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-거든Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 3

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TOPIK 3 3급Sentence Endings 종결 어미reason 이유2 senses

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

형태Forms

-거든거든요

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 referring to the reason, cause, or basis for the preceding statement that the speaker thought of.

(두루낮춤으로) 앞의 내용에 대해 말하는 사람이 생각한 이유나 원인, 근거를 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

자랑하거나 감탄할 때도 쓸 수 있다.

예문Examples

저녁은 조금만 먹을래. 방금 빵을 하나 먹었거든.

I'll only eat a little for dinner. I just had a piece of bread.

민준이가 많이 아픈가 봐. 그렇지 않으면 학교에 안 올 애가 아니거든.

Minjun must be really sick. Otherwise, he's not the kind of person who wouldn't come to school.

할아버지 생신 선물로 모자를 샀어. 할아버지께서 모자를 좋아하시거든.

I bought a hat as a birthday present for Grandpa. He likes hats.

대화In conversation

아이가 어린데 벌써 도서관에 다녀?

The child is young, but already goes to the library?

아이가 책을 좋아해서 집에 있는 책은 다 봤거든.

The child loves books, so he's read all the books at home.

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when talking about the premise of the following content and implying that the story continues.

(두루낮춤으로) 앞으로 이어질 내용의 전제를 이야기하면서 뒤에 이야기가 계속 이어짐을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after the copula 이다, 아니다, verbs and adjectives, the honorific -으시- or the past -었-.

‘이다’, '아니다', 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-었-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

내일 내 생일이거든. 부모님이 무슨 선물을 주실까?

Tomorrow is my birthday. I wonder what my parents will give me.

엄마가 오늘은 밖에 나가지 말라셨거든. 그런데 이렇게 나가 놀아도 되는지 모르겠어.

My mom told me not to go out today. But I'm not sure if I should go out and play like this.

내가 어제 옷을 사러 백화점에 갔거든. 근데 어제가 의류를 특별 할인하는 날이더라고.

I went to the department store yesterday to buy clothes. And it turned out yesterday was a special sale day for clothing.

대화In conversation

팀원을 하나 새로 뽑아야 되는데 누가 좋을지 모르겠어.

We need to hire a new team member, but I don't know who would be good.

내가 생각해 둔 사람이 있거든. 내 학교 후배인데 너도 알지 모르겠다.

I have someone in mind. She's my junior from school, and you might know her too.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-는구나 -neunguna -구나 (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to imply a certain feeling in a newly learned fact. TOPIK 3 -는다 -neunda -ㄴ다 · -다 (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to describe an event or fact of the present. TOPIK 3 -니 -ni -으니 (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question. TOPIK 3 -던데 -deonde -던데요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to admire something in the past while anticipating the listener's response. TOPIK 3 -자 -ja (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the suggestion to do a certain act together. TOPIK 3 -잖아 -jana -잖아요 (informal addressee-lowering) An expression used to check with or correct the listener on something about a certain situation. TOPIK 3

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -거든 mean in Korean?

-거든 is a sentence ending introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to the reason, cause, or basis for the preceding statement that the speaker thought of. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -거든?

Attaches after the copula 이다, 아니다, verbs and adjectives, the honorific -으시- or the past -었-. The other shape is 거든요 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -거든 and 거든요?

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 -거든?

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.