Usage

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i) Presenting background circumstances (clause connector)

오늘은 바쁜데 내일 만나도 괜찮을까?
I’m busy today, can we meet tomorrow?

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ii) Presenting background circumstances (sentence-final)

오늘도 무더운 날씨가 이어지고 있는데요.
The sweltering hot weather continues today.

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iii) Requesting information

일본 언제 가는데?
When are you leaving for Japan?

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iv) Requesting agreement or compliance

날이 제법 추운데.
It’s pretty cold, isn’t it.

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v) Expressing disagreement, corrections or discontent

사투리가 아닌데요.
It’s not a dialect.

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vi) Expressing counter-expectation or exclamation

와, 우리 딸 노래 잘한데.
Wow, our daughter really sings well.

Conjugation

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Type	Example	Past	Present (processive)	Future (prospective)	Retrospective
AV (vowel)	하다	했는데	하는데	할 건데	하던데
AV (cons.)	듣다	들었는데	듣는데	들을 건데	듣던데
DV (vowel)	빠르다	빨랐는데	빠른데	빠를 건데	빠르던데
DV (cons.)	어둡다	어두웠는데	어두운데	어두울 건데	어둡던데
Noun (vowel)	남자	남자였는데	남자인데	남자일 건데	남자던데
Noun (cons.)	사람	사람이었는데	사람인데	사람일 건데	사람이던데

Where:
AV = action verb / processive verb.
DV = descriptive verb / ‘adjective’.
Nouns take the copula (이다) and this becomes a DV.

Contents

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1.  Introduction

2.  i) Presenting background circumstances (clause connector)

3.  About Sentence-final -는데(요)

4.  ii) Presenting background circumstances (sentence-final)

5.  iii) Requesting information

6.  iv) Requesting agreement or compliance

7.  v) Expressing disagreement, corrections or discontent

8.  vi) Expressing counter-expectation or exclamation

9.  Expanded forms

1.  -M데도

2.  -M데도 불구하고

3.  -M데도 말이다

10.  Additional details

11.  Associated grammar

12.  See also

13.  Bibliography

14.  User examples

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-(으)ㄴ/는데 is one of the most frequently used grammatical forms in Korean. Speakers can use it for many different purposes thanks to its flexibility.

Action verbs are conjugated with -는데, while descriptive verbs are take -ㄴ데. With past tense, rather than taking modifier -ㄴ (한), this grammatical form takes -했는.

-는데 is essentially used by speakers to provide background information and allow the listener to draw inferences.

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As a clause connector, -는데 provides a background for the message to be delivered in the following clause.

[ Clause A ]는데 [ Clause B ]
[ Background ]는데 [ Message ]

오늘은 바쁜데 내일 만나도 괜찮을까?
I’m busy today, can we meet tomorrow?

In the first clause, the speaker says that they are busy today and this provides the background for the message (that they would like to meet tomorrow instead). There are many reasons why speakers need to provide background information. In the example above, it explains why meeting today would be inconvenient.

Compare:

A1: 제주도에서 필요한 거 없냐?
A1: Do you need anything from Jeju?
B1: 엥? 제주도 가?
B1: What? You’re going to Jeju?

A2: 제주도에 가는데 필요한 거 없냐?
A2: I’m going to Jeju — do you need anything?
B2: 아니. 괜찮아.
B2: No, I’m fine.

In A1, the speaker doesn’t explain that they’re going to Jeju and this causes the listener to get confused. In A2, the speaker provides the background information which they assume is not in the listener’s consciousness at that moment. This enables the following speech to be more easily understood by setting a context.

With the above examples, we see that -는데 is used to provide the background information necessary for speaker interactions. This provides a smooth transition to the second clause, where the main purpose of the sentence is (a request, question etc.).

Meeting someone for the first time in Shanghai.

한국사람인데 중국에서 살고 있어요.
I’m Korean and living in China (if you can’t tell, I’m Korean).

Recalling when she first met someone.

젊던데 아주 똑똑하더라.
Though he was young he was very wise.
{His age sets the stage}

철수 is playing on his phone.

8시가 됐는데 학교 빨리 가.
It’s 8 o’clock. Get to school.

철수 walks into the office.

더운데 에어콘 켜볼까?
It’s hot; should we turn on the aircon? (it’s too hot to work like this)

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Sentence-final -는데 also sets background information for the listener. However, in this case, the second clause is omitted.

[ Clause A ]는데 -omission-
[ Background ]는데 [ Message ]

The omission of the second clause solicits the listener to make inferences about the speaker’s message.

A: How’s this?
B: 조금 작은데요.
B: It’s a little too small (I’d like you to make it bigger).

Here we see the speaker requesting some item to be made bigger. The request would normally exist in the second clause; however, the speaker has omitted it such that the listener themself construes the missing message. That is, what action they need to take. This illustrates how -는데 can make sentences less direct and less-confrontational by soliciting the listener to “find the missing message” and make their own inferences.

철수: 이 드라마 완전 재밌다.
철수: This drama is so good.
영희: 나 지금 공부하고 있는데.
영희: I’m studying right now….

Here 영희 is requesting something from 철수. Rather than explicitly saying what she wants from him, she leaves it for him to infer which action to take. Which could be:

a) 소리 좀 줄여줘.
a) Turn the volume down.
b) 방해하지 마.
b) Don’t interrupt me.
c) both a) and b).

Here we see the use of -는데 as a sentence-final feature prompts the listener to read between the lines and infer the unsaid message.

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As with clause connector 는데, sentence-final 는데 is also used to present background circumstances. Here the speaker uses 는데 to introduce the background for a new topic. This usage is very common in news reports because it quickly informs viewers of the background story, and because it creates a personal touch between announcer and viewer.

News reporter on the streets

오늘도 무더운 날씨가 이어지고 있는데요. 볕도 무척 강해서 눈을 제대로 뜨기가 힘을 정도입니다.
The sweltering hot weather continues today. The sun is so bright that it’s difficult to keep my eyes open.

In this manner, 는데 can be used to present the background circumstances while ‘holding the stage’.

그중에서도 셋째 따님이 제일 예쁘다던데.
Of them, the third daughter was said to be the most beautiful.

Moreover, this usage is common in instances where speakers want to give the reason for making contact.

모니터 캐이블 사러 왔는데요.
I’ve come here to buy a monitor cable.

부탁 하나 있는데요.
I have a favour to ask.

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는데(요) is often used to request more information from the listener. In this instance, the speaker is saying they need to know the situation and are trying to elicit elaboration, clarification or confirmation from the listener.

일본 언제 가는데?
When are you leaving for Japan?

Here the speaker is requesting more details about the background circumstances than what was provided. 는데 signals the listener to elaborate more on the situation.

A: Do you understand it now?
B: 좀 더 했면 좋겠는데.
B: It would be good if you explain further (what you provided is unsatisfactory / I don’t get it).

A: 일제 같은데?
A: It looks like a Japanese product (do you think so)?

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This instance of 는데 is sometimes used sarcastically or to ‘play cool’.

뭔데?
What’s that?

Here the speaker shows disinterest and requests the listener to provide a suitable answer; asserting they should have given more details in the beginning. It can sometimes be like saying ‘Tell me why I should care’.

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는데(요) is sometimes used to request agreement from the listener. In this instance, the speaker is prompting the listener to see their situation.

날이 제법 추운데.
It’s pretty cold, isn’t it?

Here the speaker is making an observational statement about the weather conditions. 는데 signals the listener to see the speaker’s situation and collude in agreement.

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Similar to how requesting agreements prompts the listener to see my situation, 는데(요) can be used to request compliance.

나 지금 공부하고 있는데.
I’m studying right now.

Here the speaker is making an indirect request from the listener. By asking them to read between the lines, the listener can infer which action to take.

A: 제가 대표기도 부탁으려구 하는데요.
A: I wanted to ask you to do the representative prayer.

비옷 있으면 좋았겠는데.
It would be good if you took some wet-weather clothes.

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는데(요) is sometimes used to express disagreement with the listener. In this instance, the speaker is saying that’s not the situation and are expressing their views on the matter.

사투리가 아닌데요.
It’s not a dialect.

Here the speaker is expressing disagreement over some information. 는데 expresses the state of affairs as being different from the listener’s perspective. This prompts the listener to take whatever corrective measures necessary.

B: 한상이 일어났니?
B: Has 한상 got up?
A: 나갔는데요.
A: He’s gone out.

그럼 태국에서 뭐할 건데?
And what would you do in Thailand? (are you sure you’ve thought this through?)

A: 어제 집에 갈때 저 차에다가 쪽지 붙어놓고 가셨지요?
A: You put a note on my car yesterday when you went back home, didn’t you?
B: 아뇨.
B: No.
C: 우리 어제 학교 안 왔는데요.
C: We didn’t come to school yesterday.

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Note that speakers are sometimes confrontational or show their discontent when saying that’s not the situation.

철수 is confronting 영희

A: Do you have anything to apologise for?
B: 없는데.
B: No (and why would I).

나도 쿠키 좋아하는데.
I too like cookies (how come I didn’t get one?)!

철수 is bullshitting 영희

그걸 물어본 게 아닌데.
That isn’t what I asked you (I want you to tell me the truth).

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는데(요) is sometimes used to express surprise or exclamation. In this instance, the speaker is saying that’s not the situation I was expecting and is expressing their sudden realisation.

와, 우리 딸 노래 잘한데.
Wow, our daughter really sings well.

Here the speaker states their surprise realisation over the discovery. 는데 expresses the state of affairs as being different from what they were expecting. With this often comes certain inferences read by the listener.

비가 점점 많이 오는데!
The rain is getting heavier (we had better change our plans).

A salesman asks to see the customer’s current phone

안 좋은데… (you should really upgrade).

철수 is getting frustrated at his child

평소에 그렇지도 않던데.
You’re not normally like this (what has gotten into you?).

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Note that speakers can sometimes express regret over something newly discovered.

내가 너를 믿는게 아닌데.
I should have never trusted you.

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-M데 is sometimes expanded with the following forms:

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-는데 can combine with particle ‘도’ meaning ‘even’. This indicates that the content of the second clause occurs despite the background setting.

P도 Example:

1불도 없다.
I don’t even have $1.

-M데도 Examples:

10시간을 잠을 잤는데도 피곤하다.
I’m tired even though I slept for ten hours.

택시를 타는데도 늦을걸.
I’m gonna be late even if I take a taxi.

바쁜데도 도와 주셔서 감사합니다.
Thanks for helping me out despite being busy.

똑같은 일을 할 건데도 기분이 좋지 않았다.
He wasn’t happy even though he will still be doing the same work.

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-는데도 is sometimes followed by 불구하고 (meaning ‘despite/nevertheless’) which emphasises the contrast.

불구하고 Example:

반대에도 불구하고
despite the opposition

-M데도 불구하고 Examples:

소낙비가 오는데도 불구하고 외출할 거야?
Are you going out despite this downpour?

시험이 코 앞인데도 불구하고 게임을 하네.
He’s playing games even though he’s got a test.

힘을 노력했는데도 불구하고 아무것도 얻지 못했다.
He didn’t get anything even though he went to all that trouble.

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-는데도 is sometimes followed by 말이다 (from 말 – speech) which speakers can use to specify or escalate what they say (among other uses). Here is similar to ‘I’m saying’ or ‘I mean’ in English.

말이다 Example:

내일 말이야.
I mean tomorrow.

-M데도 말이다 Examples:

영희는 다이어트 중이야. 날씬한데도 말이야.
영희’s is on a diet. I mean even though she’s so thin.

동생이 재켓 없이 나갔어. 눈이 오는데도 말이야.
My brother went out without a jacket, even though it’s snowing, I tell ya.

되게 맛있었어. 나 계란을 싫어하는데도 말이야.
It was delicious — even though I don’t like eggs, you know.

인구의 20% 이상 전차를 이용한다. 미국보다 1인당 소득이 더 낮은데도 불구하고 말이다.
20% of our population drive electric cars. This is despite having a lower per capita income than America. (This is a point I would like to emphasise)

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General

• This form is more common in spoken than written language due to its conversational function and acts as a conversational lubricant.

• Sentence-final -는데(요) has become more frequent than the original clause connecting -는데.

Tone

• Speakers mark clause connector -는데 with a slight hesitation and suspensive intonation. The purpose of this is to say “Don’t interrupt yet, I haven’t finished”. Such intonation is necessary to distinguish between mid-turn and turn-final usage.

Origin

• This form originates from modifier -는 and noun 데 meaning ‘place’. A summary of the grammaticalisation is as follows:
데 ‘place’ > ‘at the place where’ > ‘while’ > ‘even though’ > ‘tell me more’ > ‘I have something to say’.
A more detailed explanation is demonstrated here.

• Sentence-final -는데(요) is a recent development in Korean and is undergoing change. More usages could arise in the future.

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Affiliate links help support uK.

— Ihm, H.B., Hong, K.P., & Chang, S.I. (2001). Korean Grammar for International Learners. Seoul: Yonsei University Press.
— King, R., Yeon, J., Kim, C., & Baker, D. (2015). Advanced Korean. Boston: Tuttle Publishing.
— Kingdom, L. (2015). Essential Korean Grammar: Your Essential Guide to Speaking and Writing Korean Fluently!. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
— Park, Y. The Korean connective nuntey in conversational discourse. (1999). Journal of Pragmatics, 31(2), 191–218.
— Rhee, S. (2017). Grammaticalization and Pragmatic Inference: The Case of Insubordination, presented at East Asian Special International Symposium: Pragmatics in East Asia; Its Practice & Contribution, December 16-17, 2017. Kyoto, Japan.
— Yeon, J., & Brown, L. (2008). Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar. New York: Routledge.

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v) Expressing counter-expectation or exclamation

Context: A schoolgirl is given a ‘birthday cake’.

초가 없는게 좀 아쉽긴 한데.
Such a pity there aren’t any candles.

 [Submitted by 주호]

Send in an example!

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