Korean

Suffix

-는지 • ‎(-neunji)

1. because perhaps

   잠이 오는지 연신 고개만 꾸벅인다.‎

   Jami oneunji yeonsin gogaeman kkubeoginda.

   He keeps nodding; maybe he's sleepy.

2. whether, if; who, what, where, how ...

   야, 리모컨 어딨는지 (=어디에 있는지) 안 보인다. 좀 도와주라.‎

   Ya, rimokeon eodinneunji (=eodie inneunji) an boinda. Jom dowajura.

   Hey, I can't find where the remote is. Give me a favor, please?

3. vague question

   음식은 입에 맞으시는지?‎

   Eumsigeun ibe majeusineunji?

   Is this food to your liking?

Usage notes

The suffix -는지 (-neunji) is directly attached to the stem of a verb, or existential adjectives 있다 (itda, “to exist”), 없다 (eopda, “not to exist”), or 계시다 (gyesida, “to exist (honorific)”), or adjectives with past or future tense. If the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), it drops out.

For other adjectives and 이다 (ida, “to be”) to denote present tense, -ㄴ지 (-nji) is used instead.

Not to be confused with -는 지 (-neun ji), meaning the time since the event which -는 (-neun) indicates happened. See 지 (ji).

See also

• -ㄴ지 (-nji)
• -던지 (-deonji, past retrospect)
• -ㄹ지 (-ljji, future)
• -ㄹ는지 (-lleunji, future)