-(으)ㄴ데 / 는데
Quick answer: -(으)ㄴ데 / 는데 means background — sets up what you are about to say.
How to form it
Verbs and 있다 → -는데 · adjectives → -(으)ㄴ데 · nouns → -인데
In Korean: 동사·있다 → -는데 형용사 → -(으)ㄴ데 명사 → -인데
What to know
This is not really but. It hands the listener the background they need before the point lands. Koreans use it constantly, and learners who translate it as but end up sounding contradictory when nothing is being contradicted.
Examples
- 제 고향은 부산인데 회가 유명합니다.My home town is Busan, and it is famous for raw fish.
- 저는 서울에 사는데 고향은 부산이에요.I live in Seoul, but my home town is Busan.
- 이 도시는 조용한데 좀 좁아요.This city is quiet, but it is a bit small.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 2 (TOPIK I), Lesson 2: 제 고향은 부산인데 회가 유명합니다 — My home town is Busan, and it is famous for raw fish. Also in the Level 2 book.
Learned in the same lesson: -습니다 / -ㅂ니다.
Go deeper: our full article on this pattern.
Practise -(으)ㄴ데 / 는데 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 2, Lesson 2 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.