KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -는 한
Korean Grammar “-는 한”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 6)
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 | 보는 한 | boneun han |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽는 한 | ingneun han |
| 하다 | to do | 하는 한 | haneun han |
| 살다 | to live | 사는 한 | saneun han |
What changes
- For verbs, -는 attaches directly to the stem (읽 → 읽는). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ first (살 → 사는).
Explanation
내가 살아 있는 한 너를 반드시 지켜 주겠다.
“-는 한” means “as long as ~ / so far as ~” and states that something holds true for as long as a condition lasts (e.g., 살아 있는 한, 내가 아는 한, 가능한 한). The sentence means “As long as I’m alive, I’ll definitely protect you.” “-는 탓” (bad cause), “-는 김” (while you’re at it), and “-는 바람” (cause) cannot express a continuing condition.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 내가 살아 있는 한 너를 반드시 지켜 주겠다.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 내가 | ||
| 내 | ㄴ+ㅐ | nae |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 살아 | ||
| 살 | ㅅ+ㅏ+ㄹ | [사] sa |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | [라] ra |
| 있는 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [인] in |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 너를 | ||
| 너 | ㄴ+ㅓ | neo |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 반드시 | ||
| 반 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㄴ | ban |
| 드 | ㄷ+ㅡ | deu |
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 지켜 | ||
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 켜 | ㅋ+ㅕ | kyeo |
| 주겠다 | ||
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 겠 | ㄱ+ㅔ+ㅆ | [겓] get |
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | [따] da |
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. 살아 → [사라]
- Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 있는 → [인는]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 겠다 → [겓따]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -다. Common in proverbs, writing and the news, but not how you normally speak to the person in front of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 살다 | verb | to live | TOPIK level 1 |
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
| 반드시 | adverb | without fail | TOPIK level 3 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 내가 살아 있____ 너를 반드시 지켜 주겠다.
Show the answer
Answer: 내가 살아 있는 한 너를 반드시 지켜 주겠다.
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