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Lv 3Grammar expressionIntermediate · TOPIK II

-어 두다

-eo duda

do and keep the result; do in advance

Attaches to a verb stem to show that an action is completed and its result is deliberately kept or preserved for later use, similar in meaning to '-어 놓다' but with a slightly stronger sense of preparing for the future.

Form

Attaches to
Verb
Other shapes
-아 두다 · -여 두다

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate that a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed and its result remains.

    앞말이 나타내는 행동을 끝내고 그 결과를 유지함을 나타내는 표현.

Examples

  • 승규는 학교에 가기 전에 새 연필 몇 자루를 꺼내어 예쁘게 깎아 두었다.

    Before going to school, Seunggyu took out a few new pencils and sharpened them neatly.

  • 나는 물건을 쌓아 두고 버리지를 않아 항상 방이 어지러웠다.

    I keep piling things up without throwing them away, so my room is always messy.

  • 지수는 가방을 사려고 모아 둔 돈을 그만 도둑맞고 말았다.

    Jisu had her money -- which she'd saved up to buy a bag -- stolen from her.

  • 옷에 주스를 흘렸는데 어떻게 빨지요? 일단 세제를 푼 물에 조금 담가 두었다가 빠는 게 좋아.

    I spilled juice on my clothes -- how should I wash it out? It's best to soak it in water with detergent for a while first, then wash it.

  • 치즈를 냉장고에 넣어 두었다.

    I put the cheese in the fridge to keep.

  • 지수는 자신의 일기장을 아무도 모르는 곳에 숨겨 두었다.

    Jisu hid her diary somewhere no one would know.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-어 두다’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “do and keep the result; do in advance”?