-거늘

But, However (Archaic)

Level 6Sounds Like geoneul

-거늘 is a formal, literary connective ending. It links a known fact (Clause 1) to a contrasting or unexpected outcome (Clause 2). Think of it as 'given that X is true, how can Y be happening?' It's not used in modern daily conversation.

How It Works

-거늘 is an advanced connective ending used primarily in literary, formal, or archaic contexts. It establishes the first clause as a given fact, reason, or premise, from which a certain outcome would be expected. The second clause, however, presents a result that is contrary to this expectation, often expressing surprise, lament, or a rhetorical question.

Usage:
It attaches directly to the stem of verbs and adjectives.

  • Verb Stem + -거늘 (e.g., 오다 → 오거늘)
  • Adjective Stem + -거늘 (e.g., 아름답다 → 아름답거늘)

Tense:
It can be used with the past tense marker -았/었-.

  • Past Tense: Stem + -았/었- + -거늘 (e.g., 공부했다 → 공부했거늘)

Key Nuances:
1. Broken Expectation: The core function is to highlight a contrast between a premise and an unexpected reality. It implies, "Given that [Clause 1] is true, it's surprising/lamentable that [Clause 2] is the case."
2. Rhetorical Force: It is often used in rhetorical questions to emphasize a point. For example, "만물은 변하거늘 어찌 사람만 그대로이길 바라겠는가?" (All things in nature change, so how can you expect only people to stay the same?).
3. Formality: This pattern is not used in everyday spoken Korean. You will encounter it in literature, historical dramas (사극), formal speeches, and proverbs.

Compared to -ㄴ/는데 or -지만, -거늘 carries a much heavier, more formal, and often more emotional (lament, surprise) weight.

Compare -건만:
-건만 is another literary contrastive and is often interchangeable with -거늘 when the contrast is simple but strong (노력했건만 실패했다 - he worked hard, yet he failed).

Examples (4)

  1. 세월은 이처럼 빨리 흐르거늘 어찌 게으름만 피우고 있는가?

    Time flows by this quickly, so how can you just be lazy?

    Word by Word: Time this way quickly flows-but how laziness only are you indulging in?

    The fact that time flows quickly (premise) is contrasted with the unexpected or inappropriate action of being lazy.

  2. 그토록 열심히 노력했거늘 결과가 이렇다니 허무하다.

    Given that I tried so hard, it feels empty that this is the result.

    Word by Word: That much diligently tried-but result is like this so it is futile.

    The past action of trying hard (노력했거늘) sets up an expectation of a good result, which is contrasted with the disappointing outcome.

  3. 아이도 아는 이치거늘 어른이 되어서 그것도 모른단 말인가?

    It's a principle that even a child knows, so are you saying that as an adult you don't even know that?

    Word by Word: A child also knows principle-but an adult becoming that also don't know you say?

    This is a classic rhetorical use. The premise is that 'even a child knows,' making the adult's ignorance in the second clause seem even more shocking or unacceptable.

  4. 봄이 오면 꽃이 피는 것이 당연하거늘 올해는 어찌 이리 소식이 없는고.

    It is natural for flowers to bloom when spring comes, but for some reason there is no sign of them this year.

    Word by Word: Spring if it comes flowers blooming thing is natural-but this year why this way news is there not.

    This example uses an archaic sentence ender (-는고) to match the literary tone of -거늘. It contrasts the natural expectation (flowers in spring) with the current reality.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -거늘 in casual, everyday conversation.

    Not Quite어제 비가 왔거늘 오늘 길이 미끄러워.
    Better어제 비가 와서 오늘 길이 미끄러워요.

    -거늘 is a very formal and literary expression. Using it for a simple, everyday statement like this sounds extremely unnatural and out of place. For simple cause and effect, -아/어서 is appropriate. For providing background, -ㄴ/는데 is the common choice (e.g., 어제 비가 왔는데 길이 미끄럽네요).

Learn This First

To use archaic contrast 'but/however', you need contrast knowledge and conjugation.

Related Patterns

Practice -거늘 in BubblegumPoppy, your AI tutor, writes Korean lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.