-는 대로 in Korean: “as soon as; just as, the way”
-는 대로
-neun daero
as soon as; just as, the way
Intermediate · Saying what you think and feel
-는 대로 (-neun daero) has two meanings: "as soon as" and "just as" or "the way." 도착하는 대로 means "as soon as I arrive," and 말한 대로 means "the way I said."
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem (as soon as, or as it is done) | + 는 대로 | 끝나다 → 끝나는 대로 |
| Past: the way it was done (vowel stem) | + ㄴ 대로 | 말하다 → 말한 대로 |
| Past: the way it was done (consonant stem) | + 은 대로 | 듣다 → 들은 대로 |
| Noun | + 대로 (no space) | 계획 → 계획대로 |
How to use it
"As soon as": -는 대로 is used for things that will happen, so it often comes with promises, plans, or requests: 끝나는 대로 연락할게요 ("I'll call you as soon as it's done"). It is not used for one-time past events.
"Just as, the way": 시키는 대로 (the way I'm told), 본 대로 (the way I saw it), 생각한 대로 (just as I thought). With past events, use -(으)ㄴ 대로.
After a noun, 대로 is attached with no space: 계획대로 (according to plan), 마음대로 (as you like).
Examples
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Texting a friend
Finishing work
Giving instructions
When a plan works out
Don’t mix it up with
-자마자: -자마자 also means "as soon as" and works for past events: 집에 오자마자 잤어요. -는 대로 is for future plans and requests, so 집에 오는 대로 잤어요 sounds wrong.
-(으)ㄴ 후에: -(으)ㄴ 후에 just means "after" with no sense of immediacy. -는 대로 means right away.
Common mistakes
Using "as soon as" -는 대로 for a past event, like 도착하는 대로 전화했어요. For the past, use -자마자: 도착하자마자 전화했어요.
Want the basics first? Read Describing nouns (-는, -은, -을).
Questions learners ask
What's the difference between 는 대로 and 자마자?
Both mean "as soon as." -자마자 works for past, present, and future, while -는 대로 is used for future actions, plans, and requests.
What does 마음대로 mean?
It means "as you like" or "however you want." It is 마음 (heart, mind) plus 대로 (as, according to).