-는데 Meaning in Korean

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Can you guess what 는데 means? Try to guess. You can measure your Korean skill with this word lol.

-는데 Meaning in Korean

-는데

[neunde]
???

는데 is a conjunctive conjugation that can be translated as sooooo many things in English. Sorry my friend, no matter what you guessed, English doesn’t have a perfect matched word for 는데.

는데 can be translated differently based on a context. It can be ‘But / Even though / Though / While / When / And / So’. It’s used to describe a reason or a situation for a related consequence, an order, a suggestion or an asking. It works as ‘(reason)는데 (consequence)’.

How To Use

공부하는데 방해하지 마세요
I’m studying. (so,) don’t distract me
= so

공부하고 있었는데 차차씨가 전화했어요
I was studying and Chacha called me
Chacha called me when/while I was studying
= while / when / and

해봤는데 쉽진 않네요
I tried but it’s not easy
= but

어려운데 한번 해보긴 할께요
I’ll try even though it’s difficult
= although / even though / though

저도 쉬는데 같이 놀러갈까요?
It’s my day off too, wanna hang out?
= suggestion / asking

는데 Ending in Korean

는데 also can be used to make an exclamation or a question as an ending. In this case, 요 is added at the end with 해요 speech style. When it’s used to ask a question. 는데 can be translated as ‘so’, ‘and’, ‘but’.

는데 Ending can be used only with 반말(informal non-honorific) or 해요체 (요 speech style : informal honorific).

정말 맛있는데요?
It’s really good
= Exclamation

뭐 먹었는데요?
So, what did you eat?
= Asking