-으니
-euni
you see; isn't that so
A moderately addressee-lowering sentence-final ending used, often in proverb-like statements, to declare a truth or obvious fact, or (highly lowering) to ask a blunt question.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
Meanings
- 1
(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to state a truth or obvious fact.
(예사 낮춤으로) 진리나 당연한 사실을 말함을 나타내는 종결 어미.
※ ‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 형용사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
- 2
(formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask a question.
(아주낮춤으로) 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.
※ ‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 형용사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
Examples
입에 쓴 약이 몸에는 좋으니.
Medicine that's bitter to the mouth is good for the body, you know.
윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑으니.
If the upper stream is clear, the lower stream will be clear too.
모든 사람에게는 자기에게 맞는 짝이 있으니.
Everyone has a partner who's right for them, you know.
아무리 머리가 좋은 사람도 노력하는 사람을 이길 수는 없으니.
No matter how smart someone is, they can't beat someone who works hard, you know.
너는 내가 여기에 온 것이 싫으니?
Do you dislike that I came here?
다른 방들은 다 넓은데 유민이 방은 왜 작으니?
All the other rooms are spacious — why is Yumin's room so small?
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 ‘-으니’ mean?
2. Which form means “you see; isn't that so”?