-데Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 5

-de

(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker talks about something that he/she personally experienced.

형태Forms

-데-데요

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker talks about something that he/she personally experienced.

(예사 낮춤으로) 말하는 사람이 이전에 직접 경험한 사실을 말함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Mainly used in speech.

주로 구어에서 쓴다.

예문Examples

친구들이 대학교 졸업을 하고 나니 통 연락이 없데.

After my friends graduated from college, they stopped contacting me.

잘못한 사람이 나한테 더 화를 내니 참 기가 막히데.

The person who was in the wrong got angry at me, which was just ridiculous.

어쩜 민준이는 옛날이나 지금이나 얼굴이 그대로데?

How is it that Minjun's face looks the same now as it did back then?

대화In conversation

지수는 어려운 사람들을 항상 돕고 살데.

Jisu always helps people in need.

그게 참 쉽지 않은데 대단하네.

That's not easy to do. It's impressive.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-거라 -geora (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering. TOPIK 5 -고말고 -gomalgo -고말고요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to emphasize one's agreement or affirmation to the other person's question or statement. TOPIK 5 -네 -ne (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when talking about something that one just learned. TOPIK 5 -는가 -neun-ga -ㄴ가 · -은가 (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question about a fact of the present. TOPIK 5 -는걸 -neun-geol -ㄴ걸 · -은걸 · -ㄴ걸요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker says a newly learned fact with admiration. TOPIK 5 -다 -da (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when describing a certain event, fact, state, etc. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -데 mean in Korean?

-데 is a sentence ending introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker talks about something that he/she personally experienced.

When do you use -데?

Mainly used in speech. The other shape is -데요 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -데 and -데요?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same sentence ending, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -데?

5급 — TOPIK 5, advanced. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.