-거니
Since, Because (Archaic)
-거니 is an archaic or literary connective ending used to express a reason or cause, similar to 'since' or 'because'.
How It Works
-거니 is a connective ending that expresses a reason or cause. While its basic meaning is similar to modern connectors like -니까 and -아/어서, its usage is distinct and limited to specific contexts.
Key Characteristics:
- Archaic/Literary Tone: This is the most important point. -거니 is not used in everyday modern Korean. Using it in a casual conversation would sound very strange, like speaking in Shakespearean English. It is primarily found in historical texts, poetry, novels aiming for a classic style, or proverbs.
- Natural Consequence: It often carries the nuance that the result in the second clause is an obvious, natural, or expected outcome of the reason stated in the first clause. It's like saying, "Given that X is true, it's only natural that Y follows."
- Rhetorical Use: It can be used in rhetorical questions to emphasize the obviousness of a situation. For example, "He is the king's son; how could he live a normal life?"
Conjugation:
It simply attaches to the stem of any verb or adjective, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- 가다 (to go) → 가거니
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹거니
- 있다 (to exist) → 있거니
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘거니
- 학생이다 (to be a student) → 학생이거니
While you are unlikely to use this pattern in your own speech, recognizing it is crucial for understanding older or more literary forms of Korean.
Examples (4)
- 세월이 약이거니, 그 슬픔도 곧 잊힐 것이다.
Since time is medicine, that sadness will also soon be forgotten.
Word by Word: Time is medicine-since, that sadness also soon will be forgotten.
This has a literary or proverbial tone. It states a commonly accepted fact (time is medicine) as the reason for a natural consequence (sadness will fade).
- 그는 왕의 아들이거니, 어찌 평범하게 살 수 있겠는가?
He is the king's son, so how could he possibly live an ordinary life?
Word by Word: He is the king's son-since, how ordinarily can live?
This is a rhetorical question. The fact that he is a prince is the obvious reason why an ordinary life is impossible for him.
- 봄이 왔거니, 꽃이 피는 것은 당연한 이치다.
Since spring has come, it is a matter of course that flowers bloom.
Word by Word: Spring has come-since, flowers blooming is a natural principle.
This example emphasizes the natural and logical connection between the cause (spring's arrival) and the effect (flowers blooming).
- 네가 먼저 약속을 어겼거니, 나를 탓할 수는 없다.
Since you broke the promise first, you cannot blame me.
Word by Word: You first broke the promise-since, me cannot blame.
This has a very formal and slightly dramatic feel, as if from a historical play. It presents a logical argument based on a past action.
Common Mistakes
Using -거니 in modern, everyday conversation.
Not Quite비가 오거니 우리 영화 보러 가자.Better비가 오니까 우리 영화 보러 가자.-거니 is an archaic form and sounds unnatural in modern speech. For giving a reason for a suggestion or command, -니까 is the correct choice. For a general statement of cause and effect, -아/어서 would also be appropriate (e.g., 비가 와서 길이 미끄러워요).
Learn This First
To use archaic reasoning 'since/because', you need alternative patterns and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -(으)니까So, Because
-니까 is the most common modern equivalent for giving a reason, especially when the following clause is a command, suggestion, or expresses the speaker's subjective judgment. -거니 is archaic and implies a more objective, natural consequence.
- -아/어서Because of, Therefore
-아/어서 is another common modern connector for cause and effect. Unlike -니까, it cannot be followed by commands or suggestions. It describes a general, sequential relationship between two events, whereas -거니 has a more literary and philosophical nuance of assumed truth.
- -(으)므로Because, Since
-므로 is a formal, written-style connector for reason, similar to 'therefore' or 'hence'. It shares a formal register with -거니, but -므로 is still used in modern academic and formal writing, while -거니 is almost exclusively literary or historical.
- -거늘But, However (Archaic)
-거늘 is another archaic connective ending. It is related to -거니 in style and era, but has an opposite meaning. While -거니 indicates an expected result ('since A, then B'), -거늘 indicates an unexpected or contrasting result ('even though A, B...').