KoreaTOPIKCenter
Lv 5Grammar expressionAdvanced · TOPIK II

-는다니

-neundani

surprised that (someone said)...

Built on the quotative '-는다고 하니', this reports something the speaker heard from someone else — used to show surprise, to give that report as the basis for a judgment, or (casually) to ask the listener about what they heard.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-다니 · -라니 · -으라니 · -자니

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate that the speaker is surprised or impressed by what another person explained or stated.

    다른 사람에게 들은 설명이나 서술에 대해 말하는 사람이 놀라거나 감탄함을 나타내는 표현.

    ※ ‘-는다고 하다니’가 줄어든 말이다.

  2. 2

    An expression used to indicate that someone's explanation or statement is the basis for the speaker's judgment.

    다른 사람에게 들은 설명이나 서술이 판단의 근거임을 나타내는 표현.

    ※ ‘-는다고 하니’가 줄어든 말이다.

  3. 3

    (informal addressee-lowering) An expression used to ask the listener about what another person said.

    (두루낮춤으로) 다른 사람이 말한 내용에 대해 듣는 사람에게 물어볼 때 쓰는 표현.

    ※ '-는다고 하니'가 줄어든 말이다.

Examples

  • 영수가 이제 그 사람을 잊는다니 마음이 많이 상한 모양이다.

    I hear Yeongsu is finally forgetting about that person — he must be quite hurt.

  • 이런 더러운 곳에 앉는다니 다리가 많이 아픈가 봐요.

    The fact that they're sitting in such a dirty place must mean their legs really hurt.

  • 지수가 그 사람 말을 믿는다니 천지가 개벽할 일이지요.

    The idea that Jisu believes what that person says is like the world turning upside down.

  • 승규가 직접 가게 문을 닫는다니 놀랍구나. 승규가 전보다 얼마나 부지런해졌는데요.

    I'm surprised to hear Seunggyu is closing the shop himself. You have no idea how much more diligent he's gotten.

  • 네가 집안일을 돕는다니 내가 이제 많이 편해지겠구나.

    Hearing that you'll help with the housework, I'll have it much easier now.

  • 딸아이가 장학금을 받는다니 한결 마음이 놓였다.

    Hearing that my daughter is getting a scholarship put my mind much more at ease.

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. 1. What does ‘-는다니’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “surprised that (someone said)...”?