KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에)
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에)” (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
The ending differs for verbs and adjectives, so the table shows both. Compare how each word changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch (verb) | 보는 대신에 | boneun daesine |
| 읽다 | to read (verb) | 읽는 대신에 | ingneun daesine |
| 크다 | big (adjective) | 큰 대신에 | keun daesine |
| 좋다 | good, nice (adjective) | 좋은 대신에 | joeun daesine |
What changes
- For verbs, -는 attaches directly to the stem (읽 → 읽는). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ first (살 → 사는).
- For adjectives, the present-tense form is -(으)ㄴ: ㄴ after a vowel (크 → 큰) and 은 after a consonant (좋 → 좋은).
Explanation
이 집은 방은 작은 대신 위치가 아주 좋아요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에)” means “instead of / in exchange for ~,” and it often shows a trade-off: a shortcoming is made up for by a benefit. The sentence means “This house has small rooms, but in exchange its location is excellent.” Use “-(으)ㄴ 대신” with adjectives and “-는 대신” with verbs. It is not a cause marker like 때문에.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 이 집은 방은 작은 대신 위치가 아주 좋아요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 집은 | ||
| 집 | ㅈ+ㅣ+ㅂ | [지] ji |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [븐] beun |
| 방은 | ||
| 방 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅇ | bang |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | eun |
| 작은 | ||
| 작 | ㅈ+ㅏ+ㄱ | [자] ja |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [근] geun |
| 대신 | ||
| 대 | ㄷ+ㅐ | dae |
| 신 | ㅅ+ㅣ+ㄴ | sin |
| 위치가 | ||
| 위 | ㅇ+ㅟ | wi |
| 치 | ㅊ+ㅣ | chi |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 아주 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 좋아요 | ||
| 좋 | ㅈ+ㅗ+ㅎ | [조] jo |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 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. 집은 → [지븐]
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 좋아 → [조아]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 방 | noun | room | TOPIK level 1 |
| 작다 | adjective | small | TOPIK level 1 |
| 아주 | adverb | very | TOPIK level 1 |
| 좋다 | adjective | good, nice | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 이 집은 방은 작은 ____ 위치가 아주 좋아요.
Show the answer
Answer: 이 집은 방은 작은 대신 위치가 아주 좋아요.
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