거든요 vs 잖아요

1. The Difference Between '거든요' and '잖아요'

2. Grammar Explanation

Both '거든요' and '잖아요' are sentence endings used in Korean to provide additional information or reasons, but they are used in different contexts based on what the speaker assumes about the listener's knowledge.

'거든요'

• Usage: This ending is used when the speaker is providing information, reasons, or explanations that they assume the listener does not know. It often implies that the speaker is sharing something new or previously unknown to the listener.

• Structure: Verb/Adjective + 거든요

• Example:

  • 왜 기분이 안 좋아 보여요? (Why do you look so unhappy?)

    여자친구랑 싸웠거든요. (Because I fought with my girlfriend.)

'잖아요'

• Usage: This ending is used when the speaker is reminding the listener of something they both already know or when confirming something they assume the listener is aware of. It often carries a nuance of "as you know" or "you see."

• Structure: Verb/Adjective + 잖아요

• Example:

  • 왜 그렇게 빨리 먹어요? (Why are you eating so fast?)

    진짜 맛있잖아요. (You know this is so delicious.)

3. Example Sentences

1. 거든요:

   • 오늘 왜 일찍 가요? (Why are you leaving early today?)

     • 약속이 있거든요. (Because I have an appointment.)

   • 그 책을 안 읽었어요? (Haven't you read that book?)

     • 네, 너무 어려웠거든요. (No, because it was too difficult.)

   • 왜 점심을 안 먹었어요? (Why didn’t you have lunch?)

     • 바빴거든요. (Because I was busy.)

   • 왜 그 영화를 안 봤어요? (Why didn’t you watch that movie?)

     • 재미없을 것 같았거든요. (Because I thought it wouldn’t be interesting.)

   • 왜 파티에 안 왔어요?

     • 못생겼다고 초대를 못 받았거든요. (I didn’t get invited because they said I am ugly.)

2. 잖아요:

   • 왜 그렇게 열심히 공부해요? (Why are you studying so hard?)

     • 내일 시험이 있잖아요. (You know we have a test tomorrow.)

   • 왜 그렇게 늦게 왔어요? (Why did you come so late?)

     • 길이 막혔잖아요. (You know there was traffic.)

   • 왜 안 먹어요? (Why aren't you eating?)

     • 저 다이어트 중이잖아요. (You know I'm on a diet.)

   • 왜 그렇게 피곤해 보여요? (Why do you look so tired?)

     • 어제 늦게 잤잖아요. (You know I went to bed late yesterday.)

   • 왜 학교에 안 갔어요? (Why didn’t you go to school?)

     • 오늘 휴일이잖아요. (You know today is a holiday.)

4. Make Korean Sentences from English!

Dialogue 1:

A: Why are you leaving work so early today?

B: Because I have an appointment.

Dialogue 2:

A: Why are you working out so hard?

B: You know there’s a marathon next week.

Dialogue 3:

A: Why do you look so happy?

B: Because I have good news.

Dialogue 4:

Why do you look so tired?

You know I went to bed late yesterday.

Dialogue 5:

Why didn’t you go to school?

You know today is a holiday.