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-고는Korean connective · TOPIK 5

-goneun

TOPIK 5 5급Connectives 연결 어미2 senses

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

형태Forms

-고는-곤-고는 하다-곤 하다

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

A connective ending used when the same event is repeated.

같은 일이 반복됨을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

동사 또는 '-으시-' 뒤에 붙여 쓰고, 주로 '-고는 하다'로 쓴다.

예문Examples

아버지는 퇴근길에 서점에 들르시고는 한다.

My father often stops by the bookstore on his way home from work.

민준이는 용돈이 떨어지면 점심을 굶고는 한다.

Minjun often skips lunch when he runs out of allowance.

김 선생님은 점심시간에 산책을 하러 나가시고는 한다.

Teacher Kim often goes out for a walk during lunchtime.

대화In conversation

이 카페에 자주 오셨었나 봐요.

You must have come to this cafe often.

옛날에는 저녁마다 오고는 했지요.

In the old days, I used to come every evening.

A connective ending used when the preceding statement is the premise or condition of the following statement.

앞에 오는 말이 뒤에 오는 말의 전제나 조건이 됨을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

동사 또는 '-으시-' 뒤에 붙여 쓰고, 주로 부정 표현과 함께 쓴다.

예문Examples

이 문제는 계산기를 사용하지 않고는 계산하기가 어렵다.

This problem is hard to solve without using a calculator.

아버지는 막내를 보지 않고는 눈을 감을 수 없다고 하셨다.

My father said he couldn't close his eyes without seeing his youngest child.

직원들이 모두 퇴근을 해서 김 대리를 제외하고는 일할 사람이 없다.

All the employees have left, so there's no one to work except Manager Kim.

대화In conversation

빌려 드린 돈은 천천히 주셔도 되는데 뭘 벌써 주세요?

You could have paid back the money slowly, why did you return it so soon?

제가 빚지고는 못 사는 성격이라서요.

I can't live with debt.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one.

-길래 -gillae A connective ending referring to the cause or reason of the following statement. TOPIK 5 -느니 -neuni -느니보다 · -느니보다는 A connective ending used when the following statement is better than the preceding statement. TOPIK 5 -다가는 -daganeun -다간 · -단 A connective ending used when an action or state, etc., is stopped and changed to another action or state. TOPIK 5 -을뿐더러 -eul-ppundeoreo -ㄹ뿐더러 A connective ending used to indicate that another fact exists other than a certain fact. TOPIK 5 -을지라도 -uljirado -ㄹ지라도 A connective ending used when presenting or assuming a certain situation and adding a situation that is irrelevant or opposite to it. TOPIK 5 -지 -ji A connective ending used to describe contradictory facts. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -고는 mean in Korean?

-고는 is a connective introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). A connective ending used when the same event is repeated. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

What is the difference between -고는 and -곤?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same connective, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -고는?

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.