-는다고
-neundago
in order to; because (trying to)
Attaches to verb stems to state the purpose or intention behind an action, or the reason for a situation, meaning 'in trying to do X, ...'; in set proverbs it can mean 'just as the saying goes'.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary
- Other shapes
- -다고 · -라고 · 으라고 · -자고
Meanings
- 1
A connective ending used when implying the purpose or intention of a certain action, or the reason or cause of a certain situation.
어떤 행위의 목적, 의도를 나타내거나 어떤 상황의 이유, 원인을 나타내는 연결 어미.
- 2
A connective ending used to indicate that the preceding statement is a quotation from a proverb.
흔히 속담에서 ‘그 말처럼’의 뜻을 나타내는 연결 어미.
※ 주로 속담이나 관용구와 함께 쓴다.
Examples
승규는 이 시간에 왜 부엌에 있어?
Why is Seunggyu in the kitchen at this hour?
밤늦게 라면을 먹는다고 저러고 있어요.
He's over there because he's trying to make ramyeon this late at night.
바퀴벌레를 잡는다고 살충제를 뿌렸어요.
I sprayed insecticide to try to kill the cockroach.
민준이가 책을 읽는다고 불을 켜 놓았어요.
Minjun left the light on because he was trying to read a book.
딸아이가 생일 선물을 받는다고 들떠 있어요.
My daughter is all excited about getting her birthday present.
그 사건 민준 씨 때문에 생긴 거죠?
That incident happened because of Minjun, right?
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 ‘-는다고’ mean?
2. Which form means “in order to; because (trying to)”?