KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ 덕분에
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ 덕분에”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 5)
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 덕분에 | bon deokbune |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽은 덕분에 | ilgeun deokbune |
| 하다 | to do | 한 덕분에 | han deokbune |
| 살다 | to live | 산 덕분에 | san deokbune |
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
친구가 도와준 덕분에 시험에 합격했어요.
“-(으)ㄴ 덕분에” means “thanks to ~” and shows that a good result came about because of someone’s help or favorable conditions. Use it as “-(으)ㄴ 덕분에” for the past, or “친구 덕분에” with a noun. The sentence means “Thanks to my friend’s help, I passed the exam.” For bad results, use “탓에.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 친구가 도와준 덕분에 시험에 합격했어요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [친구가 도와준 덕뿌네 시허메 합껴캐써요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 친구가 | ||
| 친 | ㅊ+ㅣ+ㄴ | chin |
| 구 | ㄱ+ㅜ | gu |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 도와준 | ||
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 와 | ㅇ+ㅘ | wa |
| 준 | ㅈ+ㅜ+ㄴ | jun |
| 덕분에 | ||
| 덕 | ㄷ+ㅓ+ㄱ | deok |
| 분 | ㅂ+ㅜ+ㄴ | [뿌] bu |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [네] ne |
| 시험에 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 험 | ㅎ+ㅓ+ㅁ | [허] heo |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [메] me |
| 합격했어요 | ||
| 합 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㅂ | hap |
| 격 | ㄱ+ㅕ+ㄱ | [껴] gyeo |
| 했 | ㅎ+ㅐ+ㅆ | [캐] kae |
| 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). 덕분에 → [덕뿌네]
- 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. 분에 → [부네]
- Aspiration: ㅎ next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ blends with it into ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ or ㅊ. 격했어 → [겨캐써]
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: 친구가 도와준 ____ 시험에 합격했어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 친구가 도와준 덕분에 시험에 합격했어요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄴ 덕분에?
Show the answer
Answer: 본 덕분에
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄴ 덕분에?
Show the answer
Answer: 읽은 덕분에
More grammar at this level
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameRead this page in: 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文 Tiếng Việt Bahasa Indonesia Oʻzbekcha Монгол Français Español (México) ไทย