KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다”: How to Use It (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 편이다 | boneun pyeonida |
| 읽다 | to read (verb) | 읽는 편이다 | ingneun pyeonida |
| 크다 | big (adjective) | 큰 편이다 | keun pyeonida |
| 좋다 | good, nice (adjective) | 좋은 편이다 | joeun pyeonida |
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
저는 다른 사람들보다 말이 빠른 편이에요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다” means “to tend to be / to be on the ~ side” and describes a tendency without making a firm statement. Use “-(으)ㄴ 편이다” with adjectives and “-는 편이다” with verbs. The sentence means “I tend to speak faster than other people do,” and 빠르다 becomes “빠른 편이에요.” Adverb forms such as 빠르게 or 빨리 cannot be used before 편이다.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 다른 사람들보다 말이 빠른 편이에요.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 다른 | ||
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | da |
| 른 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄴ | reun |
| 사람들보다 | ||
| 사 | ㅅ+ㅏ | sa |
| 람 | ㄹ+ㅏ+ㅁ | ram |
| 들 | ㄷ+ㅡ+ㄹ | deul |
| 보 | ㅂ+ㅗ | bo |
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | da |
| 말이 | ||
| 말 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄹ | [마] ma |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [리] ri |
| 빠른 | ||
| 빠 | ㅃ+ㅏ | ppa |
| 른 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄴ | reun |
| 편이에요 | ||
| 편 | ㅍ+ㅕ+ㄴ | [펴] pyeo |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [니] ni |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 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. 말이 → [마리]
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: 저는 다른 사람들보다 말이 ____ 편이에요.
Show the answer
Answer: 저는 다른 사람들보다 말이 빠른 편이에요.
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