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Lv 2Sentence-final endingBeginner · TOPIK I

-네

-ne

I see; oh!

A sentence-final ending: at the moderately low (하게) speech level it makes a plain statement, and at the low (해체) level it expresses noticing or being struck by something the speaker has just realized—'oh, I see...!'

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-네요

Meanings

  1. 1

    (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a simple description.

    (예사 낮춤으로) 단순한 서술을 나타내는 종결 어미.

  2. 2

    (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when talking about something that one just learned.

    (아주낮춤으로) 지금 깨달은 일에 대하여 말함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

    ※ 주로 혼잣말로 감탄할 때 쓴다.

Examples

  • 그럼 우리는 먼저 가네. 잘 있게.

    Well, we'll head off first, then. Take care.

  • 아이구, 마침 저기 선생님이 오시네.

    Oh my, look, the teacher is coming just now.

  • 자네 그렇게 무리하다가 쓰러지겠네.

    If you push yourself that hard, you're going to collapse.

  • 자네가 먼저 일어날 때까지 나는 계속 앉아 있겠네.

    I'll keep sitting here until you get up first.

  • 어디 갔다 오는가? 한참이나 기다렸네. 미안하네그려.

    Where have you been? I waited quite a while. Sorry about that.

  • 우리 딸은 그림도 잘 그리네.

    Our daughter draws well too, I see.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-네’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “I see; oh!”?