-게Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 4
-ge
One sentence ending with 4 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.
형태Forms
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 guess what the following statement would be like, if the preceding statement is such, and ask about it.
(두루낮춤으로) 앞의 내용이 그러하다면 뒤의 내용은 어떠할 것이라고 추측해 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.
쓰임Usage
Mainly in speech, attaches after the copula 이다, verbs and adjectives, the honorific -으시- or the past -었-.
주로 구어에서, '이다', 동사와 형용사 또는 '-으시-', '-었-' 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
예문Examples
이 병에 든 게 약이면 내가 먹은 음료수가 약이게?
If what's in this bottle is medicine, then what I drank is medicine too, right?
쌍둥이 언니가 이렇게 예뻤다니 그럼 너도 예뻤게?
If the older twin sister was this pretty, then you must have been pretty too, right?
빨간색 가방을 든 사람이라고 했으니까 저 애가 민준이 동생이게?
If the person holding the red bag is Minjun's sibling, then that kid must be Minjun's sibling too, right?
대화In conversation
이 신발 가격 좀 봐. 정말 비싸다. 저 신발이랑 비슷한데 말이야.
Look at the price of these shoes. They're really expensive. They're similar to those over there.
이 신발이 이렇게 비싸다니 그럼 저 신발도 비싸게?
If these shoes are this expensive, then those must be expensive too, right?
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the following content would obviously be realized if the preceding content were true, but actually it is not.
(두루낮춤으로) 앞의 내용이 사실이라면 당연히 뒤의 내용이 이루어지겠지만 실제로는 그렇지 않음을 나타내는 종결 어미.
쓰임Usage
Mainly used in rhetorical questions.
주로 반어의 뜻을 가진 의문문으로 쓴다.
예문Examples
이 곡을 연습도 없이 칠 수 있으면 내가 피아니스트게?
If I could play this piece without practice, would I be a pianist?
키 큰 사람이 다 농구 선수가 됐으면 나도 농구 선수가 됐게?
If every tall person became a basketball player, I would have become one too, right?
머리가 좋다고 다 공부를 잘한다면 내 동생도 공부를 잘했게?
If being smart meant you were good at studying, my brother would have done well too, wouldn't he?
대화In conversation
너는 고등학생이 수학 문제를 이렇게 많이 틀렸니?
How can a high school student get this many math problems wrong?
이 문제를 다 잘 풀면 내가 선생님이게?
If I could solve all these problems, would I be the teacher?
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking the listener to try to guess and answer.
(두루낮춤으로) 듣는 사람에게 한번 추측해서 대답해 보라고 물을 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
쓰임Usage
Mainly in speech, attaches after the copula 이다, verbs and adjectives, the honorific -으시- or the past -었-.
주로 구어에서, '이다', 동사와 형용사 또는 '-으시-', '-었-' 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
예문Examples
내가 이번 시험에서 몇 점 받았게?
Guess what score I got on this exam?
오늘 백화점에서 내가 누구를 만났게?
Guess who I ran into at the department store today?
여름 방학 때 우리 가족이 어디로 휴가를 가게?
Guess where our family is going on vacation this summer?
대화In conversation
오늘 산 옷 세 벌 중에 뭐가 제일 비싸게?
Of the three outfits I bought today, guess which one was the most expensive?
세 번째 옷이 제일 비싸 보여.
The third one looks the most expensive.
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when presenting the reason for the preceding statement.
(두루낮춤으로) 앞 문장의 내용에 대한 근거를 제시할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
쓰임Usage
Mainly in speech, attaches after the copula 이다, verbs and adjectives, the honorific -으시- or the past -었-.
주로 구어에서, '이다', 동사와 형용사 또는 '-으시-', '-었-' 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
예문Examples
시험 공부를 다 했나 봐? 이렇게 여유롭게?
Looks like you've finished studying for the exam, huh? You're so relaxed.
누구 생일이에요? 아침부터 음식을 많이 하시게.
Whose birthday is it? You're making so much food from the morning.
일찍 일어나셨나 봐요. 벌써 갈 준비를 다 하셨게?
Looks like you got up early. You've already finished getting ready to go, huh?
대화In conversation
집에 손님이 오셨나 봐요? 못 보던 신발이 있게.
Looks like you have guests at home? I see shoes I've never seen before.
응. 서울에서 먼 친척이 오셨어.
Yeah. A distant relative from Seoul came to visit.
관련 문법Related grammar
Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.
자주 묻는 질문Common questions
What does -게 mean in Korean?
-게 is a sentence ending introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to guess what the following statement would be like, if the preceding statement is such, and ask about it. It has 4 distinct senses, all listed on this page.
When do you use -게?
Mainly in speech, attaches after the copula 이다, verbs and adjectives, the honorific -으시- or the past -었-. The other shape is -게요 — same point, different environment.
What is the difference between -게 and -게요?
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 -게?
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.