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-는걸Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 5

-neun-geol

TOPIK 5 5급Sentence Endings 종결 어미2 senses

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

형태Forms

-는걸-ㄴ걸-은걸-ㄴ걸요-는걸요-은걸요

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 when the speaker says a newly learned fact with admiration.

(두루낮춤으로) 말하는 사람이 새롭게 알게 된 사실을 감탄하듯이 말함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Also used when talking to oneself.

혼잣말로도 쓴다.

예문Examples

와, 이 영화 정말 재미있는걸.

Wow, this movie is really interesting.

겨울에 계속 비가 오니 당분간 더 춥겠는걸.

If it keeps raining in winter, it's going to be even colder for a while.

민준이는 아침도 안 먹고 벌써 회사로 갔는걸.

Minjun already left for work without even eating breakfast.

대화In conversation

지수야, 유민이 생일 선물로 목걸이를 사려고 하는데 이거 어때?

Jisu, I'm thinking of buying Yumin a necklace for her birthday. What do you think?

야, 보석이 박힌 게 정말 유민이에게 잘 어울리겠는걸.

Wow, with those gems, it would really suit Yumin.

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when explaining one's thought or argument, or giving a reason for it.

(두루낮춤으로) 자기 생각이나 주장을 설명하듯 말하거나 그 근거를 댈 때 쓰는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Mainly in speech, attaches after 있다, 없다, 계시다, adjectives and verbs ending in 있다 or 없다, the honorific -으시-, the past -었- or the future -겠-.

주로 구어에서, '있다', '없다', '계시다'나 '있다', '없다'로 끝나는 형용사, 동사 또는 '-으시-', '-었-', '-겠-' 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

나는 아직 기타를 배우고 싶은 생각이 별로 없는걸.

I don't really feel like learning the guitar yet.

승규는 도서관이 아니라 옷을 사러 백화점에 갔는걸.

Seunggyu went to the department store to buy clothes, not to the library.

도와주지 않아도 돼. 짐은 무겁지만 엘리베이터가 있어서 쉽게 운반하겠는걸.

You don't need to help me. The luggage is heavy, but there's an elevator, so it'll be easy to carry.

대화In conversation

지수는 아직도 책 읽는 거 싫어해?

Does Jisu still hate reading?

아냐, 요즘은 자기가 좋아하는 동화책을 찾아서 읽는걸.

No, these days she looks for her favorite storybooks and reads them.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-거라 -geora (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering. TOPIK 5 -고말고 -gomalgo -고말고요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to emphasize one's agreement or affirmation to the other person's question or statement. TOPIK 5 -네 -ne (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when talking about something that one just learned. TOPIK 5 -는가 -neun-ga -ㄴ가 · -은가 (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question about a fact of the present. TOPIK 5 -다 -da (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when describing a certain event, fact, state, etc. TOPIK 5 -다니 -dani -다니요 · -라니 · -라니요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask again or admire an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -는걸 mean in Korean?

-는걸 is a sentence ending introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker says a newly learned fact with admiration. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -는걸?

Also used when talking to oneself. The other shape is -ㄴ걸, -은걸, -ㄴ걸요, -는걸요, -은걸요 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -는걸 and -ㄴ걸?

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 -는걸?

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.