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-었더니Korean connective · TOPIK 3

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TOPIK 3 3급Connectives 연결 어미2 senses

One connective with 2 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

형태Forms

-었더니-았더니-였더니

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 there is a new incident or situation, different from a past one.

과거의 사실이나 상황과 다른 새로운 사실이나 상황이 있음을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

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

끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

길을 따라 계속 걸었더니 작은 절이 나타났다.

As I kept walking along the road, a small temple appeared.

초인종 소리에 문을 열었더니 우체부 아저씨였다.

When I opened the door at the sound of the doorbell, it was the mailman.

간식으로 야채 주스를 줬더니 아들이 먹기 싫다고 한다.

I gave my son vegetable juice as a snack, and he said he doesn't want to drink it.

대화In conversation

왜 창문을 열다 말아?

Why did you stop opening the window?

날씨가 더워 열었더니 밖에서 냄새가 나네.

I opened it because it was hot, but then a smell came in from outside.

An expression used to indicate that a past incident or situation becomes the cause or reason for the following statement.

과거의 사실이나 상황이 뒤에 오는 말의 원인이나 이유가 됨을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

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

끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

술을 많이 마셨더니 어지럽다.

I drank a lot of alcohol, so I feel dizzy.

저녁을 많이 먹었더니 배가 아프다.

I ate too much dinner, so my stomach hurts.

며칠 동안 제대로 못 씻었더니 온몸이 가렵다.

I haven't washed properly for days, so my whole body itches.

대화In conversation

너무 많이 걸었더니 발에 물집이 잡혔네.

I walked so much that I got blisters on my feet.

저런! 많이 아프겠다.

Oh no! That must hurt a lot.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one.

-거든 -geodeun 거들랑 A connective ending used to convey the meaning, "if something is true or turns out to be true." TOPIK 3 -느라고 -neurago -느라 A connective ending used when the action of the preceding statement is the purpose or cause of the following statement. TOPIK 3 -는다거나 -neundageona -ㄴ다거나 · -다거나 · -라거나 An expression used to explain something by listing some behaviors as examples. TOPIK 3 -는다고 -neundago -다고 · -라고 · -으라고 A connective ending used when implying the purpose or intention of a certain action, or the reason or cause of a certain situation. TOPIK 3 -다가 -daga -다 · 다가도 A connective ending used when an action or state, etc., is stopped and changed to another action or state. TOPIK 3 -도록 -dorok A connective ending used when the preceding statement is the purpose, result, method, amount, etc., of something mentioned in the following statement. TOPIK 3

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -었더니 mean in Korean?

-었더니 is a connective introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). An expression used to indicate that there is a new incident or situation, different from a past one. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -었더니?

Attaches after verbs whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. The other shape is -았더니, -였더니 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -었더니 and -았더니?

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

What TOPIK level is -었더니?

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.