KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ 채(로)
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ 채(로)”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 6)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 본 채로 | bon chaero |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽은 채로 | ilgeun chaero |
| 하다 | to do | 한 채로 | han chaero |
| 살다 | to live | 산 채로 | san chaero |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄴ is added to the last syllable (보 → 본). After a stem ending in a consonant, 은 is added (읽 → 읽은). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ and takes ㄴ (살 → 산), and 하 becomes 한.
Explanation
어젯밤에 불을 켠 채 잠이 들었어요.
“-(으)ㄴ 채(로)” means “while remaining in the state of ~ / leaving ~ as it is”: after an action, its resulting state continues while another action takes place (verb stem + (으)ㄴ 채). The sentence means “Last night I fell asleep with the light on.” “-(으)ㄴ 적” (“have done ~”) expresses experience and does not fit this sentence.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 어젯밤에 불을 켠 채 잠이 들었어요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [어젣빠메 부를 켠 채 자미 드러써요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 어젯밤에 | ||
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | eo |
| 젯 | ㅈ+ㅔ+ㅅ | [젣] jet |
| 밤 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅁ | [빠] ba |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [메] me |
| 불을 | ||
| 불 | ㅂ+ㅜ+ㄹ | [부] bu |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [를] reul |
| 켠 | ㅋ+ㅕ+ㄴ | kyeon |
| 채 | ㅊ+ㅐ | chae |
| 잠이 | ||
| 잠 | ㅈ+ㅏ+ㅁ | [자] ja |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [미] mi |
| 들었어요 | ||
| 들 | ㄷ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [드] deu |
| 었 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅆ | [러] reo |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 젯밤에 → [젣빠메]
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 밤에 → [바메]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 어젯밤에 불을 켠 ____ 잠이 들었어요.
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Answer: 어젯밤에 불을 켠 채 잠이 들었어요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄴ 채(로)?
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Answer: 본 채로
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄴ 채(로)?
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Answer: 읽은 채로
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