Indirect Questions with '는지' — Korean Grammar

The ending (nŭn·jineun·jinŭn·jinun·ci) is used to connect a question clause to a main verb. It functions like the English "whether" or "if," or connects question words like "who," "what," or "where" to verbs like "know," "ask," or "wonder."

Essentially, it turns a question (e.g., "Is it raining?") into a noun phrase (e.g., "I don't know if it is raining").

Action Verbs (Present Tense)

For action verbs in the present tense, simply attach (nŭn·jineun·jinŭn·jinun·ci) to the verb stem. This rule applies regardless of whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Verb stem + (nŭn·jineun·jinŭn·jinun·ci)

저 사람이 어디 가는지 알아요?
jŏ sa·ra·mi ŏ·di ga·nŭn·ji a·ra·yo?jeo sa·ra·mi eo·di ga·neun·ji a·ra·yo?jŏ sa·ra·mi ŏ·di ga·nŭn·ji a·ra·yo?ce sa·la·mi e·ti ka·nun·ci a·la·yo?
Do you know where that person is going?
저는 그가 뭐 먹는지 궁금해요.
jŏ·nŭn gŭ·ga mwŏ mŏng·nŭn·ji gung·gŭm·hæ·yo.jeo·neun geu·ga mwŏ meong·neun·ji gung·geum·hae·yo.jŏ·nŭn gŭ·ga mwŏ mŏng·nŭn·ji gung·gŭm·hae·yo.ce·nun ku·ka mwŏ meng·nun·ci kung·kum·hay·yo.
I am curious what he is eating.

Descriptive Verbs and Nouns (Present Tense)

Descriptive verbs (adjectives) behave differently. You must use ((ŭ)n·ji(ŭ)n·ji(ŭ)n·ji(ŭ)n·ci).

If the stem ends in a vowel: add (n·jin·jin·jin·ci).
If the stem ends in a consonant: add (ŭn·jieun·jiŭn·jiun·ci).

For nouns followed by the verb (i·dai·dai·dai·ta) (to be), use (in·jiin·jiin·jiin·ci).

이 영화가 재미있는지 몰라요.
i yŏng·hwa·ga jæ·mi·it·nŭn·ji mol·la·yo.i yeong·hwa·ga jae·mi·it·neun·ji mol·la·yo.i yŏng·hwa·ga jae·mi·it·nŭn·ji mol·la·yo.i yeng·hwa·ka cay·mi·it·nun·ci mol·la·yo.
I don't know if this movie is interesting.
날씨가 좋은지 보세요.
nal·ssi·ga jo·ŭn·ji bo·se·yo.nal·ssi·ga jo·eun·ji bo·se·yo.nal·ssi·ga jo·ŭn·ji bo·se·yo.nal·ssi·ka co·un·ci po·sey·yo.
Check if the weather is good.
그게 사실인지 물어보세요.
gŭ·ge sa·si·rin·ji mu·rŏ·bo·se·yo.geu·ge sa·si·rin·ji mu·reo·bo·se·yo.gŭ·ge sa·si·rin·ji mu·rŏ·bo·se·yo.ku·key sa·si·lin·ci mu·le·po·sey·yo.
Ask if that is the truth.

Past and Future Tenses

The conjugation changes when referring to the past or future, similar to standard verb endings.

Past Tense: Attach (at/ŏt·nŭn·jiat/ŏt·neun·jiat/ŏt·nŭn·jiat/ŏt·nun·ci) (or (yŏt·nŭn·jiyeot·neun·jiyŏt·nŭn·jiyet·nun·ci)) to the stem.
Future Tense: Attach ((ŭ)l·ji(ŭ)l·ji(ŭ)l·ji(ŭ)l·ci) to the stem.

누가 왔는지 안 봤어요.
nu·ga wat·nŭn·ji an bwat·sŏ·yo.nu·ga wat·neun·ji an bwat·seo·yo.nu·ga wat·nŭn·ji an bwat·sŏ·yo.nu·ka wat·nun·ci an pwat·se·yo.
I didn't look at who came.
내일 비가 올지 걱정돼요.
næ·il bi·ga ol·ji gŏk·jŏng·dwæ·yo.nae·il bi·ga ol·ji geok·jeong·dwae·yo.nae·il bi·ga ol·ji gŏk·jŏng·dwae·yo.nay·il pi·ka ol·ci kek·ceng·tway·yo.
I'm worried if it will rain tomorrow.

Using with Question Words vs. Yes/No

The meaning of the sentence depends on whether you include a question word (like who, what, where, when).

1. With a Question Word

If the sentence includes words like (nu·gunu·gunu·gunu·ku) (who), (mwŏ) (what), (ŏ·dieo·diŏ·die·ti) (where), or (ŏn·jeeon·jeŏn·jeen·cey) (when), the clause translates directly to that question.

이게 뭔지 알아요?
i·ge mwŏn·ji a·ra·yo?i·ge mwŏn·ji a·ra·yo?i·ge mwŏn·ji a·ra·yo?i·key mwŏn·ci a·la·yo?
Do you know what this is?

2. Without a Question Word

If there is no question word, the meaning becomes "whether" or "if."

그가 집에 있는지 확인해 주세요.
gŭ·ga ji·be it·nŭn·ji hwa·gin·hæ ju·se·yo.geu·ga ji·be it·neun·ji hwa·gin·hae ju·se·yo.gŭ·ga ji·be it·nŭn·ji hwa·gin·hae ju·se·yo.ku·ka ci·pey it·nun·ci hwa·kin·hay cu·sey·yo.
Please check if he is at home.

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