A-(으)ㄴ데
…, but … (sets up a situation before turning)
Lays out a state first, then moves on to what you really want to say. Most often it's a contrast (the design is nice, but it's too expensive), but it can also just set the scene before a suggestion or question (it's cold out, why don't you come in?). It works like a soft "but" that trails into the next clause. Very common in speech, and gentler than -지만.
접속 conjugation
- If an adjective stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ데; if it ends in ㄹ, drop the ㄹ first: 비싸다 → 비싼데 / 길다 → 긴데
- After a consonant, add -은데; ㅂ-irregular stems change their sound: 좋다 → 좋은데 / 어렵다 → 어려운데
- 이다 becomes 인데, and 있다/없다 take -는데: 회의인데 / 맛있는데. The past tense is always -았/었는데: 쌌는데
예문
EXAMPLES
가격은 괜찮은데 납기가 너무 늦어요.
The price is fine, but the delivery date is way too late.from 2026.09.14 Mon the examples
취지는 좋은데, 지금 공장을 담보로 잡히기에는 위험이 너무 큽니다.
The idea is sound, but putting the factory up as collateral right now is far too risky.from 2026.09.14 Mon the business dialogue
왜요? 금리도 지금이 제일 낮은데요.
Why? Interest rates are at their lowest right now.from 2026.09.14 Mon the business dialogue
Appears in
매일 아침
A new pattern sheet in your inbox every morning. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.