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Lv 5Grammar expressionAdvanced · TOPIK II

-는다는 것이

-neundaneun geosi

meaning to... but instead

Attaches to verb stems to show that the speaker intended to do the preceding action but ended up doing something unintended instead — 'I meant to do X, but (ended up doing Y)'.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-ㄴ다는 것이

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate that a result not intended during the preceding act appears in the following statement.

    앞말이 나타내는 행동에서 의도한 것과는 다른 결과가 이어짐을 나타내는 표현.

    ※ ‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

Examples

  • 공책에 쓴다는 것이 책에 쓰고 말았네요.

    I meant to write it in my notebook, but I ended up writing it in the book instead.

  • 출발하기 전에 전화한다는 것이 깜빡했어요.

    I meant to call before I left, but I forgot.

  • 세탁소에 들른다는 것이 집으로 바로 와 버렸어요.

    I meant to stop by the dry cleaner's, but I came straight home instead.

  • 왜 쓰레기통을 뒤지고 있어요? 쓰레기를 버린다는 것이 중요한 서류까지 같이 쓰레기통에 넣었어요.

    Why are you digging through the trash? I meant to just throw out the trash, but I accidentally threw an important document in with it.

  • 국수를 삶는다는 것이 라면을 끓였어요.

    I meant to boil noodles, but I ended up making ramyeon instead.

  • 창문을 닫는다는 것이 그대로 열어 두었네요.

    I meant to close the window, but I left it open instead.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-는다는 것이’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “meaning to... but instead”?