-는데 (verb suffix)

The Korean verb suffix -는데 (and -(으)ㄴ데 for adjectival stems) is used principally to introduce context or exposition prerequisite to a following statement or question. Secondarily, -는데 is used in exclamations, questions for which the speaker expects explanation in response, and statements prompting response.

Inflection

-는데 is the adnominal suffix + 데.This is true syntactically, but mere conjecture etymologically.

Examples

날이 좋던데 왜 놀러 안 갈래?

The weather is nice today; why don't we go out and play?

• -는데 introduces the context of the nice weather to justify going outside.

아직 9시인데 벌써 졸려요.

It is still 9 o'clock but I'm already sleepy.

• -는데 introduces the context of it being 9 o'clock to contrast it with being sleepy.

멋었는데(요)!

Oh, that is cool!

• -는데 shows surprise or exclamation.

지금 어디에 있는데(요)?

So, where are you now?

• -는데 asks a question, expecting some explanation about a situation.

지금(요)? 지금 바쁜데(요).

Now? I am busy now, so...

• -는데 makes a statement expecting an answer or response.

The clause following -는데 can be dropped when easily inferred:

준비 많이 했는데(요)...

I prepared a lot, but...

References

• [cite:@wiktionary:88463148]

• [cite:@talktomeinkorean2015talka]