -(으)ㄹ 게 아니라Use it to say that doing X is not the right move, so you should do Y instead: "rather than doing X, do Y."
- -(으)ㄹ 무렵-(으)ㄹ 무렵 means 'around the time when …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다Use -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 when you are convinced that something cannot possibly be true or happen, based on what you know.
- -(으)로 인해(서)-(으)로 인해(서) means 'due to / because of' (a cause), in formal speech and writing.
- -(으)ㄹ 바에는Use -(으)ㄹ 바에는 to say that if the only way is to do this unpleasant thing, you would rather do something else instead.
- -(으)ㄹ 법하다-(으)ㄹ 법하다 says that something is quite plausible or would be natural to expect, given the situation or common sense.
- -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다 says that something is just this and nothing more, and is often used to downplay a fact or to sound modest.
- -(으)ㄹ 따름이다Says that something is simply this and nothing more; it is a formal, often humble way to say 'I merely…' or 'I can only feel…'.
- -(으)ㄹ 지경이다Says that a situation has become so bad that it has almost reached an extreme state, often as an exaggeration, like 'I'm about to die / go crazy'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 바바 is a formal noun meaning 'what / the fact that' someone did, said or thinks, used mainly in writing, speeches and the news.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 양Describes someone acting or looking as if something were true when it really isn't: 'as if / pretending that'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 한Sets a condition that must keep holding for the result to stay true: 'as long as…', and with -지 않는 한, 'unless…'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 데 반해-(으)ㄴ/는 데 반해 contrasts two facts: 'whereas / while A, B'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 데 비해Says that the second fact is more or less than what the first fact would lead you to expect: 'considering that…', 'compared with the fact that…'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 만큼-(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 links two things in equal measure ("as much as") or gives a known fact as grounds for what should follow ("since / given that").
- -(으)ㄴ/는 데도 불구하고Use it to say that something happened or is true despite a real fact that should have prevented it, which makes the result surprising.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 가운데Sets up a background situation that is going on while the main event happens ('amid…', 'while … is going on'), typical of news and formal speech.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 마당에-(으)ㄴ/는 마당에 sets up a usually difficult or already-decided situation, and the next clause says what makes sense, or no longer makes sense, given that situation.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 셈치다Used when you deliberately choose to treat something as if it were true, even though it isn't, usually to accept a loss or to take a chance.
- -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 게 틀림없다-(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 게 틀림없다 expresses a confident guess: 'there's no doubt that / it must be …'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 듯(하다)A written-style way to guess, 'it seems / it looks like', the bookish counterpart of -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다; used as -듯(하다) at the end, or as -(으)ㄴ/는 듯 to link a description to the next clause.
- -(으)ㄴ들-(으)ㄴ들 means "even if (it happens), it changes nothing," and it usually leads into a negative statement or a rhetorical question.
- -(으)로서-(으)로서 means 'as (in the role or capacity of)'.
- -(으)리라-(으)리라 is a literary ending that expresses the speaker's firm resolve ('I will surely…') or a confident guess ('it will surely…'), usually in writing or before verbs like 다짐하다, 생각하다 and 믿다.
- -(으)므로-(으)므로 gives a reason in formal or written Korean: "because / since …, therefore …".
- -(이)나마(이)나마 marks something as small or not quite enough, while showing that the speaker still accepts or values it: "even if it's only this, at least…"
- -(으)ㄹ까 봐-(으)ㄹ까 봐 means 'worried that something bad might happen', and that worry is the reason for what you do or feel.
- -(으)ㄹ락 말락Use it when something hovers right at the edge of happening: it almost happens, but not quite, or seems to go back and forth.
- -(으)로부터-(으)로부터 is a formal 'from' for a source or starting point (people, places, time).
- -(이)라든지-(이)라든지 lists examples or alternatives: 'such as A or B / A, B or something'.
- -(느)ㄴ다니 (전달 의문)A casual plain-style question asking what a third person said: short for -다고 하니?, as in 언제 온다니? 'When does he say he's coming?'
- -(느)ㄴ다고 해도-(느)ㄴ다고 해도 means 'even if (it is the case that) …', conceding a point before saying it doesn't change things.
- -(느)ㄴ다는 것이Use it when you meant to do one thing but by mistake ended up doing something else.
- -(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고-(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고 states a real fact and says the result happened despite it, against what you would expect.
- -(으)ㅁ직하다It says that something is worth doing or quite likely to happen, as in food that looks good to eat (먹음직하다) or an event that could plausibly happen (있음직하다).
- -고 들다Shows someone setting about an action aggressively or stubbornly, usually arguing, questioning or confronting; it often carries the speaker's annoyance.
- -고 보다Means 'do X first, and worry about the rest later': the speaker puts one action ahead of any further thought, sometimes with a hint of rashness.
- -고 해서-고 해서 gives one reason among several: 'partly because …, (and so)'.
- -는 한편-는 한편 links two parallel actions or two sides of one situation: 'while doing X, (the subject) also does Y' or 'X is true; on the other hand, Y is true too'.
- -에 의해(서)-에 의해(서) means 'by (agent or cause)', often in passive sentences and formal writing.
- -에 비해(서)/-에 비하면Compares something with N as the standard: 'compared to N, relative to N'. 에 비하면 adds an evaluation, often 'X is nothing compared to N'.
- -게 생겼다-게 생겼다 says you are about to end up in a bad (sometimes good) situation: 'I'm going to end up …'.
- -기 일쑤다-기 일쑤다 says that something undesirable happens again and again, almost as a bad habit.
- -만 같아도Means 'if things were even like N': it holds up a past time or a standard and says how different the result would be (or was) then, often with regret or surprise at change.
- -기 마련이다-기 마련이다 says that something naturally happens as a general rule of life, so it is no surprise.
- -을/를 통해(서)N을/를 통해(서) means 'through / by way of N' — the channel, medium or experience by which something happens.
- -은/는 물론이고N은/는 물론이고 means 'not to mention N / N, of course, and also …'.
- -았/었더니-았/었더니 means 'when I did A, (I found that) B': your own action followed by a discovery or result.
- -아/어서인지Gives a reason the speaker is not sure of: 'maybe because…, perhaps since…'. It is a compact, slightly more written equivalent of -아/어서 그런지.
- -건만-건만 is a literary 'although' that links a fact with a result that goes against it, often with a tone of regret or frustration.
- -더라-더라 reports, in plain casual style, something the speaker personally saw or experienced in the past.
- -듯이Links two clauses by likeness: 'just as A, so B'. It also forms fixed similes such as 물 쓰듯이 ('like water') and 밥 먹듯이 ('as often as eating').
- -마저-마저 means 'even (the last remaining one)': on top of other bad things, even this.
- -조차-조차 means 'even (something so basic)', stressing that not even the minimum happened.
- -치고N치고 means 'for a N / considering it is a N', and the result is different from what you would expect of that kind of thing; with a negative ending it means 'no N at all, without exception'.
- -까지 (첨가)Means 'even, on top of that': it adds an extreme or unexpected item to what has already happened, in both bad and good situations.
- -기에 (망정이지)A-기에 망정이지 B means 'luckily A happened; otherwise the bad outcome B would have happened.'
- -는가 보다The verb form of the evidence-based guess 'it seems that…': V + 는가 보다 (가는가 보다). Same meaning as -나 보다, slightly more careful and frequent in writing and narration.
- -기로 되어 있다-기로 되어 있다 says something has been arranged or decided (often by others): 'be supposed / scheduled to'.
- -더군(요)Recalls something the speaker saw, heard or felt in the past and voices the realization it brought: 'I found that…, I noticed…'. -더군요 is polite; bare -더군 sounds like a monologue or an older speaker.
- -고서야A-고서야 B: B happens (or becomes possible) only after A is done, often describing a late realization.
- -노라고-노라고 (usually followed by 했는데 or 했지만) means "I really did try to do it," often said modestly when the result was not as good as hoped.
- -다가는-다가는 warns that if you keep doing something (or do it at all), something bad will happen.
- -답시고-답시고 sarcastically repeats someone's claimed reason or purpose ("supposedly to…"), hinting that the action was pointless, clumsy or made things worse.
- -다니까(요)-다니까(요) repeats or insists on what you already said: 'I told you …! / I'm telling you …'.
- -기는커녕-기는커녕 means the expected thing did not happen at all; instead, the opposite or something even worse happened.
- -(느)ㄴ다는 + N-(느)ㄴ다는 + N gives the content of news, rumours, ideas or claims: 'the news that …'.
- N만 하다N만 하다 compares size or degree: 'as big as N / about the size of N'.
Level 5
TOPIK II · 87 patterns- -(이)란N(이)란 picks out a concept that you are about to define or explain the essence of: "N is (by its nature)…", "what we call N is…".
- -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다Use -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 when the situation makes it plain to you that something, usually something bad, will happen or has happened.
- -(으)ㄴ 끝에Shows that a result was finally reached after a long or difficult process of doing something.
- -(으)ㄹ 망정-(으)ㄹ망정 means 'even if I have to accept this bad situation, I still won't give up something more important,' or 'although X is true, Y still holds.'
- -(으)ㄹ 즈음-(으)ㄹ 즈음 means "around the time when something happens": it marks an approximate time, not an exact moment.
- -(으)ㄹ 테다Declares the speaker's firm will or determination: 'I will … (no matter what)'. In a question to the listener it asks about their intention, often bluntly. Plain style: -(으)ㄹ 테야 in speech, -(으)ㄹ 테다 in self-talk and narration.
- -(으)ㄹ 테면From -(으)ㄹ 터이면 'if you intend to': makes someone's intention the condition. Mostly met in the blunt set phrase -(으)ㄹ 테면 -아/어 봐(라) 'go ahead, if you dare' or the indifferent -(으)ㄹ 테면 -아/어라 'do it if you want, I don't care'; plain-style speech.
- -(으)ㄹ 길이 없다It says there is simply no way or means to do something, so it cannot be done even if you want to.
- -(으)ㄹ 만도 하다Use -(으)ㄹ 만도 하다 to say that, given the circumstances, a reaction or result is understandable and not surprising.
- -(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다Use -(으)ㄹ 턱이 없다 to say firmly that, given what you know, something simply cannot be true or happen: "there's no way that ~".
- -(으)ㄹ 테지만From -(으)ㄹ 터이지만: 'surely / probably …, but'. The speaker grants a confident assumption, often about the listener's feelings or situation, and then adds a contrasting point. A little more formal than -겠지만.
- -(으)면 몰라도'If it were …, maybe, but (not otherwise)': names the one case in which something might be possible or acceptable, then denies it for the real situation. The second clause is usually negative.
- -(으)ㄹ 겨를이 없다You are so busy or rushed that there is not even a spare moment to do something.
- -(으)ㄹ 우려가 있다States formally that there is a real risk that something bad or undesirable could happen.
- -(으)ㄹ 것까지는 없다Says an action would be going too far, because the situation doesn't call for something that extreme.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 데 있다Use it to say where the real cause, purpose or essence of something lies: “X lies in (doing/being) ~”.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 듯이-(으)ㄴ/는 듯이 describes how something is done by comparing it to a situation that is usually not literally true: "as if ~".
- -(으)ㄴ/는 이상Treats a fact as already settled, so the second clause states what must, will, or inevitably has to follow: 'since (it's a given that) ~'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 나머지-(으)ㄴ 나머지 means that a feeling or action went too far, and this led to a usually unwanted or unexpected result.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 경향이 있다Says that people or things generally lean toward a certain behavior or state; it describes a tendency, not a fixed rule.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 것이나 다름없다It says that something is not literally X, but in practice it is just the same as X.
- -(으)ㄴ/는걸(요)A conversational ending that states something the speaker has just found out or wants the listener to notice, often with mild surprise or as a gentle counterpoint or excuse: 'Oh, it's actually …!', 'But …'. -걸요 is the polite form.
- -(으)로써-(으)로써 names the means or method by which a result is achieved: 'by (means of) N' or, as -(으)ㅁ으로써, 'by doing'.
- -(이)라야N(이)라야 says that being N is the required condition for what follows ("only if it is N / it has to be N"); it can also downplay something as "merely N".
- -(으)ㄹ까 싶다-(으)ㄹ까 싶다 voices a half-formed thought in the speaker's mind: either "I'm thinking I might do ~" or "I suspect, worry or hope that ~ might happen."
- -(으)ㅁ에 따라Use -(으)ㅁ에 따라 in formal writing to say that as one situation changes or progresses, another change follows from it.
- -(으)려나 보다Guesses from a visible sign that something is about to happen or that someone means to do something: 'it looks like … is going to …'. -(으)려나 is short for -(으)려고 하나; conversational.
- -(으)려던 참이다Says that you were just about to do something at the very moment someone suggested it or something happened.
- -(으)라니(요)Repeats an order or request you have just received and reacts to it with surprise, disbelief or indignation: 'You're telling me to …?!'. The polite form -(으)라니요 often talks back to the person who gave the order.
- -(으)려고(요)? (의심)A rhetorical question voicing doubt that something could be true: 'Surely … wouldn't …?' The speaker expects the answer no. Spoken and a little old-fashioned; the polite form is -(으)려고요?
- -(느)ㄴ다니Used to react with surprise or disbelief to something you have just heard or found out, like "I can't believe that…!"
- -(이)야말로N(이)야말로 singles out one thing and stresses that it, more than anything else, truly deserves the description.
- -(느)ㄴ다고 치다-(느)ㄴ다고 치다 means 'let's suppose/grant that ~' and treats something as true for the sake of argument, a calculation, or a concession, even if it may not really be so.
- -(느)ㄴ다고 해서Says that a fact is not enough reason for the conclusion people usually draw from it: 'just because A doesn't mean B'.
- -(느)ㄴ다기에Shows that something you heard from someone else is the reason for what you then did: "since they said ~, I ~".
- -(느)ㄴ다더니-(느)ㄴ다더니 recalls something you heard from someone else (or a saying) and then tells what actually happened, which either confirms it or turns out differently.
- -(으)ㄹ뿐더러Adds a second fact of the same kind on top of the first one: 'not only A, but also B'.
- -(으)ㄹ지언정Use it to say you would accept even something bad in the first clause, but you will firmly hold to what you say in the second: "even if X, I still (won't) Y" or "X may be so, but Y."
- -(으)ㅁ으로써-(으)ㅁ으로써 presents the first action as the means or method that brings about the result in the second clause: 'by doing A, B happens'.
- -(느)ㄴ다기보다는Use it to say that a first description is not quite accurate and then give a better one: 'it's not so much X as Y.'
- -다 (표제·제목)In headlines, titles, captions and chapter headings, a verb in its bare dictionary form (stem + 다) states an event briefly and impersonally, usually one that has just happened: 'X wins', 'X opens'.
- -네 (감탄)Casual (반말) ending that voices a fresh reaction to something just seen, heard or realized: 'Oh, …!'. Often said half to oneself; the polite form is -네요.
- -지 (대조)A linking -지 that sets what is true against what is not: 'it is A, not B' / 'it only does A and not B'. Most often met as N(이)지 N이/가 아니다; neutral, used in speech and writing.
- -고 보니-고 보니 means that only after finishing an action did the speaker notice or realize something new, often something they had not expected.
- -고 보면Says that once you actually do something completely (get to know it, hear it out, think it through, let time pass), you see a truth that differs from your first impression.
- -는 통에-는 통에 blames a noisy, hectic or chaotic situation for causing a bad result.
- -던 차에-던 차에 means that while you were doing something, or just about to do it, another event happened at that very moment, often conveniently.
- -에 걸쳐-에 걸쳐 shows that an action or state stretches over a whole span of time, an area, or a series of occasions.
- -나 싶다 / -(으)ㄴ가 싶다It expresses a tentative thought or doubt in your own mind, like 'I wonder if…' or 'maybe…', often with a touch of worry.
- -는 수가 있다-는 수가 있다 says that something, usually unwanted, can occasionally happen under certain conditions, and it is often used as a warning.
- -에 달려 있다N에 달려 있다 means that the outcome in the subject is decided by N: 'it all depends on N'.
- -는 동시에Shows that two events happen at the very same moment, or that one thing has two qualities or roles at once.
- -는 법이다States that something naturally happens, or is supposed to be done, as a general rule of life or common sense.
- -는 와중에-는 와중에 marks a busy, chaotic or difficult situation as the background, against which something else, often unexpected, happens.
- -에 그치다N + 에 그치다 says that a result or level stopped at N and went no further, usually less than hoped for.
- -는 수밖에 없다Says that every other option is gone, so the only thing left to do is this action.
- -기 나름이다The result is not fixed; it depends on how someone does the action or looks at things.
- -기 십상이다Says that something bad is very likely to happen in a certain situation, often as a warning or a general observation.
- -에 불과하다N에 불과하다 says that something is only N and no more, and stresses that it is small, unimportant or less than expected.
- -지 않고서는'Unless you (first) do X, Y is impossible': it stresses that X is an indispensable condition.
- -에 이르기까지N에 이르기까지 marks the far end of a wide range, stressing that everything from one point all the way to N is included.
- -아/어 내다-아/어 내다 shows that someone gets through something hard and carries it through to the end by their own effort or endurance.
- -아/어 대다Attached to an action verb, it shows someone doing that action over and over or very intensely, usually to a degree the speaker finds excessive or annoying.
- -아/어 봤자-아/어 봤자 says that even if you do something, it will be useless or the result will be small, so it is not worth doing.
- -을/를 두고N을/를 두고 marks the issue that people argue about, debate, worry over or judge, like 'over / concerning N'.
- -은/는 말할 것도 없고'N goes without saying, and even M …': names the obvious case first, then adds a less expected one. Works for good and bad facts and is a little more emphatic than -은/는 물론이고.
- -을/를 가지고N을/를 가지고 means 'with N, using N' (tool, material, means) and 'over N, about N' when N is what people quarrel about, criticise or discuss, often something the speaker finds trivial. Spoken; casually shortened to 갖고.
- -을/를 계기로N을/를 계기로 means that an event or experience became the turning point that started a new action, decision or change.
- -을/를 비롯해N을/를 비롯해 puts the most important or representative member of a group first and then includes the others: 'including, above all, from N to the rest'.
- -을/를 바탕으로N을/를 바탕으로 means using N as the foundation or source material for creating, developing or judging something.
- -았/었던Modifies a noun with a past event or state that is recalled as finished and no longer continuing: 'that I once …', 'that used to be'. It sounds more reminiscent and distant than -(으)ㄴ or -던.
- -아/어서야Marks the point at which something finally happened, often later than expected ('only when/after ~'). In rhetorical questions it criticizes a situation: 'if things are like this, how could ~?'
- -았/었더라면-았/었더라면 means 'if (something) had happened', imagining a past that did not happen, usually with regret or relief.
- -데(요)A spoken ending that passes on something the speaker personally saw or experienced in the past, like -더라(고요): 'I found that …, it turned out …'. With rising intonation it asks about what the listener saw. -데요 is the polite form.
- -거라A plain (해라체) command ending with an old-fashioned, warm or dignified tone, used by parents, grandparents and teachers to children and juniors, and common in novels and historical dramas.
- -고도-고도 means that even after A has actually happened, B happens or stays the opposite of what A would lead you to expect.
- -고자-고자 states the purpose or intention behind an action in a formal, written style, like 'in order to' or 'with the aim of'.
- -길래Gives what the speaker saw or noticed as the trigger for an action they then took: 'since / when I saw that …, I …'. The conversational form of -기에; in questions it asks what is so special that something happens (뭐길래, 얼마나 …길래).
- -따라Attached to a time word such as 오늘 or 그날, it means 'on that day of all days, unusually then': something differs from the usual, often inconveniently.
- -느니 (차라리)-느니 (차라리) means that both options are bad, but the speaker would sooner do the second one than the first.
- -고야 말다-고야 말다 says that something finally happened in the end despite resistance or effort (often with regret), or, with 겠다, that the speaker is determined to make it happen no matter what.
- -기에 앞서-기에 앞서 means "before doing (something important)" and is used in formal speech and writing to introduce a step that comes first.
- -기에 따라(서)'Depending on how one …': the result or judgment changes with the way something is done, seen or thought about. Common in set phrases such as 보기에 따라, 생각하기에 따라, 하기에 따라.
- -에도 불구하고N에도 불구하고 'despite N, in spite of N': a known fact, expressed by a noun, that should have prevented the result, yet the result happened. Formal: news, reports, speeches.
- -는가/-(으)ㄴ가A plain question ending with two uses: in writing (essays, titles, speeches) it poses a thoughtful or rhetorical question, 'What is …?'; in speech it is the old-fashioned 하게체 level that older speakers use to adult juniors.
- -다시피With verbs like 알다, 보다 or 듣다, -다시피 means 'as you know / see / heard'; in the form -다시피 하다 it means 'practically doing' something, close to the real thing.
- -자기에Gives someone's suggestion ('let's …') as the reason for what the speaker then did: 'since (someone) suggested …, I …'. A contraction of -자고 하기에; somewhat written, with -자길래 in casual speech.
Level 6
TOPIK II · 97 patterns- -(으)매-(으)매 is a bookish, literary way to say 'because' or 'as', linking a cause to its natural result in formal writing.
- -(으)나 -(으)나Two paired or opposite verbs/adjectives, each with -(으)나, mean 'whichever of these is the case, the following stays the same', which often amounts to 'regardless' or 'all the time'.
- -(으)락 -(으)락Joins two opposite actions or states to show that they keep switching back and forth.
- -(으)랴 -(으)랴Lists two (or more) tasks a person is juggling at the same time to stress that they are extremely busy or worn out.
- -(이)건 -(이)건N(이)건 N(이)건 lists two or more options and says that whichever one it is, the outcome stays the same.
- -(이)라 (예스러운 서술)An archaic plain (해라체) statement ending attached to 이다 and 아니다: 'X is Y.' It sounds solemn and old, as in classical texts, proverbs, historical-drama narration and poetry; modern Korean uses -(이)다.
- -(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯-(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯 describes something hovering on the edge of happening, so it seems to happen and not happen at the same time.
- -(으)ㄹ 리 만무하다A formal, emphatic way to say "there is absolutely no way that ~", based on the speaker's firm reasoning.
- -(으)ㄹ 대로 -아/어서A state has gone as far as it can go, to its very limit, and this extreme state causes what follows.
- -(으)ㄹ 바를 모르다A formal way to say someone is so shocked, moved or embarrassed that they are at a complete loss about what to do.
- -(으)ㄹ 양으로-(으)ㄹ 양으로 explains the purpose or resolve behind an action: 'intending to do ~, with the aim of ~'.
- -(으)ㄹ 판이다-(으)ㄹ 판이다 says that things have reached a point where something bad or extreme is about to happen.
- -(으)ㄹ 소지가 있다Something has a flaw or condition in it that could lead to an undesirable result, such as a misunderstanding, dispute or abuse.
- -(으)ㄹ 나위가 없다 (더할 나위 없다)There is no room left to do more of something, so a thing is already perfect (더할 나위 없다) or too obvious to need saying (말할 나위도 없다).
- -(으)오/-소Ending of the 하오체, an old-fashioned semi-formal style: one form serves statements and questions, and with -(으)시오 commands. Heard in period dramas, between older spouses, and in written notices such as 손대지 마시오.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 터라-(으)ㄴ/는 터라 presents an already existing situation as the background reason for what follows, mostly in formal or written Korean.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 터에-(으)ㄴ/는 터에 sets up a situation that already exists, and the next clause tells what happened in that situation, either something well-timed or something that makes it worse.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 감이 있다Used to say, softly, that something strikes you as a bit too much or not quite enough: 'it feels somewhat ~'.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 관계로-(으)ㄴ/는 관계로 gives an objective circumstance as the reason for something in a formal, official tone, like English “due to the fact that…”.
- -(으)ㄴ/는 까닭에-(으)ㄴ/는 까닭에 is a formal, written way to say "for the reason that ~": it presents the first clause as the cause of the second.
- -(으)ㄴ즉A formal, bookish ending: after a verb it means 'having done or checked X, I found that Y'; after a noun it means 'as for (the content of) N'.
- -(으)ㄹ라A casual sentence ending used to warn someone close that something bad might happen if they are not careful.
- -(으)려니-(으)려니 either shows how hard or emotional it feels when you set about doing something, or, followed by 하다/생각하다, states what you assumed would happen.
- -(으)려도Short for -(으)려고 하여도: 'even if/though one tries (intends) to V'. The second clause usually says the attempt fails or that something else is needed first.
- -(으)련만-(으)련만 says 'it would be so (if only…), but it isn't': a hoped-for or expected result set against a disappointing reality, often with regret.
- -(으)리오An archaic, literary rhetorical-question ending: 'how could …? who would …?'. The question implies the opposite (누가 알리오 = nobody knows). Found in classical poetry and prose, speeches and period dramas.
- -(으)려야 -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다Says that something cannot be done, no matter how much you might intend or try to do it.
- -(이)라면 (강조)Picks out a noun as the topic with emphasis: 'when it comes to N, as for N'. The predicate usually expresses a strong feeling, liking, dislike or confidence (자신 있다, 질색이다, 사족을 못 쓰다).
- -(이)라고 (하찮음)In 그것도/이것도 N(이)라고, it belittles something as hardly worth the name N: 'you call that an N?'. Usually a scornful rhetorical question; turned on one's own gift, it sounds modest.
- -(으)ㄹ세라-(으)ㄹ세라 means someone quickly or carefully does something out of anxiety that an unwanted event might happen ("for fear that", "lest").
- -(으)ㄹ진대-(으)ㄹ진대 sets up an accepted fact as a premise ("given that…, since it is so that…") from which a firm conclusion, command or rhetorical question follows, in formal, bookish style.
- -(으)니만큼-(으)니만큼 presents a fact as a solid reason, so that what follows is the natural or proper thing to do or expect: 'since it is so, it is only right that…'.
- -(으)래서야Short for -(으)라고 해서야: 'if (someone) tells people to V like this, (how can that be right?)'. It objects to an unreasonable order or demand and is followed by a rhetorical question or criticism.
- -(으)려니와-(으)려니와 grants one fact and then adds another of the same kind on top of it: 'not only A, but also B' in a formal, literary tone.
- -(으)리라고-(으)리라 + quotative 고 before a verb of thinking or expecting: '(think/believe/expect) that … will …'. Literary; very common in -(으)리라고는 생각하지 못했다 'never imagined that …'.
- -(이)라고는A particle that singles out a noun as 'the only thing of that kind' to stress that there is none or almost none: '(not) a single …, nothing in the way of … except …'. Emphatic, often with a note of complaint or sadness; spoken form -(이)라곤.
- -(느)ㄴ다던가Short for -(느)ㄴ다고 하던가: asks to confirm what someone said that the listener heard — 'did he say …?', 'what did they tell us to …?'. A 하게체 question from an older speaker to an adult junior, or a question to oneself while trying to recall.
- -(느)ㄴ다면야-(느)ㄴ다면야 stresses a condition: if this is really the case, the result naturally follows; the speaker often accepts or concedes the condition.
- -(으)ㄹ라치면-(으)ㄹ라치면 means 'every time I am about to do something, (annoyingly) something else happens', describing a repeated pattern that blocks or spoils the attempt.
- -(으)ㄹ지라도-(으)ㄹ지라도 means "even if / even though A": it concedes A, real or imagined, and insists that B still holds.
- -(느)ㄴ다고나 할까Used when you are searching for the right words and offer your description tentatively: 'you could say ~ / how should I put it, ~'.
- -나 (의문)A question ending without 요 with two uses: the 하게체 question an older speaker asks an adult junior ('are you …?'), and a casual question to oneself ('did I …?', 'is it …?').
- -디 (강조)Joins an adjective stem to a repeat of the same adjective to intensify it: 차디찬 'ice-cold', 희디흰 'pure white'. Literary and expressive: descriptions, poems, novels.
- -네 (하게체 서술)Statement ending of the 하게체: an older speaker telling an adult junior (son-in-law, grown-up former student) a fact or an intention, plainly but with courtesy. Old-fashioned; today mostly heard from elderly men and in novels and dramas.
- -는 둥 마는 둥Describes doing something so carelessly or half-heartedly that you can hardly say it was done at all.
- -는 데 그치지 않고Someone does not stop at one action but goes a step further to something bigger or more serious.
- -는 족족-는 족족 means that each time something happens, something else follows right away, often so that the thing is quickly used up or gone.
- -는 판에-는 판에 sets up a tough, hectic or urgent situation, and the next clause usually says that something is out of place in it or makes it even worse.
- -다 못해-다 못해 means that something has gone past its limit: with verbs, you can no longer bear or keep doing it and finally act; with adjectives, a state becomes so extreme that it turns into something stronger.
- -지 싶다-지 싶다 expresses the speaker's own fairly confident guess, like 'I suppose / I'd say it's probably ~'.
- -기 이를 데 없다Says that a quality or feeling is so extreme that words cannot fully describe it: 'indescribably ~, ~ beyond words'.
- -기 짝이 없다-기 짝이 없다 says a quality is so extreme that nothing can match it, usually in a strong negative judgment: 'utterly, beyond compare'.
- -는 한이 있더라도Shows strong resolve: the speaker is ready to accept even an extreme, painful outcome in order to do (or not do) something.
- -는 날에는V-는 날에는 pictures the day a feared event might happen and warns that a serious, usually bad consequence will follow: "if ever ~, then it's all over."
- -에 있어서Marks the area or aspect in which a statement holds true, like 'when it comes to N / in N / for N'; it is used mainly in formal writing and speeches.
- -에 힘입어Names a supporting force, such as encouragement or a favorable trend, that helped bring about a good result: 'buoyed by / thanks to N'.
- -기 그지없다Says in a formal, literary way that a feeling or quality is so strong it has no limit: 'extremely, beyond words'.
- -에 즈음하여N에 즈음하여 is a formal way to say that something is done to mark a significant occasion such as an anniversary, holiday or milestone.
- -아/어 빠지다Added to a word with a negative sense, it says a person or thing is in that bad state to an extreme degree, and it carries the speaker's contempt or annoyance.
- -아/어 치우다Says that an action is done quickly and completely, getting the task or the quantity out of the way: 'polish off, get … done with, do away with'. Informal; with some verbs it suggests rashness or disapproval (팔아 치우다 'sell off').
- -아/어 마지않다-아/어 마지않다 is a formal way to say you feel something such as respect, thanks or hope with your whole heart, to the fullest degree.
- -을/를 막론하고N을/를 막론하고 means that something holds true no matter which case of N you take, so no exception is made.
- -을/를 무릅쓰고N을/를 무릅쓰고 means you knowingly face a danger, hardship or opposition and still deliberately go ahead with an action.
- -을/를 불문하고N을/를 불문하고 means "no matter what N is": the statement applies equally to every kind or degree of N, and it is used mainly in formal or written Korean.
- -았/었다 하면-았/었다 하면 means that once someone does a certain action, a particular, often excessive result follows every single time.
- -았/었던들Imagines the opposite of what really happened in the past ('had X happened…'), usually with regret that things could have turned out differently.
- -기(가) 바쁘게-기(가) 바쁘게 shows that the next action follows the first one immediately, often in a hurry, as if there were no time to wait.
- -건대-건대 attaches to verbs like 'see', 'hear', 'think' or 'wish' and introduces the speaker's own viewpoint before a statement: 'as I see it…', 'as I hear…'.
- -그려Added after another sentence ending (-네, -구먼, -세, -ㅂ시다…) to give an old-fashioned emphatic or exclamatory touch: '…, indeed / you know'. Now found mainly in novels, period dramas and the speech of very old people.
- -깨나A particle meaning 'a fair amount of, quite some N', used in set combinations such as 돈깨나 있다, 힘깨나 쓰다, 고생깨나 하다. Colloquial, often slightly ironic or dismissive.
- -자니-자니 means 'if I go ahead and do X, a problem comes up' and is used when you are weighing a choice and hesitating.
- -자면A connective ending of hypothetical intention, 'if one sets out to do V, if V is to be done': it states what doing it would take (time, money, effort). This is an ending in its own right; the quoted contraction of -자고 하면 'if someone says let's' is a separate use (see the last rule). Slightly bookish; also in set phrases like 말하자면 'so to speak' and 솔직히 말하자면 'to be honest'.
- -거니 -거니Shows two opposite or paired actions alternating back and forth again and again, often between two people or sides (like giving and taking).
- -느니 -느니 하다Lists the different, often conflicting or complaining things people keep saying, like 'going on about this and that'.
- -자면 (-자고 하면)Short for -자고 하면: 'if (someone) suggests doing V / says "let's V"'. A reported suggestion used as a condition; the main clause gives the speaker's response. Conversational.
- -던가 (회상 의문)A 하게체 question ending asking the listener about something they saw or experienced in the past: 'was it …? did you find that …?'. Old-fashioned, used by older speakers to adult juniors.
- -구려 (권유·명령)A 하오체 ending after an action verb that gently urges or advises the listener: 'do …, why don't you …'. Old-fashioned; heard from elderly speakers (often between spouses), in period dramas and novels.
- -던가 (혼잣말·추측)Used when talking to oneself about the past: the speaker wonders about something remembered only vaguely, or makes a tentative guess about it: 'was it …?', 'I wonder if …'. Reflective; common in essays, lyrics and inner monologue.
- -기로 들면If someone really sets about doing something, often stubbornly, there is no end to it, or nothing is impossible.
- -는가 하면-는가 하면 sets two different or opposite cases side by side: some people or situations are like this, while others are like that.
- -기가 무섭게-기가 무섭게 means that the second event happens the very instant the first one occurs, almost too fast to believe.
- -기에 이르다-기에 이르다 says that, after a long process or a worsening situation, things finally went as far as a significant action.
- -다손 치더라도Even if we accept that something is (or was) true, the conclusion that follows still does not change.
- -구려/-는구려Exclamatory ending of the old-fashioned 하오체: the speaker remarks on something just realised, with feeling: '…, I see / how …!'. Today heard mostly from elderly speakers (for example between older spouses) and in period dramas and novels.
- -구먼/-는구먼(요)Notes a newly realised fact with mild surprise: '…, I see / so …'. Casual and homely, typical of middle-aged and older speakers; -구먼요 is the polite form.
- -을랑/ㄹ랑An old-fashioned particle that singles out a thing for emphasis, usually before a prohibition or command: 'as for N, (don't) …'. Heard from older speakers, in regional-flavoured dialogue and in literature; most often met as 일랑 (그런 걱정일랑…).
- -거니와-거니와 is a formal, mostly written connector that accepts the first fact as true and adds a second, usually similar fact: 'not only… but also…', 'granted that…, and moreover…'.
- -노라니-노라니 means 'as I kept doing A, I came to feel or notice B', linking an ongoing action of the speaker to what it led them to realize; it is a literary, written-style ending.
- -노라면-노라면 means 'if you keep doing something for a while', and the next clause gives the result that naturally follows; it has a literary, reflective tone.
- -거들랑 (조건)A colloquial, old-fashioned or regional-sounding variant of conditional -거든: 'if / when …, (then do …)'. Heard from older speakers and in novels or period dramas; shortened to -걸랑.
- -다시피 하다Says that someone really did something so much or so intensely that it was nearly the same as doing X, often with a bit of exaggeration.
- -느니만 못하다Says that doing something (in that way) turns out worse than not doing it at all, or worse than the alternative.
- -거들랑/걸랑(요) (종결)Sentence-final colloquial variant of -거든(요): gives a reason or background the listener may not know: '…, you see'. Casual; sounds folksy or regional, and some speakers use -걸랑(요) playfully.
- -기로서니-기로서니 grants that something is true but argues it still does not justify someone's excessive reaction or behaviour, usually as a reproach.
- -(느)ㄴ단/-(이)란 + NSpoken contractions of -(느)ㄴ다는/-다는/-(이)라는: -(느)ㄴ단, -단, -(이)란 + N ('the news that…'), and the emphatic -(느)ㄴ단 말이다 ('I'm telling you…', or in a question 'you mean…?!').
- -(으)리라는 + NA literary noun modifier giving the content of an expectation, belief or resolve: 'the expectation/belief that … will …'. It is -(으)리라 + -는 (from -고 하는) and is typical of news, essays and narratives.
- N 같으니(라고)'N 같으니(라고)!' scolds or lightly curses someone: 'you fool!, what a …!'. This sentence-final -(으)니 of reproach occurs only after 같다; plain style, in exclamations or muttered to oneself.
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