Grammar
-는데
Meaning
Intermediate-neunde
-는데 attaches to a verb stem to provide background information, set the scene, or introduce a situation that the following clause responds to, elaborates on, or contrasts with. It's one of the most common and flexible connectors in Korean — sometimes translating as 'and,' sometimes as 'but,' and sometimes needing no translation at all, depending on how the two clauses relate.
Form
Present tense: verb stem + -는데 (가다 → 가는데); adjective stem + -(으)ㄴ데 (좋다 → 좋은데, 크다 → 큰데); 이다/아니다 → -인데/아닌데. Past tense: for both verbs and adjectives, add -았/었/였 before -는데 (갔는데, 좋았는데). Future/guess: -(으)ㄹ 건데 or stem + -겠는데.
Examples
판소리는 다섯 마당이 있는데, 그중 춘향가가 가장 유명합니다.
Pansori has five madang, and of these Chunhyangga is the most famous.
비가 오는데 우산이 없어요.
It's raining, but I don't have an umbrella.
이 식당은 맛있는데 좀 비싸요.
This restaurant is tasty, but a bit pricey.
지금 바쁜데 나중에 이야기할까요?
I'm busy right now — shall we talk later?
Common mistakes & nuance
-는데 doesn't always mean 'but' — many learners overtranslate it that way. Often it simply sets up background information with no contrast at all (as in the first example). Also watch the verb/adjective split: adjectives take -(으)ㄴ데, not -는데 (좋은데, not 좋는데).
Similar grammar
- -지만
-지만 typically signals a direct contrast, close to a plain 'but'. -는데 is broader: it can introduce background information, lead into a question or request, or express a mild contrast, and often doesn't mean 'but' at all.