-어 두다Korean expression · TOPIK 3

-eo duda

An expression used to indicate that a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed and its result remains.

형태Forms

-어 두다-아 두다-여 두다

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

An expression used to indicate that a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed and its result remains.

앞말이 나타내는 행동을 끝내고 그 결과를 유지함을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ.

‘이다’, 끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

치즈를 냉장고에 넣어 두었다.

I put the cheese in the fridge.

지수는 자신의 일기장을 아무도 모르는 곳에 숨겨 두었다.

Jisu hid her diary somewhere no one would find it.

나는 집에 오는 길에 세탁소에 맡겨 둔 세탁물들을 찾아 왔다.

On my way home, I picked up the laundry I had left at the dry cleaner's.

대화In conversation

승규야. 시험이 얼마 안 남았는데 공부를 왜 이렇게 안 하니!

Seunggyu, the exam is coming up soon, why aren't you studying?

절 좀 가만히 내버려 두세요, 제발.

Please just leave me alone, please.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 하다 -ge hada An expression used to order someone to do a certain thing or to make something work. TOPIK 3 -고 나다 -go nada An expression used to indicate that the act denoted in the preceding statement has finished. TOPIK 3 -고 말다 -go malda An expression used to state that it is regrettable that the act mentioned in the preceding statement finally occurred. TOPIK 3 -고 싶어 하다 -go sipeo hada An expression used to indicate that the speaker wants to do an action or fall into the state mentioned in the preceding statement. TOPIK 3 -기 위해 -gi wihaeseo -기 위해서 · -기 위한 · 을 위해 An expression used to indicate the intention, which is the goal for doing a certain thing. TOPIK 3 -기는 -gineun -긴 · -기는요 · -긴요 A sentence-final ending used when gently denying or refuting the other person's statement. TOPIK 3

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -어 두다 mean in Korean?

-어 두다 is a expression introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). An expression used to indicate that a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed and its result remains.

When do you use -어 두다?

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. The other shape is -아 두다, -여 두다 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -어 두다 and -아 두다?

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

What TOPIK level is -어 두다?

3급 — TOPIK 3, lower intermediate. It is one of 67 grammar points at that level.

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