-게
-ge
informal question/reason ending
An informal sentence-final ending with several related uses: asking the listener to guess an answer, pointing out that something obviously true would follow if the premise were true (though it isn't), giving the basis for a preceding statement, asking about someone's intentions, or, in the moderately low register, issuing a command to someone younger or close to the speaker.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary
- Other shapes
- -게요
Meanings
- 1
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to guess what the following statement would be like, if the preceding statement is such, and ask about it.
(두루낮춤으로) 앞의 내용이 그러하다면 뒤의 내용은 어떠할 것이라고 추측해 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.
- 2
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the following content would obviously be realized if the preceding content were true, but actually it is not.
(두루낮춤으로) 앞의 내용이 사실이라면 당연히 뒤의 내용이 이루어지겠지만 실제로는 그렇지 않음을 나타내는 종결 어미.
※ 주로 반어의 뜻을 가진 의문문으로 쓴다.
- 3
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking the listener to try to guess and answer.
(두루낮춤으로) 듣는 사람에게 한번 추측해서 대답해 보라고 물을 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
- 4
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when presenting the reason for the preceding statement.
(두루낮춤으로) 앞 문장의 내용에 대한 근거를 제시할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
- 5
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking about the other person's intentions.
(두루낮춤으로) 상대의 의도를 물을 때 쓰는 종결 어미.
※ 주로 말하는 사람이 의외라고 생각하는 뜻을 나타낼 때 쓴다.
- 6
(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering a person who is younger or has close friendly ties with you.
(예사 낮춤으로) 손아래나 허물없는 관계에 있는 사람에게 명령함을 나타내는 종결 어미.
Examples
이 병에 든 게 약이면 내가 먹은 음료수가 약이게?
If what's in this bottle is medicine, then was the drink I had medicine too?
쌍둥이 언니가 이렇게 예뻤다니 그럼 너도 예뻤게?
If her twin sister was this pretty, does that mean you were pretty too?
빨간색 가방을 든 사람이라고 했으니까 저 애가 민준이 동생이게?
They said it's someone carrying a red bag -- so is that kid Minjun's little sibling?
이 곡을 연습도 없이 칠 수 있으면 내가 피아니스트게?
If I could play this piece without practicing, wouldn't that make me a pianist?
키 큰 사람이 다 농구 선수가 됐으면 나도 농구 선수가 됐게?
If every tall person became a basketball player, wouldn't I have become one too?
머리가 좋다고 다 공부를 잘한다면 내 동생도 공부를 잘했게?
If being smart meant you were automatically good at studying, wouldn't my sibling be good at it too?
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-게’ mean?
2. Which form means “informal question/reason ending”?