-그려
Archaic Declarative Variant
-그려 is an old-fashioned sentence ending used to make a gentle, exclamatory statement about something the speaker observes or feels.
How It Works
-그려 is a sentence ender that belongs to the archaic or dialectal register of Korean. It is not used in standard modern conversation. Its primary function is to express a gentle statement of fact, observation, or feeling, often with a touch of mild surprise or exclamation.
Usage:
그려 is a post-ending emphatic particle (보조사): it attaches AFTER a completed 하게체/하오체/합쇼체 sentence ending, not directly to a stem.
- 좋네 (it's good) → 좋네그려
- 가는가 (is he going?) → 가는가그려
- 좋구먼 → 좋구먼그려
The archaic ending that attaches to a stem for this exclamatory feel is -구려 (하오체): 밝다 → 밝구려, 아름답다 → 아름답구려, 되다 → 됐구려.
Nuance:
The feeling of -그려 is one of personal reflection or a gentle address to the listener. It's softer than a simple declarative statement and carries a nuance similar to talking to oneself or making a heartfelt observation. Think of it as a historical equivalent to modern exclamatory endings like -구나 (realization) or -네 (direct observation).
Because of its archaic nature, using -그려 in everyday modern Korean would sound very out of place, like someone speaking in Shakespearean English. It is primarily encountered when consuming historical media or literature.
Examples (4)
- 오늘 달이 참 밝구려.
The moon is quite bright tonight.
Word by Word: Today moon truly is-bright-그려.
The speaker is observing the moon and making a gentle, appreciative comment.
- 자네도 이제 어른이 다 됐구려.
You're all grown up now.
Word by Word: You also now adult all became-그려.
An older person observing how much someone younger has grown, expressing a mix of nostalgia and realization.
- 이곳의 풍경은 언제 봐도 아름답구려.
The scenery here is beautiful no matter when you see it.
Word by Word: This place's scenery anytime see-even-if is-beautiful-그려.
Expresses a heartfelt appreciation for the scenery, as if being struck by its beauty once again.
- 벌써 한 해가 가는구려.
A year is already passing.
Word by Word: Already one year goes-그려.
A reflective statement on the passage of time, filled with a sense of gentle melancholy or wonder.
Common Mistakes
Using -그려 in modern, everyday conversation.
Different Meaning와, 이 피자 정말 맛있구려!Better와, 이 피자 정말 맛있네! / 맛있구나!-구려 (and the post-ending particle 그려) is archaic. Using it in a modern context like eating pizza sounds theatrical. For surprise or observation in modern Korean, use -네 or -구나.
Learn This First
To use this archaic/literary ending, you need to understand verb stems.
Related Patterns
- -군/구나Oh, I See
This is the most common modern equivalent for expressing realization or surprise. Like -그려, it conveys that the speaker has just noticed or realized something.
- -네Oh, I See
Another modern equivalent used to express mild surprise or a feeling based on direct, personal experience. It shares the observational nuance of -그려.
- -더라It Turns Out That, I Found Out That
Used when recalling or reporting something the speaker personally witnessed in the past. Both endings are based on the speaker's direct experience, but -더라 is specifically for past events and is common in modern Korean.
- -오/소Formal Archaic Ending
Another formal, archaic sentence ending. While both are old-fashioned, -오/소 is a formal declarative or interrogative ending, whereas -그려 carries a more personal, exclamatory nuance.
- -ㄴ다/는다Plain Declarative Ending
This is the plain form declarative ending. -ㄴ다/는다 is a neutral statement of fact, while -그려 attaches to the same verb/adjective stem to add a specific archaic and exclamatory flavor.