Korean grammar patterns › Level 4
-길래
since, because (I saw / heard that …) — reason for my action
Level 4 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Spoken. Clause 1 is a situation the speaker noticed or someone else's action; clause 2 is what the speaker did because of it, usually in the past. With a question word it asks the reason: 무슨 일이길래 그렇게 울어요? 'What happened that you're crying like that?'
Forming it
| 오다 | → 오길래 |
| 싸다 | → 싸길래 |
| 맛있다 | → 맛있길래 |
| 주말 | → 주말이길래 |
Clause 2 can't be a command, suggestion or future plan: ✗ 비가 오길래 우산을 가져가세요. The subject of clause 2 is usually the speaker.
Examples
과일이 싸고 맛있길래 많이 샀어요.
The fruit was cheap and tasty, so I bought a lot.
밖에 비가 오길래 우산을 가지고 나왔어요.
It was raining outside, so I brought an umbrella.
Compared with similar patterns
-기에 (G5-001) is the written equivalent. -아/어서 (G1-019) and -(으)니까 (G1-027) give a reason without the 'I noticed' nuance; -(으)니까 also allows commands.