Core Grammar Rule: ~다니/~라니
This pattern is used to express the speaker's surprise, disbelief, or sometimes admiration upon hearing a new piece of information. It's like saying "To think that..." or "I can't believe that..." in English.
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: It attaches to a verb, adjective, or noun to quote the information that caused the surprise. The sentence often ends with an expression of emotion like 놀랍다 (is surprising), 믿을 수 없다 (is unbelievable), or 말도 안 되다 (is nonsensical).
When to use: Use it immediately after hearing some unexpected news, either from another person or from a notice/article. It functions as a rhetorical exclamation rather than a genuine question seeking confirmation.
Conjugation Rules
Action Verbs: Add ~는다니 to the verb stem. (e.g., 먹다 → 먹는다니, 가다 → 간다니)
Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): Add ~다니 to the verb stem. (e.g., 예쁘다 → 예쁘다니, 작다 → 작다니)
Nouns: Add ~(이)라니. Use ~이라니 after a consonant and ~라니 after a vowel. (e.g., 학생 → 학생이라니, 의사 → 의사라니)
Past Tense: Add ~었다니/~았다니 to the stem. (e.g., 갔다 → 갔다니, 먹었다 → 먹었다니)
V: ~는다니 / Adj: ~다니 / N: ~(이)라니
Native Nuance & Mistakes
To use ~다니/~라니 naturally, it's important to understand the emotional subtext and common pitfalls.
Expressing Emotion Not Asking a Question
Context: Although it often ends with a question mark, ~다니/~라니 is not a real question. It's an exclamation of your inner feelings. The speaker isn't asking "Is it true that...?" but rather exclaiming "Wow, I can't believe that...!" You don't expect a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, but rather a shared emotional reaction.
Use for NEW Information Only
Context: A common mistake is using this pattern for information you already knew. ~다니/~라니 is exclusively for reacting to something you've just learned for the first time. If you already knew the fact, using this would sound very unnatural and confusing to the listener.
Do: 처음 듣는 사실에 놀랄 때 사용 (O) / Don't: 이미 아는 사실에 사용 (X)