Korean · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 2 of 12
Opinions and reasons
의견과 이유Uigyeongwa iyu
Give your opinion in Korean with -다고 생각하다, explain why with -아서, -(으)니까 and -기 때문에, and agree or disagree politely.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say what you think with the plain style + -고 생각하다
- Give reasons with -아서, -(으)니까 and -기 때문에
- Add a soft “but” or background with -는데 / -(으)ㄴ데
- Agree and disagree without sounding rude
Listen
In a café near their university in Daejeon, students Ha Junseo and Oh Seojin talk about where they want to work after graduating. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Junseo
서진아, 너는 졸업하고 어디에 취직하고 싶어?
Seojina, neoneun joreophago eodie chwijikhago sipeo?
Seojin, where do you want to get a job after you graduate?
Seojin
나는 대기업에 가고 싶어. 대기업은 월급도 많고 안정적이라고 생각해.
Naneun daegieobe gago sipeo. Daegieobeun wolgeupdo manko anjeongjeogirago saenggakhae.
I want to go to a big company. I think the pay is good and it's stable.
Junseo
맞아. 월급은 많은데 야근도 많아. 나는 스타트업이 더 좋다고 생각해.
Maja. Wolgeubeun maneunde yageundo mana. Naneun seutateueobi deo jotago saenggakhae.
True. The pay is good, but there's a lot of overtime too. I think a start-up is better.
Seojin
스타트업? 이유가 뭐야?
Seutateueop? Iyuga mwoya?
A start-up? Why? (What's the reason?)
Junseo
왜냐하면 스타트업에서는 경험을 많이 할 수 있기 때문이야.
Waenyahamyeon seutateueobeseoneun gyeongheomeul mani hal su itgi ttaemuniya.
Because at a start-up you can get a lot of experience.
Seojin
그렇긴 한데, 내 생각은 좀 달라. 나는 안정이 제일 중요하다고 생각해.
Geureokin hande, nae saenggageun jom dalla. Naneun anjeongi jeil jungyohadago saenggakhae.
That's true, but I see it a bit differently. I think stability is the most important thing.
Junseo
그런 것 같아. 그래도 나는 젊을 때 해 보고 싶어.
Geureon geot gata. Geuraedo naneun jeolmeul ttae hae bogo sipeo.
I suppose so. Still, I want to try it while I'm young.
Seojin
부모님도 그렇게 생각하셔?
Bumonimdo geureoke saenggakhasyeo?
Do your parents think so too?
Junseo
아니. 엄마는 대기업이 좋다고 생각하셔. 그래서 요즘 고민이 많아.
Ani. Eommaneun daegieobi jotago saenggakhasyeo. Geuraeseo yojeum gomini mana.
No. My mum thinks a big company is better. So I've got a lot on my mind these days.
Seojin
그럼 차라리 대기업에서 삼 년 일한 후에 스타트업으로 가.
Geureom charari daegieobeseo sam nyeon ilhan hue seutateueobeuro ga.
Then why not work at a big company for three years and move to a start-up after that?
Junseo
그것도 좋은 의견이야. 생각해 볼게.
Geugeotdo joeun uigyeoniya. Saenggakhae bolge.
That's a good idea too. I'll think about it.
Seojin
좋아. 벌써 늦었으니까 오늘은 택시 타고 가자.
Joa. Beolsseo neujeosseunikka oneureun taeksi tago gaja.
Good. It's already late, so let's take a taxi today.
Understand
I think that…: the plain style + -고 생각하다
To say what you think, put the plain style (, handache) in front of -고 and then (saenggakhaeyo): (jotago saenggakhaeyo), I think it's good. The plain style is the basic form of Korean you'll also see in books, newspapers and on signs.
Its present tense depends on the kind of word. Action verbs add -ㄴ다 after a vowel and -는다 after a consonant: (ganda), (meongneunda); a ㄹ stem drops the ㄹ: (salda) → (sanda). Adjectives, (itda) and (eopda) just keep -다: (jota), (manta), (itda). Nouns take -(이)라고 before (saenggakhada): (munjerago), (anjeongjeogirago). The past is -았/었다: (gatdago).
“I don't think…” is usually said by making the inside negative: (an jotago saenggakhaeyo), I don't think it's good. For a softer “I think so / I suppose so”, say (geureon geot gatayo).
| Word | Plain style | I think that… |
|---|---|---|
| (gada), to go | (ganda) | (gandago saenggakhaeyo) |
| (meokda), to eat | (meongneunda) | (meongneundago saenggakhaeyo) |
| (jota), to be good | (jota) | (jotago saenggakhaeyo) |
| (itda), there is | (itda) | (itdago saenggakhaeyo) |
| (munje), problem | (munjeda) | (munjerago saenggakhaeyo) |
| (haksaeng), student | (haksaengida) | (haksaengirago saenggakhaeyo) |
| (gatda), went | (gatda) | (gatdago saenggakhaeyo) |
Because: -아서, -(으)니까 and -기 때문에
You know -아서 / -어서 from A2: a neutral reason, (neujeoseo mianhae), sorry I'm late. It never takes the past inside and can't come before a suggestion or an order.
-(으)니까 gives a reason the listener should see too, and it can come before -자 (let's) or an order: (beolsseo neujeosseunikka taeksi taja), it's already (, beolsseo) late, so let's take a taxi. It takes the past: (neujeosseunikka). -기 때문에 sounds firmer and more factual: (gyeongheomeul hal su itgi ttaemune). With a noun it's (ttaemune) alone: (yageun ttaemune), because of overtime.
(waenyahamyeon), “because, the reason is”, starts an answer to “why?”, and the sentence usually ends in -기 때문이에요 or -(으)니까요.
| Ending | Example | Before let's / orders? |
|---|---|---|
| -아서 / -어서 | (Biga waseo jibe isseosseoyo.) It rained, so I stayed home. | no |
| -(으)니까 | (Biga onikka jibe itja.) It's raining, so let's stay home. | yes |
| -기 때문에 | (Biga ogi ttaemune deungsaneul an gayo.) Because it's raining, we're not going hiking. | no |
Soft “but” and background: -는데 / -(으)ㄴ데
-는데 joins two ideas gently. It often means a soft “but”: (wolgeubeun maneunde yageundo mana), the pay is good, but there's a lot of overtime. It also gives background before a question or a suggestion: (naeil sigani inneunde gachi yeonghwa bollae?), I'm free tomorrow; do you want to see a film together?
Use -는데 after action verbs, (itda) and (eopda): (ganeunde), (inneunde). Use -(으)ㄴ데 after adjectives: (joeunde), (keunde). After nouns it is -인데: (haksaenginde). For the past, -았/었는데: (ganneunde).
Even in (banmal), Junseo and Seojin keep -시- for his parents (, bumonim): (bumonimdo geureoke saenggakhasyeo?), do your parents think so (, geureoke, like that) too? These phrases help you agree or disagree kindly; (geuraedo), still, even so, then brings back your own view:
| (banmal) | (haeyoche) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (maja) | (majayo) | That's right. |
| (geureon geot gata) | (geureon geot gatayo) | I think so. I suppose so. |
| (geureokin hande) | (geureokin handeyo) | That's true, but… |
| (nae saenggageun jom dalla) | (je saenggageun jom dallayo) | I see it a bit differently. |
| (joeun uigyeoniya) | (joeun uigyeonieyo) | That's a good idea. |
More in the grammar: Speech levels: 해요, 합니다, 반말 and 한다 · But and background: -지만, -는데, -아/어도 · Reasons: -아서/-어서, -(으)니까, -기 때문에 · Reporting speech: -다고, -냐고, -자고, -(으)라고
New words
- 졸업joreopgraduation · (joreophada), to graduate (A2)
- 취직chwijikgetting a job · (chwijikhada), to get a job; (hoesae chwijikhaesseoyo), I got a job at a company.
- 대기업daegieopbig company, large corporation
- 월급wolgeup(monthly) salary · (wolgeubi manayo), the salary is high
- 안정적anjeongjeokstable · a noun, used with (ida): (anjeongjeogieyo), it's stable. (anjeong), stability.
- 생각하다saenggakhadato think · (saenggak), thought, opinion; (saenggakhae bolgeyo), I'll think about it
- 중요하다jungyohadato be important · (jeil jungyohaeyo), it's the most important thing
- 스타트업seutateueopstart-up (company)
- 이유iyureason · (iyuga mwoyeyo?), what's the reason?
- 왜냐하면waenyahamyeonbecause, the reason is · starts an answer to (wae?), why?
- 경험gyeongheomexperience · (gyeongheomeul hada), to have an experience, to gain experience
- 고민gominworry, something on your mind · (yojeum gomini manayo), I have a lot on my mind these days (, yojeum); (gominhada), to think hard about, agonise over
- 차라리chararirather, might as well · for the better of two not-quite-perfect options
- 의견uigyeonopinion, idea
Practise
1.How do you say “I think it's a problem”?
2.It's late, and you suggest taking a taxi. Which is correct?
3.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I think a start-up is better.
4.Match the Korean with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
5.“I think he eats a lot.” Which form of (meokda) fits? (mani) ___ (saenggakhaeyo).
6.Junseo agrees, but adds a “but”. Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.The pay is good, but there's a lot of overtime too.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
저는 경험이 제일 중요하다고 생각해요.
Jeoneun gyeongheomi jeil jungyohadago saenggakhaeyo.
I think experience is the most important thing.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.