-었던Korean expression · TOPIK 5

-eotdeon

An expression used to recall a past incident or state, and indicate that the incident or state is suspended, not completed.

형태Forms

-었던-았던-였던

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 recall a past incident or state, and indicate that the incident or state is suspended, not completed.

과거의 사건이나 상태를 다시 떠올리거나 그 사건이나 상태가 완료되지 않고 중단되었다는 의미를 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

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

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

예문Examples

아버지가 젊었던 시절의 사진을 보면 굉장히 미남이셨다.

Looking at pictures of my father when he was young, he was very handsome.

지금 생각해보면 스승의 말씀을 이해하기에 당시의 나는 너무 어렸던 것 같다.

Looking back, I think I was too young to understand my teacher's words.

그날 유달리 아름다웠던 지수는 마치 한 송이 장미 같았다.

Jisu, who was especially beautiful that day, was like a single rose.

대화In conversation

여기 두었던 빵은 누가 먹었니?

Who ate the bread that was here?

오빠가 먹은 것 같아요. 아까 빵을 먹으면서 나가던데요.

I think my brother ate it. He left while eating bread earlier.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 마련이다 -ge maryeonida -기 마련이다 An expression used to indicate that it is natural for something to occur or become a certain state. TOPIK 5 -게 생겼다 -ge saengyeotta An expression used to indicate that someone is facing the situation expressed by the preceding statement. TOPIK 5 -기 나름이다 -gi nareumida -을 나름이다 An expression used to indicate that something depends on how the act mentioned in the preceding statement is done. TOPIK 5 -기가 바쁘게 -giga bappeuge An expression used to indicate that something happens as soon as the act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed. TOPIK 5 -기가 쉽다 -giga swipda An expression used to state that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to occur. TOPIK 5 -기만 하다 -giman hada An expression used to state that one does only one act without doing anything else. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -었던 mean in Korean?

-었던 is a expression introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). An expression used to recall a past incident or state, and indicate that the incident or state is suspended, not completed.

When do you use -었던?

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs and adjectives whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. The other shape is -았던, -였던 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -었던 and -았던?

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 -었던?

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.