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-는다니Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 4

-neundani

TOPIK 4 4급Sentence Endings 종결 어미question 의문2 senses

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

형태Forms

-는다니-ㄴ다니-다니-라니

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 asking again or admiring an unexpected fact in surprise.

(두루낮춤으로) 뜻밖의 사실에 놀라서 되묻거나 감탄할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Mainly used in speech, including when talking to oneself.

주로 구어나 혼잣말에서 쓴다.

예문Examples

밥을 먹고 어떻게 바로 눕는다니?

How can you lie down right after eating?

대체 우리는 언제 저녁을 먹는다니?

When on earth are we going to have dinner?

이런 더러운 의자에 누가 앉는다니?

Who would sit on such a dirty chair?

대화In conversation

어쩜, 승규는 저렇게 잇몸이 훤하게 다 보이도록 웃는다니?

How can Seunggyu laugh like that, showing all his gums?

그러게. 보는 사람까지 즐거워져.

I know. It makes everyone around him happy too.

(formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to express a question about a certain fact that is assumed to be already given.

(아주낮춤으로) 어떤 사실을 주어진 것으로 치고 그에 대한 의문을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

이건 어떻게 읽는다니?

How do you read this?

그걸 쏟으면 언제 다 줍는다니?

If you spill that, when will you ever pick it all up?

어디다 두었는지 기억도 못 하는 물건을 어디서 찾는다니?

How can you find something you don't even remember where you put it?

대화In conversation

엄마, 제 핸드폰이 어디에 있을까요?

Mom, where could my phone be?

그걸 네가 알아야지. 왜 나한테 묻는다니?

You should know that. Why are you asking me?

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-게 -ge -게요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to guess what the following statement would be like, if the preceding statement is such,… TOPIK 4 -고 -go -고요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending usually used when answering, omitting the question that should follow and finishing the… TOPIK 4 -나 -na -나요 (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question. TOPIK 4 -는다면서 -neundamyeonseo -ㄴ다면서 · -다면서 · -라면서 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker confirms and asks questions about a fact that he/she heard. TOPIK 4 -다니 -dani -다니요 · -라니 · -라니요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask again or admire an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 4 -더군 -deogun -더군요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to convey a newly learned fact from a past personal experience, and indicate that the… TOPIK 4

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -는다니 mean in Korean?

-는다니 is a sentence ending introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking again or admiring an unexpected fact in surprise. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -는다니?

Mainly used in speech, including when talking to oneself. The other shape is -ㄴ다니, -다니, -라니 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -는다니 and -ㄴ다니?

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 -는다니?

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.