But / Background

-(으)ㄴ/는데 is a versatile connective ending used to link two clauses. It serves two primary functions: showing contrast or providing background information.

Meaning & Usage

Contrast (대조): Similar to 'but' or 'although'. The first clause presents a fact, and the second clause presents a contrasting or unexpected result.

Background (배경): The first clause sets the scene or provides the context for the second clause. It's like saying, 'This was the situation, and then this happened...'

Formation Rules

This pattern attaches differently based on the word type and tense.

Action Verbs & 있다/없다: Add -는데 to the verb stem.

먹다 → 먹는데

가다 → 가는데

있다 → 있는데

Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives):

Stem ends in a consonant: Add -은데.

좋다 → 좋은데

Stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -ㄴ데 (the ㄹ is dropped).

예쁘다 → 예쁜데

바쁘다 → 바쁜데

멀다 → 먼데

Nouns: Add -인데 (or -ㄴ데 if the noun ends in a vowel).

학생 → 학생인데

의사 → 의사인데

Past Tense: Add -았/었는데 to the stem.

먹었다 → 먹었는데

예뻤다 → 예뻤는데

Future/Conjecture: Add -ㄹ/을 건데 or -겠는데.

갈 것이다 → 갈 건데

얼굴은 예쁜데 성격이 별로야. / 지금 밥 먹는데 전화 왔어. / 비싼데 맛있어. / 나는 갈 건데 너는?

Understanding when -(으)ㄴ/는데 means 'but' versus when it's just setting the scene is key to sounding natural.

Expressing Contrast

This is the most direct meaning. The first clause presents a state or action that makes the second clause seem surprising or contradictory. It directly translates to 'but' or 'although'.

Example: 맛있는데 매워요. (It's delicious, but it's spicy.) The deliciousness contrasts with the spiciness.

Example: 얼굴은 예쁜데 성격이 별로야. (Her face is pretty, but her personality isn't great.) The two qualities are in opposition.

Providing Background

Here, the first clause simply provides the context or situation in which the second clause occurs. There's no strong contradiction. It's a softer connection, like '...and...' or '...when...'.

Example: 지금 밥 먹는데 전화 왔어요. (I was eating, and the phone rang.) The eating is the background for the phone call.

Example: 비 오는데 더워요. (It's raining, and it's hot.) This describes the overall situation.

Example: 나는 갈 건데 너는? (I'm going [that's the situation], so what about you?)

Contrast: 싼데 좋아. / 재밌는데 힘들어. / 아는데 말 못 해. / Background: 지금 밥 먹는데 전화 왔어. / 비 오는데 더워.

-(으)ㄴ/는데 is a conversational powerhouse because it can lead into many different types of sentence endings.

Leading to a Question

The first clause provides the reason or context for asking something. This is extremely common.

나는 갈 건데 너는? (I'm going, [so] what about you?)

이거 좋은데 한번 써 볼래요? (This is good, would you like to try it?)

Leading to a Suggestion or Command

State the situation first, then propose an action based on it.

날씨도 좋은데 우리 공원에 갈까요? (The weather is nice, so shall we go to the park?)

이거 맛있는데 한번 먹어 봐. (This is delicious, so try some.)

Trailing Off (Implied Meaning)

In natural speech, Koreans often end a sentence with -(으)ㄴ/는데... and let the listener infer the rest. It's a soft way to make a request, state a problem, or show hesitation.

제가 지금 좀 바쁜데... (I'm a bit busy right now, so... [could we talk later?])

이 옷 예쁜데... (This outfit is pretty, but... [it's too expensive / it doesn't fit me].)

나는 갈 건데 호리 씨는요? / 날씨도 좋은데 산책할까요? / 제가 지금 돈이 없는데... / 이 식당이 맛있는데 사람이 너무 많아요.

The -(으)ㄴ/는데 pattern itself does not change for politeness. Instead, the formality of the entire sentence is determined by the final verb ending that follows it.

Casual Language (반말)

When speaking to close friends or people younger than you, the sentence can end informally. Notice the endings like -어/아, -야, or -게.

피곤한데 행복해. (I'm tired, but happy.)

바쁜데 갈게. (I'm busy, but I'll go.)

Polite Language (해요체)

When speaking to elders, colleagues, or in more formal situations, simply add -요 to the final verb to make the sentence polite.

피곤한데 행복해요.

바쁜데 갈게요.

This simple switch allows you to use the same background or contrast information in any social context.

똑똑한데 게을러. / 똑똑한데 게을러요. / 먹고 싶은데 돈이 없어. / 먹고 싶은데 돈이 없어요. / 재밌는데 힘들어. / 재밌는데 힘들어요.