🧠 Why Do Koreans Say ~거든요 So Often? Unlock the Secret to Sounding Natural
🧠 Why Do Koreans Say ~거든요 So Often?
Unlock the secret to giving soft reasons and sounding natural—perfect for travelers and intermediate learners.
Planning a trip to Korea and want to sound like a local? Curious how Koreans add gentle background to their answers? Meet ~거든요—the tiny ending that makes your speech feel considerate and fluent.
1) What does ~거든요 mean?
~거든요 adds soft background or a reason to what you say—like “you see,” “because,” or “actually.” It often answers the unasked “why” politely, keeping the conversation harmonious.
2) How to form it (with patterns)
| Base | + ~거든요 | RR (romanization) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 (to go) | 가거든요 | ga-geo-deun-yo | (because) I’m going / I go |
| 예쁘다 (to be pretty) | 예쁘거든요 | ye-ppeu-geo-deun-yo | (because) it’s pretty |
| 먹었다 (ate) | 먹었거든요 | meo-geot-geo-deun-yo | (because) I ate |
| 바쁘다 (to be busy) | 바쁘거든요 | ba-ppeu-geo-deun-yo | (because) I’m busy |
| 못 가다 (can’t go) | 못 가거든요 | mot ga-geo-deun-yo | (because) I can’t go |
Politeness: Use ~거든요 in polite conversations. In very casual speech, some speakers drop 요 → ~거든.
3) When to use it (real-life cases)
- Soft refusal/excuse: 오늘은 힘들어요. 일이 많거든요. (It’s hard today—I’ve got lots of work.)
- Gentle background after a statement: 먼저 갈게요. 내일 일찍 일어나거든요.
- Answering implied “why”: 여기 자주 와요. 조용하거든요.
- Before result (explicit): 지금 회의 중이거든요, 그래서 나중에 연락드릴게요.
4) Examples (with romanization)
-
오늘 일찍 자야 해요. 내일 시험이 있거든요.
o-neul il-jjik ja-ya hae-yo. nae-il si-heom-i it-geo-deun-yo.
I need to sleep early. I have a test tomorrow, you see. -
이 식당 진짜 맛있어요. 자주 오거든요.
i sik-dang jin-jja ma-si-sseo-yo. ja-ju o-geo-deun-yo.
This restaurant is really good. I come here often, you see. -
요즘 바빠요. 프로젝트가 많거든요.
yo-jeum ba-ppa-yo. peu-ro-jek-teu-ga man-geo-deun-yo.
I’ve been busy lately. I have a lot of projects. -
안 갈 거예요. 너무 피곤하거든요.
an gal geo-ye-yo. neo-mu pi-gon-ha-geo-deun-yo.
I won’t go. I’m really tired, you see. -
그 사람 정말 친절해요. 전에 도와줬거든요.
geu sa-ram jeong-mal chin-jeol-hae-yo. jeo-ne do-wa-jwot-geo-deun-yo.
He’s really kind. He helped me before.
5) Common mistakes → fixes
- Ending with ~거든요 without context when it’s needed.
➜ Add the result: ~거든요, 그래서/그러니까 … - Using it in formal writing (reports, theses).
➜ Prefer neutral connectors: 때문에/-(으)므로/-(으)기에 - Sharp/flat tone makes it sound curt.
➜ Keep a gentle, matter-of-fact intonation. - Using it to present brand-new information as if shared.
➜ Give the main point first, then background with ~거든요.
6) Mini dialogue
A: 지금 통화 가능하세요?
jigeum tonghwa ganeunghaseyo? — Can you talk now?
B: 회의 중이거든요, 그래서 3시에 가능해요.
hoeui jung-igeodeunyo, geuraeseo sam-si-e ganeunghaeyo.
I’m in a meeting, so 3 o’clock works.
7) Quick practice
- Fill in: 오늘은 집에 있을게요. 몸이 안 좋___. (→ 거든요)
- Rewrite with a result: 비가 오거든요. → 비가 오거든요, 그래서 차로 갈게요.
- Polite refusal: Say you can’t join because you have work using ~거든요.
8) 🤔 Did you know?
Korean conversations often include indirect, harmony-focused cues. Endings like ~거든요 let you supply the “why” without sounding pushy—one reason it’s so common in everyday speech and dramas.
📌 Related lessons
- -(으)려고 하다 vs -기로 하다 (plans & promises)
- Conversational endings: -지 / -잖아 / -거든
- “-지요?/-죠?” for seeking agreement
About the author
The writer behind learningkr.com teaches practical Korean with a focus on tone, honorifics, and culture—helping learners turn textbook grammar into natural conversation.
Why this blog exists: “Would you listen? Why I write this.”
Learn with me
- Personalized scripts using ~거든요 for your real situations
- Live correction of tone & rhythm
- Reusable flashcards & mini-drills
