KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › 명사 + 때문에
Korean Grammar “명사 + 때문에”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
This particle does not change: it attaches to every noun in the same way, whatever the last sound is.
| Korean | Meaning | With the particle | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나라 | country | 나라 때문에 | nara ttaemune |
| 음식 | food | 음식 때문에 | eumsik ttaemune |
| 선물 | gift | 선물 때문에 | seonmul ttaemune |
Explanation
비 때문에 야외 경기가 취소됐어요.
“Noun + 때문에” gives the reason for the result that follows, “because of ~.” The sentence means “The outdoor game was canceled because of the rain.” With verbs and adjectives use “-기 때문에”; like -아/어서, the second clause cannot be a command or suggestion.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 비 때문에 야외 경기가 취소됐어요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [비 때무네 야외 경기가 취소돼써요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 비 | ㅂ+ㅣ | bi |
| 때문에 | ||
| 때 | ㄸ+ㅐ | ttae |
| 문 | ㅁ+ㅜ+ㄴ | [무] mu |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [네] ne |
| 야외 | ||
| 야 | ㅇ+ㅑ | ya |
| 외 | ㅇ+ㅚ | oe |
| 경기가 | ||
| 경 | ㄱ+ㅕ+ㅇ | gyeong |
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | gi |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 취소됐어요 | ||
| 취 | ㅊ+ㅟ | chwi |
| 소 | ㅅ+ㅗ | so |
| 됐 | ㄷ+ㅙ+ㅆ | [돼] dwae |
| 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
- 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. 문에 → [무네]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 비 | noun | rain | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 비 ____ 야외 경기가 취소됐어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 비 때문에 야외 경기가 취소됐어요.
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