KoreanPath

-을걸Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 4

-eulgeol

TOPIK 4 4급Sentence Endings 종결 어미2 senses

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

형태Forms

-을걸-ㄹ걸-을걸요-ㄹ걸요

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

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate a guess or assumption.

(두루낮춤으로) 미루어 짐작하거나 추측함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-었-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

생각보다 집이 좁을걸.

The house is probably smaller than you think.

너 지금 들어가면 어머니한테 맞을걸?

If you go in now, you'll probably get hit by your mother.

네가 옆에 없었다면 나도 여기까지 올 수 없었을걸.

If you hadn't been by my side, I probably wouldn't have made it this far.

대화In conversation

내가 너무 심했던 걸까?

Was I too harsh?

나라도 누가 내 동생을 괴롭혔다면 가만두지 않았을걸.

If someone had bullied my younger sibling, I probably wouldn't have let it slide either.

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate a small sense of remorse for or regret about something.

(두루낮춤으로) 어떤 일에 대해 가벼운 뉘우침이나 아쉬움을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 또는 ‘-었-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

어릴 때 더 많이 여행을 다녔으면 좋았을걸.

I wish I had traveled more when I was young.

남의 일에 끼어들지 않고 잠자코 가만히 있을걸.

I should have just kept quiet and not gotten involved in other people's business.

지금처럼 일손이 많았다면 물건을 더 많이 팔았을걸.

If we had had this many workers, we could have sold more products.

대화In conversation

너, 승규랑 싸우고 서로 말도 안 한다며?

I heard you fought with Seunggyu and you're not talking to each other?

크게 화낼 일도 아니었는데 그냥 내가 참을걸.

It wasn't something to get that angry about. I should have just held back.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-게 -ge -게요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to guess what the following statement would be like, if the preceding statement is such,… TOPIK 4 -고 -go -고요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending usually used when answering, omitting the question that should follow and finishing the… TOPIK 4 -나 -na -나요 (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question. TOPIK 4 -는다니 -neundani -ㄴ다니 · -다니 · -라니 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking again or admiring an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 4 -는다면서 -neundamyeonseo -ㄴ다면서 · -다면서 · -라면서 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker confirms and asks questions about a fact that he/she heard. TOPIK 4 -다니 -dani -다니요 · -라니 · -라니요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask again or admire an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 4

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -을걸 mean in Korean?

-을걸 is a sentence ending introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate a guess or assumption. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -을걸?

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ or the past -었-. The other shape is -ㄹ걸, -을걸요, -ㄹ걸요 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -을걸 and -ㄹ걸?

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 -을걸?

4급 — TOPIK 4, upper 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.