-다니
-dani
I can't believe that...!
An informal sentence-final ending used to ask again or express surprise and disbelief at an unexpected fact, or, in the moderate register, to question a fact taken as given.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary
- Other shapes
- -다니요 · -라니 · -라니요
Meanings
- 1
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask again or admire an unexpected fact in surprise.
(두루낮춤으로) 뜻밖의 사실에 놀라서 되묻거나 감탄할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
※ 주로 구어나 혼잣말에서 쓴다.
- 2
(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to express a question about a certain fact that is assumed to be already given.
(예사 낮춤으로) 어떤 사실을 주어진 것으로 치고 그에 대한 의문을 나타내는 종결 어미.
Examples
아무도 안 가지고 가는 우산, 그냥 버릴까?
No one's taking this umbrella -- should I just throw it away?
버리다니? 네가 가져가.
Throw it away? Just take it yourself.
아직 해도 안 졌는데 벌써 가다니?
The sun hasn't even set yet -- you're leaving already?
힘들게 모은 돈을 한꺼번에 다 날리다니!
To think I lost all the money I worked so hard to save, all at once!
몇 년 전까지만 해도 정정하시던 양반이 돌아가셨다니.
To think that the man who was still so hale and hearty just a few years ago has passed away.
승규는 어쩜 이렇게 게으르다니? 만날 늦네.
How can Seunggyu be so lazy? He's late every single time.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Don’t confuse with
Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-다니’ mean?
2. Which form means “I can't believe that...!”?