-은 지Korean expression · TOPIK 2

-eun ji

An expression used to indicate that a certain time has passed since a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is done.

형태Forms

-은 지-ㄴ 지

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 time has passed since a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is done.

앞말이 나타내는 행동을 한 후 시간이 얼마나 지났는지를 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

민준이는 담배를 끊은 지 이제 한 달이 되었다.

It's been a month since Minjun quit smoking.

승규는 월급을 받은 지 일주일 만에 돈을 다 써 버렸다.

Seunggyu spent all his money within a week of getting his paycheck.

그 책을 읽은 지 오래돼서 내용이 잘 기억나지 않는다.

It's been so long since I read that book that I can't remember the content well.

대화In conversation

이리 와서 케이크 좀 먹어.

Come here and have some cake.

괜찮아요. 밥 먹은 지 얼마 안 돼서 배가 안 고파요.

No thanks. I just ate, so I'm not hungry.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 되다 -ge doeda An expression used to indicate that something will become the state or situation mentioned in the preceding statement. TOPIK 2 -기 때문에 -gi ttaemun -기 때문이다 An expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is the reason or cause for the following incident. TOPIK 2 -기로 하다 -giro hada An expression used to decide or promise the performance of the act mentioned in the preceding statement. TOPIK 2 -는 것 -neun geot -은 것 · -ㄴ 것 · -을 것 An expression used to enable a non-noun word to be used as a noun in a sentence or to be used in front of '이다' (be). TOPIK 2 -는 것 같다 -neun geot gatda -ㄴ 것 같다 · -은 것 같다 · -ㄹ 것 같다 An expression used to indicate that the statement is a guess. TOPIK 2 -는 동안에 -neun dong-an -는 동안 An expression used to indicate the time, for which the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement lasts. TOPIK 2

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -은 지 mean in Korean?

-은 지 is a expression introduced at 2급 (TOPIK 2). An expression used to indicate that a certain time has passed since a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is done.

When do you use -은 지?

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ. The other shape is -ㄴ 지 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -은 지 and -ㄴ 지?

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 -은 지?

2급 — TOPIK 2, elementary. It is one of 45 grammar points at that level.

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