-을 테면Korean expression · TOPIK 5

-eul temyeon

An expression used to indicate that the speaker wants to do or has a will to do a certain thing, as a condition for the following statement.

형태Forms

-을 테면-ㄹ 테면

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 the speaker wants to do or has a will to do a certain thing, as a condition for the following statement.

뒤에 오는 말의 조건으로 듣는 사람이 어떤 행위를 하고 싶거나 의지가 있음을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓰고, 주로 뒤에는 동일한 동사를 반복적으로 쓴다.

예문Examples

비웃을 테면 맘껏 비웃어.

If you want to laugh at me, go ahead and laugh.

잡을 테면 잡아 보세요.

If you want to catch me, go ahead and try.

식은 밥이라도 먹을 테면 먹어.

If you want to eat cold rice, go ahead and eat.

대화In conversation

조금 추운 것 같은데 창문을 닫을까?

It's a bit cold, should I close the window?

닫을 테면 닫아. 난 상관없어.

If you want to close it, go ahead. I don't mind.

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 -을 테면 mean in Korean?

-을 테면 is a expression introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). An expression used to indicate that the speaker wants to do or has a will to do a certain thing, as a condition for the following statement.

What is the difference between -을 테면 and -ㄹ 테면?

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 -을 테면?

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.