-는 척하다Korean expression · TOPIK 5

-neun cheokada

TOPIK 5 5급 Expressions 표현

An expression used to indicate that one is pretending to do something or to be something, which is not true.

형태Forms

-는 척하다-ㄴ 척하다-은 척하다

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 one is pretending to do something or to be something, which is not true.

실제로 그렇지 않은데도 어떤 행동이나 상태를 거짓으로 꾸밈을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after 있다, 없다, 계시다, adjectives and verbs ending in 있다 or 없다, the honorific -으시- or the future -겠-.

‘있다’, ‘없다’, ‘계시다’나 ‘있다’, ‘없다’로 끝나는 형용사, 동사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-겠-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

민준이는 아내가 민망할까 봐 아내의 실수를 모르는 척해 주었다.

Minjun pretended not to notice his wife's mistake so she wouldn't feel embarrassed.

나는 잘 알지도 못하면서 아는 척하는 사람들을 경멸했다.

I despise people who pretend to know things they don't actually know.

지수는 피곤한 나머지 남편이 말을 걸어도 무시하고 자는 척했다.

Jisu was so tired that she ignored her husband when he talked to her and pretended to be asleep.

대화In conversation

추워? 내 옷을 벗어 줄까?

Are you cold? Want me to give you my jacket?

괜찮아. 너도 추위를 많이 타는데 괜히 멋있는 척하지 않아도 돼.

I'm fine. You get cold easily too, so you don't have to pretend to be tough.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one, starting with the ones the dictionary names as equivalents.

-게 마련이다 -ge maryeonida -기 마련이다 An expression used to indicate that it is natural for something to occur or become a certain state. TOPIK 5 -게 생겼다 -ge saengyeotta An expression used to indicate that someone is facing the situation expressed by the preceding statement. TOPIK 5 -기 나름이다 -gi nareumida -을 나름이다 An expression used to indicate that something depends on how the act mentioned in the preceding statement is done. TOPIK 5 -기가 바쁘게 -giga bappeuge An expression used to indicate that something happens as soon as the act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed. TOPIK 5 -기가 쉽다 -giga swipda An expression used to state that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to occur. TOPIK 5 -기만 하다 -giman hada An expression used to state that one does only one act without doing anything else. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -는 척하다 mean in Korean?

-는 척하다 is a expression introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). An expression used to indicate that one is pretending to do something or to be something, which is not true.

When do you use -는 척하다?

Attaches after 있다, 없다, 계시다, adjectives and verbs ending in 있다 or 없다, the honorific -으시- or the future -겠-. The other shape is -ㄴ 척하다, -은 척하다 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -는 척하다 and -ㄴ 척하다?

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 -는 척하다?

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.