따지고 보면
when you think about it, ultimately
Used when you reach a judgement after weighing something up, usually carrying the sense that the surface reading doesn’t survive scrutiny. It is a fixed phrase and sits at the head of the second sentence; it doesn’t change with the subject.
접속 conjugation
- goes after the claim being reconsidered: “A. 하지만 따지고 보면 B.”
- similar phrases: 알고 보면 (as it turns out), 생각해 보면 (come to think of it)
- fine in speech and writing; neutral in tone, never impolite
예문
EXAMPLES
매장 매출이 줄었지만 따지고 보면 서비스 만족도는 올랐습니다.
Store sales are down, but when you think about it, service satisfaction has actually risen.from 2026.08.31 Mon the examples
고객 서비스 쪽 기록이요. 따지고 보면 불만이 가장 정확한 데이터예요.
The customer service records. When you think about it, complaints are the most accurate data you have.from 2026.08.31 Mon the business dialogue
멀어 보이지만 따지고 보면 지하철로 삼십 분이에요.
It looks far, but when you work it out it’s thirty minutes on the subway.from 2026.09.01 Tue the examples
그때는 짜증이 났는데 따지고 보면 제 실수였어요.
I was annoyed at the time, but when you think about it, it was my own mistake.from 2026.09.01 Tue the examples
매일 이동만 두 시간이야. 따지고 보면 하루의 십 분의 일이잖아.
Two hours a day just getting there and back. When you work it out, that’s a tenth of the day.from 2026.09.01 Tue the everyday dialogue
Appears in
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