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Lv 3Sentence-final endingIntermediate · TOPIK II

-는구나

-neunguna

I see that...! (exclamatory)

A plain, informal sentence-final ending that expresses a fresh emotional reaction to something the speaker has just noticed or learned, similar to 'Oh, ...!' or 'Wow, ...!' Used toward people of equal or lower status.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-구나

Meanings

  1. 1

    (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to imply a certain feeling in a newly learned fact.

    (아주낮춤으로) 새롭게 알게 된 사실에 어떤 느낌을 실어 말함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

    ※ 주로 구어나 혼잣말에서 쓴다.

Examples

  • 어린아이들은 키가 금방 자라는구나.

    Wow, little kids really grow tall so quickly!

  • 참으로 오랜만에 아버지의 고향에 와 보는구나.

    I'm visiting my father's hometown for the first time in so long!

  • 이것저것 하다 보니 하루가 금방 지나가는구나.

    I see -- with one thing and another, the day just flies by!

  • 민준이는 음악을 가리지 않고 참 많이 듣는구나. 네, 저는 어떤 음악이든 다 좋아하거든요.

    I see Minjun listens to all kinds of music without being picky. Yes, I like pretty much any kind of music.

  • 민준이는 음악을 가리지 않고 참 많이 듣는구나.

    I see Minjun listens to all kinds of music without being picky.

  • 네, 저는 어떤 음악이든 다 좋아하거든요.

    Yes, I like pretty much any kind of music.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-는구나’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “I see that...! (exclamatory)”?