-고 나서 in Korean: “after finishing”
-고 나서
-go naseo
after finishing
Beginner · Linking ideas
-고 나서 (-go naseo) means "after finishing" something. It stresses that the first action is completely done before the next one starts.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem (vowel) | + 고 나서 | 보다 → 보고 나서 |
| Verb stem (consonant) | + 고 나서 | 먹다 → 먹고 나서 |
| 하다 verb | + 고 나서 | 운동하다 → 운동하고 나서 |
How to use it
A-고 나서 B means "after finishing A, B". It is close to -(으)ㄴ 후에, but it puts a bit more focus on completing the first action.
The verb before 고 never changes and never takes past tense. Use it with action verbs, not adjectives.
With verbs like 만나다, 가다 or 앉다, where the second action happens in that place or with that person, Koreans usually use -아서/어서 instead: 친구를 만나서 영화를 봤어요 (I met a friend and we watched a movie).
Examples
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A parent to a child
At the pharmacy
After a sad film
At work
Don’t mix it up with
-(으)ㄴ 후에: Means "after" and is usually interchangeable. -고 나서 is a little more conversational and stresses finishing.
-고: Just means "and (then)". -고 나서 makes it clear that the first action was finished first.
-아서/어서: Used when the second action depends on the first, like going somewhere and doing something there.
Common mistakes
Saying 친구를 만나고 나서 영화를 봤어요 to mean you watched the movie with that friend. That sounds like you watched it after you parted. Say 친구를 만나서 영화를 봤어요.
Adding past tense: 먹었고 나서 is wrong. Say 먹고 나서.
Want the basics first? Read "And" and "and then" (-고).
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between -고 나서 and -고?
-고 simply joins actions. -고 나서 makes it clear the first action was fully finished before the next.
Is -고 나서 the same as -(으)ㄴ 후에?
Very close, and they are often interchangeable. -고 나서 stresses finishing and sounds a bit more spoken.