-거든(요) in Korean: “you see, because (explaining)”
-거든(요)
-geodeun(yo)
you see, because (explaining)
Intermediate · Sentence endings
-거든(요) (-geodeun-yo) means "you see" or "it's because." You put it at the end of a sentence to give a reason or background the listener didn't know yet. It is very common in everyday conversation.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb or adjective stem | + 거든(요) | 가다 → 가거든요, 바쁘다 → 바쁘거든요 |
| Noun ending in a vowel | + (이)거든(요) | 친구 → 친구거든요 |
| Noun ending in a consonant | + 이거든(요) | 학생 → 학생이거든요 |
| Past tense | 았/었 + 거든(요) | 하다 → 했거든요 |
How to use it
-거든(요) explains. It usually comes right after something that needs a reason: why you're late, why you can't come, why you're tired. It is like adding "you see" in English.
It is also used to set up a story. You give some background with -거든, and the listener waits for the rest: "So I went to the store yesterday, right? And..."
거든 is casual, for friends and younger people. 거든요 is polite and fine with coworkers or strangers. In very formal speech, like a presentation, people use -기 때문입니다 instead.
Examples
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Explaining being late
Turning down food
Starting a story
Saying no to plans
Don’t mix it up with
-잖아요: -잖아요 reminds the listener of something they already know. -거든요 tells them something new.
-아서/어서: -아서/어서 links a reason inside one sentence ("I'm late because..."). -거든요 ends the sentence and adds the reason afterward, like a separate explanation.
Common mistakes
Using -거든요 for a fact the listener already knows. That situation calls for -잖아요.
Mixing it up with -거든 in the middle of a sentence. 도착하거든 전화해 means "call me when you arrive," which is a different, more bookish "if/when" use.
Want the basics first? Read Because & and then (-아서/어서).
Questions learners ask
What does 거든요 mean?
거든요 means "you see" or "because." It gives a reason or background the listener didn't know.
What is the difference between 거든요 and 잖아요?
거든요 shares new information as an explanation. 잖아요 points to information the listener already knows.
Can 거든 mean "if"?
Yes, in the middle of a sentence, -거든 can mean "if" or "when," usually followed by a request or suggestion, as in 시간 있거든 와 ("come if you have time"). At the end of a sentence it means "you see."