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-니Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 3

-ni

TOPIK 3 3급Sentence 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

-니-으니

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

(formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question.

(아주낮춤으로) 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

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

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

예문Examples

너 지금 어디니?

Where are you right now?

지수랑 언제 만나기로 했니?

When did you agree to meet Jisu?

승규야, 그동안 어떻게 지냈니?

Seunggyu, how have you been?

대화In conversation

무슨 생각을 그렇게 오래 하니?

What are you thinking about for so long?

아무것도 아니에요.

Nothing.

(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when stating a truth or obvious fact.

(예사 낮춤으로) 진리나 당연한 사실을 말함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after the copula 이다, adjectives ending in a vowel or in ㄹ or the honorific -으시-.

‘이다’, 받침이 없거나 ‘ㄹ’ 받침인 형용사 또는 ‘-으시-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

부모에게 효도하는 것이 사람의 도리이니.

It is a person's duty to be filial to their parents.

어떤 일이든지 이론보다는 실전이 중요하니.

In anything, practice is more important than theory.

남을 욕하는 것은 자기 얼굴에 침을 뱉는 것이니.

Speaking ill of others is like spitting in your own face.

대화In conversation

과제 다 했니? 난 이제 시작인데 정말 하기 싫어.

Did you finish the assignment? I've only just started and I really don't want to do it.

금방 하겠네. 시작이 반이니.

You'll be done soon. Starting is half the battle.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-거든 -geodeun 거든요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to the reason, cause, or basis for the preceding statement that the speaker thought… TOPIK 3 -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 -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 -니 mean in Korean?

-니 is a sentence ending introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -니?

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

What is the difference between -니 and -으니?

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 -니?

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.