-(으)ㄴ/는걸요

actually …, you know (mild objection, surprise or excuse)

Level 4 · TOPIK II · intermediate

How to use it

Spoken. Gives information that differs from what the listener expected, or expresses mild surprise or an excuse, in a soft way.

Forming it

가다	→ 가는걸요
어렵다	→ 어려운걸요
보다	→ 봤는걸요
학생	→ 학생인걸요

Don't confuse it with -(으)ㄹ걸요 (a guess) or -(으)ㄹ걸 그랬다 (regret). Can sound like talking back if used with superiors in serious situations.

Examples

가: 같이 그 영화 볼래요? 나: 저는 벌써 봤는걸요.
A: Want to watch that movie together? B: Actually, I've already seen it.
이 문제는 생각보다 꽤 어려운걸요.
This problem is actually quite harder than I thought.

Compared with similar patterns

-거든요 (G2-034) explains a reason the listener didn't know. -(으)ㄹ걸요 (G3-038) is a guess. -잖아요 (G2-050) reminds the listener of something they already know.