던데요 = I realized.., From what I saw.. | 던데요 vs 더라고요
- KSJ 쌤
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
안녕하세요 여러분! Junie입니다~
Today, we’ll look at another grammar/sentence ending.
-던데요 is a very common Korean ending used when you're recalling or mentioning something you personally experienced, observed, or remember.
Translated as:
"I remember that...", "From what I saw...", "Actually...", "But I noticed that..."
FORMATION:
Verb
가다 → 가던데요
먹다 → 먹던데요
공부하다 → 공부하던데요
Adjective
예쁘다 → 예쁘던데요
비싸다 → 비싸던데요
어렵다 → 어렵던데요
Noun + 이다
학생이다 → 학생이던데요
의사이다 → 의사던데요
Usage 1: Basic
Recalling What You Experienced
You saw or experienced something and are reporting it.
Examples:
그 식당 음식이 맛있던데요.
The food at that restaurant was good (from what I tried).
한국어가 생각보다 어렵던데요.
Korean was more difficult than I expected.
어제 날씨가 춥던데요.
It was cold yesterday.
그 사람이 친절하던데요.
That person seemed kind.
Usage 2: Soft Contradiction
Very often Koreans use -던데요 to politely disagree.
Example
A: 그 카페 비싸죠?
That café is expensive, right?
B: 아니요, 생각보다 괜찮던데요.
Actually, it wasn't bad from what I experienced.
A: 민수 씨가 영어를 못해요.
Minsu can't speak English.
B: 잘하던데요.
Well, from what I saw, he's good.
Notice how this sounds softer than:
아니에요. 잘해요.
No. He's good.
Usage 3: Giving Background Before Another Statement
Often used with another sentence afterward.
Examples
어제 비가 오던데요. 우산 안 가져왔어요?
I noticed it was raining yesterday. Didn't you bring an umbrella?
그 영화 재미있던데요. 한번 보세요.
That movie was interesting. Give it a try.
한국 음식이 맛있던데요. 특히 불고기가 좋았어요.
Korean food was good. I especially liked bulgogi.
Usage 4: Question Form
You can use it to ask about something surprising or noteworthy.
Examples
한국어를 정말 잘하시던데요?
I noticed you're really good at Korean?
어제 늦게까지 공부하시던데요?
I saw you studying late yesterday?
새 차를 사셨던데요?
I heard/saw that you bought a new car?
The feeling is:
"I noticed this—is that right?"
rather than a plain question.
Difference from -네요
-네요
Immediate realization.
맛있네요!
Wow, it's delicious!
춥네요.
It's cold.
-던데요
Based on memory or experience.
맛있던데요.
I tried it and it was good.
춥던데요.
It was cold when I experienced it.
Difference from -더라고요
These are often confused.
-더라고요
I personally discovered/realized.
그 식당 음식이 맛있더라고요.
I found the food delicious.
-던데요
I remember it being...
그 식당 음식이 맛있던데요.
The food was good, from what I remember.
The difference is subtle. In everyday conversation they are often interchangeable.
Natural Conversation Examples
At a café
A: 그 카페 어때요?
How's that café?
B: 분위기가 좋던데요.
The atmosphere was nice.
About a coworker
A: 새 직원은 어때요?
How's the new employee?
B: 일을 잘하던데요.
From what I've seen, they work well.
About a movie
A: 그 영화 재미있어요?
Is that movie interesting?
B: 저는 재미있던데요.
I thought it was interesting.
Soft disagreement
A: 한국 음식이 너무 맵죠?
Korean food is too spicy, right?
B: 그렇게 맵지는 않던데요.
It didn't seem that spicy to me.
Common Beginner Pattern
A: 어땠어요?
How was it?
B: 좋던데요.
It was good.
맛있던데요.
It was tasty.
재미있던데요.
It was fun.
어렵던데요.
It was difficult.
생각보다 쉽던데요.
It was easier than I expected.
That’s all for this post!