Providing Context with '는데'

01

Conjugation Rules

The form of the suffix changes depending on whether you are using an action verb, a descriptive verb (adjective), or the past tense.

1. Action Verbs

For action verbs, simply attach 는데 (nŭn·deneun·denŭn·denun·tey) to the verb stem. This applies regardless of whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

• 지금 점심을 먹는데 같이 먹을래요?

  chi·gŭm jŏm·sim·ŭl mŏng·nŭn·de gach·i mŏg·ŭl·læ·yo?ji·geum jeom·sim·eul meong·neun·de gach·i meog·eul·lae·yo?chi·gŭm jŏm·sim·ŭl mŏng·nŭn·de gach·i mŏg·ŭl·lae·yo?ci·kum cem·sim·ul meng·nun·tey kach·i meg·ul·lay·yo?

  I am eating lunch now, (so) do you want to eat together?

• 집에 가는데 비가 와요.

  chib·e ga·nŭn·de bi·ga wa·yo.jib·e ga·neun·de bi·ga wa·yo.chib·e ga·nŭn·de bi·ga wa·yo.cib·ey ka·nun·tey pi·ka wa·yo.

  I am going home, and/but it is raining.

2. Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)

For descriptive verbs, the conjugation depends on the final letter of the stem:

• If the stem ends in a vowel, add ㄴ데 (n·den·den·den·tey).
• If the stem ends in a consonant, add 은데 (ŭn·deeun·deŭn·deun·tey).

• 이 옷은 예쁜데 너무 비싸요.

  i os·ŭn ye·ppŭn·de nŏ·mu bi·ssa·yo.i os·eun ye·bbeun·de neo·mu bi·ssa·yo.i os·ŭn ye·ppŭn·de nŏ·mu bi·ssa·yo.i os·un yey·ppun·tey ne·mu pi·ssa·yo.

  These clothes are pretty, but too expensive.

• 방이 작은데 아주 편해요.

  pang·i jag·ŭn·de a·ju pʰyŏn·hæ·yo.bang·i jag·eun·de a·ju pyeon·hae·yo.pang·i jag·ŭn·de a·ju p'yŏn·hae·yo.pang·i cag·un·tey a·cu phyen·hay·yo.

  The room is small, but very comfortable.

3. Past Tense

When speaking in the past tense, the distinction between action and descriptive verbs disappears. You attach the past tense marker 았/었 (at/ŏtat/eotat/ŏtat/et) followed immediately by 는데 (nŭn·deneun·denŭn·denun·tey).

• 어제 영화를 봤는데 재미있었어요.

  ŏ·je yŏng·hwa·rŭl bwan·nŭn·de jæ·mi·iss·ŏss·ŏ·yo.eo·je yeong·hwa·reul bwan·neun·de jae·mi·iss·eoss·eo·yo.ŏ·je yŏng·hwa·rŭl bwan·nŭn·de jae·mi·iss·ŏss·ŏ·yo.e·cey yeng·hwa·lul pwan·nun·tey cay·mi·iss·ess·e·yo.

  I watched a movie yesterday, and it was interesting.

02

Usage 1: Setting the Scene

The most fundamental use of 는데 (nŭn·deneun·denŭn·denun·tey) is to provide background information that explains why you are saying the next sentence. It leads the listener into your main point, question, or suggestion.

• 제가 커피를 살 건데 뭐 마실래요?

  che·ga kʰŏ·pʰi·rŭl sal gŏn·de mwo ma·sil·læ·yo?je·ga keo·pi·reul sal geon·de mwo ma·sil·lae·yo?che·ga k'ŏ·p'i·rŭl sal gŏn·de mwŏ ma·sil·lae·yo?cey·ka khe·phi·lul sal ken·tey mwe ma·sil·lay·yo?

  I'm going to buy coffee, (so) what do you want to drink?

• 질문이 있는데 물어봐도 돼요?

  chil·mun·i in·nŭn·de mur·ŏ·bwa·do dwæ·yo?jil·mun·i in·neun·de mur·eo·bwa·do dwae·yo?chil·mun·i in·nŭn·de mur·ŏ·bwa·do dwae·yo?cil·mun·i in·nun·tey mur·e·pwa·to tway·yo?

  I have a question, (so) may I ask it?

03

Usage 2: Expressing Contrast

는데 (nŭn·deneun·denŭn·denun·tey) (은데/ㄴ데 (ŭn·de/n·deeun·de/n·deŭn·de/n·deun·tey/n·tey) after descriptive verbs) is frequently used to contrast two ideas, similar to the English "but" or "even though." However, it is softer and less abrupt than the strong contrast word 지만 (chi·manji·manchi·manci·man). It acknowledges the first fact while introducing a contradictory second fact.

• 한국어는 어려운데 재미있어요.

  han·gug·ŏ·nŭn ŏ·ryŏ·un·de jæ·mi·iss·ŏ·yo.han·gug·eo·neun eo·ryeo·un·de jae·mi·iss·eo·yo.han·gug·ŏ·nŭn ŏ·ryŏ·un·de jae·mi·iss·ŏ·yo.han·kug·e·nun e·lye·un·tey cay·mi·iss·e·yo.

  Korean is difficult, but it is interesting.

• 주말인데 일을 해야 해요.

  chu·mar·in·de ir·ŭl hæ·ya hæ·yo.ju·mar·in·de ir·eul hae·ya hae·yo.chu·mar·in·de ir·ŭl hae·ya hae·yo.cu·mar·in·tey ir·ul hay·ya hay·yo.

  It is the weekend, but I have to work.

04

Usage 3: Justifying Requests

When you want to ask a favor or make a request, using 는데 (nŭn·deneun·denŭn·denun·tey) (은데/ㄴ데 (ŭn·de/n·deeun·de/n·deŭn·de/n·deun·tey/n·tey) after descriptive verbs) makes the request sound more polite because you are providing the justification first.

• 머리가 아픈데 약 있어요?

  mŏ·ri·ga a·pʰŭn·de yak iss·ŏ·yo?meo·ri·ga a·peun·de yak iss·eo·yo?mŏ·ri·ga a·p'ŭn·de yak iss·ŏ·yo?me·li·ka a·phun·tey yak iss·e·yo?

  My head hurts, (so) do you have medicine?

• 날씨가 좋은데 산책할까요?

  nal·ssi·ga jo·ŭn·de san·chʰæ·kʰal·kka·yo?nal·ssi·ga jo·eun·de san·chae·kal·gga·yo?nal·ssi·ga jo·ŭn·de san·ch'ae·k'al·kka·yo?nal·ssi·ka co·un·tey san·chay·khal·kka·yo?

  The weather is nice, (so) shall we go for a walk?

05

As a Sentence Ending

In spoken Korean, it is very common to end a sentence with 는데(요) (nŭn·de(yo)neun·de(yo)nŭn·de(yo)nun·tey(yo)) without adding a second clause. This leaves the meaning open or implied. It is often used to soften a refusal, show hesitation, or wait for the other person's reaction.

• 시간이 없는데요...

  si·gan·i ŏm·nŭn·de·yo...si·gan·i eom·neun·de·yo...si·gan·i ŏm·nŭn·de·yo...si·kan·i em·nun·tey·yo...

  I don't have time... (implying "I can't go" or "I'm busy").

• 그거 제가 했는데요.

  kŭ·gŏ je·ga hæn·nŭn·de·yo.geu·geo je·ga haen·neun·de·yo.kŭ·gŏ je·ga haen·nŭn·de·yo.ku·ke cey·ka hayn·nun·tey·yo.

  I did that... (waiting for a response or praise).