Conjunctions help connect phrases, and clauses naturally. Like English, there are many conjunctions in Korean. If you are a beginner and want to know a few commonly used ones please check out the "Quick Chart." If you want to know about specific conjunctions, please search them with the "Ctrl + F" function!
Table of Contents
1. Quick Chart
Those conjunctions are used often in daily conversation.
2. Walk Through Various Korean Conjunctions
Korean conjunctions are called 접속사 [jeop-sok-ssa]. They are invariant words and that means they are not conjugated like verbs or adjectives. Let's take a look at the various Korean conjunctions with examples!
1. Sequential Transitions
These conjunctions smoothly connect preceding and following sentences or phrases without logical contradiction. They are like "so, therefore, accordingly" in English.
그래서 [geu-lae-seo] so
그래서 is a conjunctive adverb used when the preceding content becomes the cause, basis, or condition of the following content. It can be also used as an answer in conversation. When you answer "그래서?" with a question mark, it can have two tones. One is to ask "And what happened?" and the other is "So what?"
밥을 많이 먹었어요. 그래서 배가 불러요. - Conjunction, so.
I eat too much. So I am full.
차가 막혔어요. 그래서 회사에 지각을 했어요. - Conjunction, so.
The traffic was bad. So I was late for my work.
그래서? 어떻게 됐어? - Answer 1: So? / And?
So? (And?) What happened?
그래서? 뭐 어쩌라고? - Answer 2: So what?
So what? What do you expect me to do?
그러니까 [geu-leo-ni-gga] so, for that reason
그러니까 is a conjunctive adverb used when the preceding content becomes the reason or basis for the following content. It can be used as an answer in daily conversation. In that case, it is used to agree with a person. (I know, right?)
나는 지금 바빠. 그러니까 귀찮게 하지마!
I'm busy now. So don't bother me!
A: 오늘 날씨 진짜 덥다. It's very hot today.
B: 그러니까! I know, right? - Agree
따라서 [dda-la-seo] so, therefore, thus
따라서 is a conjunctive adverb that indicates that what was the first clause becomes the cause, reason, or basis for the second clause. This one has a more formal vibe than 그래서. So, it is more often used in written language.
제비가 낮게 난다. 따라서 곧 비가 올 것이다.
A swallow is flying low. Therefore, it will rain soon.
그러므로 [geu-leo-meu-lo] therefore, so, thus
그러므로 is a conjunctive adverb used when the preceding content becomes the reason, cause, or basis for the following content. It can be shortened to 고로 [go-lo]. It sounds a bit formal. You can replace 따라서 with 그러므로.
나는 생각한다. 그러므로 존재한다.
I think therefore I am. (Cogito ergo sum. by René Descartes)
제비가 낮게 난다. 그러므로 곧 비가 올 것이다.
A swallow is flying low. Therefore, it will rain soon.
2. Adversative Transition
These conjunctions indicate that the first and second sentences are opposites. They work like "but, however, though" in English.
그러나 [geu-leo-na] but, though, however, nevertheless
그러나 is a conjunctive adverb that can be used when the preceding and following contents are contradictory. It can be used regardless of whether the preceding and following contents are in a sentence or not.
나는 집에 가고 싶었다. 그러나 갈 수 없었다.
I wanted to go home, but I couldn't go.
치타는 빠르게 그러나 조심스럽게 달렸다.
The cheetah ran fast but carefully.
그런데 [geu-leon-dae] but, however / well, by the way, incidentally
그런데 mainly has two meanings. One is to show the contrary, the other is to change the topic. It can be shortened to 근데.
우리 형은 미국에 살아. 그런데 나는 캐나다에 살아. - Contrary
My brother lives in the U.S. but I live in Canada.
그런데, 어디 가지? - Change the topic
Where should we go, by the way?
하지만 [ha-ji-man] but, though, however.
하지만 is a conjunctive adverb used to connect two sentences that express inconsistent or conflicting facts. Unlike 그러나 which can be used to connect words, clauses, or sentences, 하지만 is only can be used to connect two sentences.
어제 비가 많이 왔어요. 하지만 오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.
It rained a lot yesterday. But the weather is good today.
나는 열심히 운동을 했다. 하지만 하나도 살이 빠지지 않았다.
I exercised hard. However, I didn't lose any weight at all.
그렇지만 [geu-leo-chi-man] but, though, however, nevertheless
그렇지만 is a conjunctive adverb used to show a conflict of the contents even though you recognize that fact.
너의 말은 알겠어. 그렇지만 우리는 여전히 가야 돼.
I know what you mean. But we still have to go.
이 시계는 오래 되었다. 그렇지만 아직도 잘 작동한다.
This clock is very old. But it still works very well.
오히려 [oh-hi-lyeo] rather
오히려 is used to show something opposite or different from general standards, expectations, guesses, or expectations. It also shows rather to B than A.
동생이 형보다 오히려 크다.
That younger sibling is (rather) taller than his brother.
- For general standards, the older brother is usually taller, but this time younger sibling is taller. So, 오히려 is used.
그에게 사과하느니 오히려 죽겠다.
I rather die than apologize to him.
단 [dan] if, only if
단 is a conjunctive adverb used to add exceptional details or conditions to the first sentence.
나도 너와 가겠다. 단, 네가 밥을 사준다면.
I will go with you. Only if you buy me some food.
3. Additive Transitions
It connects two sentences parallelly like "and" in English.
그리고 [geu-li-go] and, and then
It connects two or more words, phrases, or whole sentences in parallel (=and). It can also be used to show the time order (=and then).
추워요. 그리고 비가 와요. -And
It's cold. And it is rainy.
친구를 만났다. 그리고 도서관에 갔다. -And then
I met my friend. And then I went to the library.
4. Selective Transitions
It connects like "or" in English.
아니면 [ah-ni-myeon] or, either or
아니면 is not technically a connective adverb. But it is an informal way and commonly used in daily conversations to connect two things in "or" / "either A or B".
나 아니면 네가 가야지.
Either you or I have to go.
사과 먹을래 아니면 바나나 먹을래?
Do you want an apple or a banana?
또는 [ddo-neun] or
또는 is an adverb meaning "or." Other words for the same are 그렇지 않으면 [geu-leo-chi ah-neu-myeon] and 혹은 [ho-geun]. It has a more formal vibe and is often used in written language.
토요일 또는 일요일에 그녀를 보러 갈 것이다.
I will go to see her on Saturday or Sunday.
3. More to read...
Some of these conjunctions (connective adverbs) have similar versions of connective endings. Here, when an adverb connects two sentences they were inserted between two sentences like in the example below.
바람이 불어요. 그리고 추워요. It's windy. And it is cold.
You see, it has two periods which means they are two separate sentences. 그리고 is simply between the two sentences. However, the connective endings can combine them into one.
바람이 불고 추워요. It's windy and cold.
고 [go] that looks like 그리고 [geu-li-go] is used to make two sentences into one! Those are what we call a connective ending. While in English, starting a sentence with "and" can be controversial, there is nothing wrong in Korean!
4. Wrap-up
You've learned many different Korean conjunctions in this post. If you have a notebook, you can write them down to review them. There are still many more conjunctions, of course, so it is good to keep adding new words to your notebook!