KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ 후에
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ 후에”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 1)
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 후에 | bon hue |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽은 후에 | ilgeun hue |
| 하다 | to do | 한 후에 | han hue |
| 살다 | to live | 산 후에 | san hue |
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
밥을 먹은 후에 커피를 마셔요.
“-(으)ㄴ 후에” means “after doing.” Attach it to a verb stem: “-ㄴ 후에” after a vowel and “-은 후에” after a consonant. “먹다” becomes “먹은 후에,” so the sentence means “I drink coffee after I eat.” The opposite, “before doing,” is “-기 전에,” as in “먹기 전에.”
밥을 먹은 후에 약을 드세요.
“-(으)ㄴ 후에” means “after doing ~”: add -ㄴ to a vowel-final stem or -은 to a consonant-final stem, then 후에. The sentence means “Please take the medicine after you eat.” Do not confuse it with its opposite “-기 전에” (before); “먹은 전에” is wrong.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 밥을 먹은 후에 커피를 마셔요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [바블 머근 후에 커피를 마셔요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 밥을 | ||
| 밥 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅂ | [바] ba |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [블] beul |
| 먹은 | ||
| 먹 | ㅁ+ㅓ+ㄱ | [머] meo |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [근] geun |
| 후에 | ||
| 후 | ㅎ+ㅜ | hu |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 커피를 | ||
| 커 | ㅋ+ㅓ | keo |
| 피 | ㅍ+ㅣ | pi |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 마셔요 | ||
| 마 | ㅁ+ㅏ | ma |
| 셔 | ㅅ+ㅕ | syeo |
| 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
- 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. 밥을 → [바블]
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.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 약 | noun | medicine | TOPIK level 2 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 밥을 먹은 ____에 커피를 마셔요.
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Answer: 밥을 먹은 후에 커피를 마셔요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 밥을 먹은 ____ 약을 드세요.
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Answer: 밥을 먹은 후에 약을 드세요.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄴ 후에?
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Answer: 본 후에
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄴ 후에?
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Answer: 읽은 후에
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