-길래
-gillae
because; since (I noticed)
An informal connective ending that gives the reason or basis for the following statement, usually something the speaker personally noticed or found out; similar to '-기에' but more colloquial.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
Meanings
- 1
A connective ending referring to the cause or reason of the following statement.
뒤에 오는 말의 원인이나 근거를 나타내는 연결 어미.
※ 주로 구어에서, ‘이다’, 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-었-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
Examples
아침부터 날씨가 흐리길래 우산을 챙겨 나왔다.
Since it was cloudy from the morning, I brought an umbrella when I went out.
대체 무슨 일이길래 안색이 그리 안 좋은 거예요?
What on earth is going on that you look so unwell?
아버지께서 너무 곤하게 주무시길래 안 깨웠어요.
Since Father was sleeping so soundly, I didn't wake him up.
승규야, 교통사고가 났다더니 어떻게 된 거야? 응, 갑자기 쿵 하길래 보니까 뒤에서 차가 박았더라고.
Seunggyu, I heard you got into a car accident — what happened? Yeah, there was suddenly a bang, and when I looked, a car had hit me from behind.
승규야, 교통사고가 났다더니 어떻게 된 거야?
Seunggyu, I heard you got into a car accident — what happened?
응, 갑자기 쿵 하길래 보니까 뒤에서 차가 박았더라고.
Yeah, there was suddenly a bang, and when I looked, a car had hit me from behind.
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. What does ‘-길래’ mean?
2. Which form means “because; since (I noticed)”?