For autodidact students of Korean, 그러면 (geureomyeon) is "then" in the sense of "in that case": it takes what has just been said, by you or by someone else, and draws the consequence from it. 배고파요? 그러면 빵을 먹어요 (Are you hungry? Then have some bread). 길을 따라가세요. 그러면 역이 나와요 (Follow the road. Then you will come to the station). In conversation it is very often shortened to 그럼 (geureom): 그럼 저는 갈게요 (Well then, I'll go).
English "then" does several jobs at once, and Korean gives each its own word. That is why this lesson has a family of neighbours: - 그러면 / 그럼 (geureomyeon / geureom): then, in that case, if so. A conclusion drawn from a condition. - 그때 (geuttae): then, at that time. A point in time, past or future: 그때 저는 어렸어요 (I was little then). - 그다음에 (geudaeume): then, next, after that. Plain order of events. - 그리고 (geurigo): and, and then. Adds or continues. - 그러고 나서 (geureogo naseo): and then, after doing that. - 그러자 (geureoja): and then, whereupon. One thing follows at once from another, in narrative. - 그제야 (geujeya): only then, not until then.
The whole family grows from one root. 그 (geu) is the demonstrative "that," and 그러- means "to be so, to be that way." 그러면 is 그러- + the conditional ending -(으)면, literally "if it is that way." The same root gives 그래서 (and so), 그러나 (but), 그리고 (and), 그렇게 (like that), 그런 (that kind of) and 그러니까 (so, therefore). Once you see 그, a large part of Korean connecting words stops looking like separate things to be memorised.
Because 그러면 means "if so," it is usually followed by a decision, a question, a request or a suggestion: 그러면 갈까요? (Then shall we go?), 그러면 이거 주세요 (Then please give me this one). It is not the word for "and then" in a list of events. For that, use 그다음에 or 그리고.
Script note: 그러면 is three syllable blocks. 그 = ㄱ + ㅡ; 러 = ㄹ + ㅓ; 면 = ㅁ + ㅕ + ㄴ, with ㄴ as the final consonant (받침). In the short form 그럼, the last block 면 folds into a single ㅁ written under 러: 럼 = ㄹ + ㅓ + ㅁ.
Key Takeaways: - 그러면 (geureomyeon): then, in that case, if so. Spoken short form: 그럼 (geureom) - 그러면 안 돼요: that will not do, you must not do that - 그럼요! (geureomyo): of course! - 그때 (geuttae): then, at that time; 그다음에 (geudaeume): then, next; 그리고 (geurigo): and - 그러자 (geureoja): and then, whereupon; 그제야 (geujeya): only then - 그렇다면 (geureotamyeon): if that is the case, more deliberate than 그러면 - The 그- family: 그래서, 그러나, 그리고, 그렇게, 그런, 그러니까
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52.1a 그러면 then 갈까요 shall-we-go
52.1b geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then galkkayo (GAL-kka-yo) go-SHALL-WE.POLITE
52.2a 그러면 then 이거 this-one 주세요 please-give
52.2b geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then igeo (EE-guh) this-thing juseyo (JOO-seh-yo) give-HONORIFIC.REQUEST
52.3a 그러면 if-so 안 not 돼요 becomes
52.3b geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) if-so an (AN) not dwaeyo (DWEH-yo) become-POLITE
52.4a 그러면 then 내일 tomorrow 봐요 see
52.4b geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then naeil (NEH-il) tomorrow bwayo (BWAH-yo) see-POLITE
52.5a 그럼 then 저는 I 갈게요 will-go
52.5b geureom (GEU-ruhm) then.SHORT jeoneun (JUH-neun) I-HUMBLE.TOP galgeyo (GAL-geh-yo) go-PROMISE.POLITE
52.6a 배고파요 hungry 그러면 then 빵을 bread 먹어요 eat
52.6b baegopayo (BEH-go-pa-yo) hungry-POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then ppangeul (PPANG-eul) bread-OBJ meogeoyo (MUH-guh-yo) eat-POLITE
52.7a 길을 road 따라가세요 please-follow 그러면 then 역이 station 나와요 comes-out
52.7b gireul (GEE-reul) road-OBJ ttaragaseyo (TTA-ra-ga-seh-yo) follow-HONORIFIC.POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then yeogi (YUH-gee) station-SUBJ nawayo (NA-wa-yo) come-out-POLITE
52.8a 약을 medicine 드세요 please-take 그러면 then 곧 soon 나을 will-recover 거예요 thing-is
52.8b yageul (YA-geul) medicine-OBJ deuseyo (DEU-seh-yo) take-HONORIFIC.POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then got (GOT) soon naeul (NA-eul) recover-PROSPECTIVE geoyeyo (GUH-yeh-yo) thing-COP.POLITE
52.9a 그러면 then 몇 what-number 시에 at-o'clock 출발해요 depart
52.9b geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then myeot (MYUHT) how-many sie (SHEE-eh) hour-LOC chulbalhaeyo (CHOOL-bal-heh-yo) depart-POLITE
52.10a 우리는 we 그러면 then 어디에서 where-at 만나요 meet
52.10b urineun (OO-ri-neun) we-TOP geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then eodieseo (UH-dee-eh-suh) where-AT mannayo (MAN-na-yo) meet-POLITE
52.11a 그러면 then 우리 we 저녁에 in-the-evening 같이 together 영화를 film 볼까요 shall-we-watch
52.11b geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then uri (OO-ri) we jeonyeoge (JUH-nyuh-geh) evening-LOC gachi (GA-chee) together yeonghwareul (YUHNG-hwa-reul) film-OBJ bolkkayo (BOL-kka-yo) watch-SHALL-WE.POLITE
52.12a 숙제를 homework 먼저 first 끝내세요 please-finish 그러면 then 놀아도 even-if-play 돼요 it-is-allowed
52.12b sukjereul (SOOK-jjeh-reul) homework-OBJ meonjeo (MUHN-juh) first kkeunnaeseyo (KKEUN-neh-seh-yo) finish-HONORIFIC.POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then norado (NO-ra-do) play-EVEN.IF dwaeyo (DWEH-yo) become-POLITE
52.13a 내일 tomorrow 비가 rain 오면 if-comes 어떻게 how 해요 do 그러면 then 집에서 at-home 책을 book 읽어요 read
52.13b naeil (NEH-il) tomorrow biga (BEE-ga) rain-SUBJ omyeon (OH-myuhn) come-IF eotteoke (UH-ttuh-keh) how haeyo (HEH-yo) do-POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then jibeseo (JEE-beh-suh) home-AT chaegeul (CHEK-geul) book-OBJ ilgeoyo (IL-guh-yo) read-POLITE
52.14a 그 that 사람이 person 정말 really 그렇게 like-that 말했어요 said 그러면 then 제가 I 직접 directly 물어볼게요 will-ask-and-see
52.14b geu (GEU) that sarami (SA-ra-mee) person-SUBJ jeongmal (JUHNG-mal) really geureoke (GEU-ruh-keh) like-that malhaesseoyo (MAL-hess-suh-yo) say-PAST.POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then jega (JEH-ga) I-HUMBLE.SUBJ jikjeop (JIK-jjuhp) directly mureobolgeyo (MOO-ruh-bol-geh-yo) ask-TRY-PROMISE.POLITE
52.15a 먼저 first 손을 hands 씻고 washing 오세요 please-come 그러면 then 바로 straight-away 밥을 meal 먹을 eat-PROSPECTIVE 수 way 있어요 exists
52.15b meonjeo (MUHN-juh) first soneul (SO-neul) hand-OBJ ssitgo (SSIT-go) wash-AND oseyo (OH-seh-yo) come-HONORIFIC.POLITE geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then baro (BA-ro) directly bapeul (BA-peul) meal-OBJ meogeul (MUH-geul) eat-PROSPECTIVE su (SOO) means isseoyo (EESS-suh-yo) exist-POLITE
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52.1 그러면 갈까요? (geureomyeon galkkayo?) "Then shall we go?" 52.2 그러면 이거 주세요. (geureomyeon igeo juseyo) "Then I'll take this one, please." 52.3 그러면 안 돼요. (geureomyeon an dwaeyo) "You mustn't do that." (literally: "if you do so, it will not do") 52.4 그러면 내일 봐요. (geureomyeon naeil bwayo) "Then see you tomorrow." 52.5 그럼 저는 갈게요. (geureom jeoneun galgeyo) "Well then, I'll go." 52.6 배고파요? 그러면 빵을 먹어요. (baegopayo? geureomyeon ppangeul meogeoyo) "Are you hungry? Then have some bread." 52.7 길을 따라가세요. 그러면 역이 나와요. (gireul ttaragaseyo. geureomyeon yeogi nawayo) "Follow the road. Then you'll come to the station." 52.8 약을 드세요. 그러면 곧 나을 거예요. (yageul deuseyo. geureomyeon got naeul geoyeyo) "Take the medicine. Then you'll soon get better." 52.9 그러면 몇 시에 출발해요? (geureomyeon myeot sie chulbalhaeyo?) "Then what time do we set off?" 52.10 우리는 그러면 어디에서 만나요? (urineun geureomyeon eodieseo mannayo?) "Then where shall we meet?" 52.11 그러면 우리 저녁에 같이 영화를 볼까요? (geureomyeon uri jeonyeoge gachi yeonghwareul bolkkayo?) "Then shall we watch a film together this evening?" 52.12 숙제를 먼저 끝내세요. 그러면 놀아도 돼요. (sukjereul meonjeo kkeunnaeseyo. geureomyeon norado dwaeyo) "Finish your homework first. Then you may play." 52.13 내일 비가 오면 어떻게 해요? 그러면 집에서 책을 읽어요. (naeil biga omyeon eotteoke haeyo? geureomyeon jibeseo chaegeul ilgeoyo) "What shall we do if it rains tomorrow?" "Then let's read at home." 52.14 그 사람이 정말 그렇게 말했어요? 그러면 제가 직접 물어볼게요. (geu sarami jeongmal geureoke malhaesseoyo? geureomyeon jega jikjeop mureobolgeyo) "Did that person really say so? Then I'll ask them myself." 52.15 먼저 손을 씻고 오세요. 그러면 바로 밥을 먹을 수 있어요. (meonjeo soneul ssitgo oseyo. geureomyeon baro bapeul meogeul su isseoyo) "Go and wash your hands first. Then you can eat straight away."
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52.1 그러면 갈까요? 52.2 그러면 이거 주세요. 52.3 그러면 안 돼요. 52.4 그러면 내일 봐요. 52.5 그럼 저는 갈게요. 52.6 배고파요? 그러면 빵을 먹어요. 52.7 길을 따라가세요. 그러면 역이 나와요. 52.8 약을 드세요. 그러면 곧 나을 거예요. 52.9 그러면 몇 시에 출발해요? 52.10 우리는 그러면 어디에서 만나요? 52.11 그러면 우리 저녁에 같이 영화를 볼까요? 52.12 숙제를 먼저 끝내세요. 그러면 놀아도 돼요. 52.13 내일 비가 오면 어떻게 해요? 그러면 집에서 책을 읽어요. 52.14 그 사람이 정말 그렇게 말했어요? 그러면 제가 직접 물어볼게요. 52.15 먼저 손을 씻고 오세요. 그러면 바로 밥을 먹을 수 있어요.
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These are the grammar rules for 그러면 (geureomyeon), "then."
How 그러면 is built. 그러- is the stem of 그러하다 / 그렇다 ("to be so, to be that way") and -(으)면 is the conditional ending "if." So 그러면 is "if it is so," and the sentence it opens is the consequence. Because the stem of 그렇다 ends in ㅎ, the ㅎ falls away before endings such as -(으)면, -(으)ㄴ and -아/어, and no 으 is added, which is why we have 그러면 and not \*그렇으면. Forms you will meet: - 그러면 (geureomyeon): then, in that case. Neutral, and the form to write. - 그럼 (geureom): the spoken short form. It is the usual form in conversation and on screen. - 그렇다면 (geureotamyeon): if that is the case, if so. More deliberate. It weighs the claim that has just been made, and is common in argument and reasoning. - 그럼요 (geureomyo): of course! A reply, with a different job from the sentence-opening 그럼. - 그러면 안 돼요 (geureomyeon an dwaeyo): you must not do that.
What 그러면 takes up. 그러면 points back at what has just been said, whether by the speaker (52.7: the instruction about the road) or by someone else (52.13: the question about rain, answered by 그러면 …). Where English says "in that case" or "if so," Korean says 그러면. It usually opens its sentence, but it can follow the topic (52.10: 우리는 그러면 …).
What follows 그러면. Any sentence type that answers a condition: a question (52.1, 52.9), a request (52.2), a suggestion (52.4, 52.13), a promise (52.5, 52.14), a statement of what will happen (52.7, 52.8) or permission (52.12).
그러면 vs -(으)면 on a verb. The ending -(으)면 puts the condition inside one sentence: 비가 오면 집에서 책을 읽어요 (if it rains, we'll read at home). 그러면 is the same thought spread over two sentences, so the condition can be said by someone else: 내일 비가 와요. — 그러면 집에서 책을 읽어요 (Tomorrow it will rain. — Then let's read at home).
-(으)면 안 되다, "must not." In 52.3, 그러면 안 돼요 is a set phrase: -(으)면 안 되다 (it will not do if …) is the usual way to forbid. With 그러면 it means "you can't do it that way." The permission pattern is -아/어도 되다, "may": 놀아도 돼요 (52.12).
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다, "can." 먹을 수 있어요 (52.15) is the verb 먹다 + -ㄹ + 수 (way) + 있어요 (there is): "there is a way to eat," that is, "can eat."
The neighbours, and where each takes over: - 그때 (geuttae): a point in time. 그때 저는 어렸어요 (I was little then). 그때 가요 would mean "I'll go at that time," not "then let's go." - 그다음에 (geudaeume): order in a series. 먼저 밥을 먹고, 그다음에 커피를 마셔요 (first we eat, then we have coffee). - 그리고 (geurigo): and. 그리고 may also carry the sense of "and then," without any condition. - 그러고 나서 (geureogo naseo): after doing that. 밥을 먹어요. 그러고 나서 산책해요 (we eat. After that we go for a walk). - 그러자 (geureoja): at once after the thing before it, in a story: 내가 웃자 그도 웃었다 (I laughed, whereupon he laughed too). - 그제야 (geujeya): only then, not before. 그제야 알았어요 (only then did I understand). - 그래서 (geuraeseo): and so, a fact followed by its result. 열심히 공부했어요. 그래서 시험을 잘 봤어요 (I studied hard. So I did well in the exam). - 그러니까 (geureonikka): so, therefore, as the speaker's reasoning: 그러니까 일찍 자세요 (so go to bed early).
Common Mistakes: - Using 그러면 for plain sequence. 먼저 밥을 먹었어요. 그러면 집에 갔어요 does not mean "I ate, and then went home." It would mean "I ate; in that case, I went home." Use 그다음에, 그리고 or 그러고 나서. - Using 그러면 for fact followed by result. 열심히 공부했어요. \*그러면 시험을 잘 봤어요 is wrong. Say 그래서. 그러면 needs a condition, 그래서 needs a cause. - Using 그때 for "in that case." 그때 가요 is "I'll go then (at that time)." For "Then let's go," say 그러면 가요 or 그러면 갈까요? - Writing 그럼 in a formal document. In reports, essays and notices, write 그러면 or 그렇다면. - Taking 그럼요 for "then." 그럼요 is a reply meaning "of course," and does not begin a new sentence like 그럼.
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그럼요! (Of course!) is one of the commonest warm replies in Korean. Asked whether one will help, whether the food is good, whether one remembers, a Korean answers 그럼요, and speakers among friends often say 그럼, 그럼, nodding, to show agreement.
그럼 이만 (geureom iman) is how conversations, phone calls and letters are brought to an end: 그럼 이만 줄이겠습니다 (well then, I will stop here) closes a polite letter, and 그럼 또 봐요 (well then, see you again) closes a meeting. The same 그럼 that draws a conclusion here draws the line under the conversation.
그러면 그렇지 (geureomyeon geureochi) or 그럼 그렇지 is said when a thing turns out just as one feared it would: "Figures!", "I might have known." A bus that comes only when you have stopped waiting, a shop that is shut on the one day you go, call for it.
그때 (geuttae) carries nostalgia as well as time. 그때가 좋았지 (those were the days) and 그때 그 시절 (those days, that time) are what people say when they remember their school years or an earlier Korea.
Register: 그러면 is neutral and safe at every level of speech and in writing. 그럼 belongs to speech, among friends and colleagues and on television. 그렇다면 is for argument and for writing.
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김소월 (Kim Sowol, 1902–1934), 〈먼 후일〉 — "Far-off Day," collected in 《진달래꽃》 (Azaleas), 1925
The whole poem, in modern spelling:
먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면 그때에 내 말이 '잊었노라'
당신이 속으로 나무라면 '무척 그리다가 잊었노라'
그래도 당신이 나무라면 '믿기지 않아서 잊었노라'
오늘도 어제도 아니 잊고 먼 훗날 그때에 '잊었노라'
F-A: Interlinear
F.1a 먼 far 훗날 future-day 당신이 you 찾으시면 if-seek
F.1b meon (MUHN) far-ADNOMINAL hunnal (HOON-nal) later-day dangsini (DANG-shi-nee) you.BELOVED-SUBJ chajeusimyeon (CHA-jeu-shi-myuhn) seek-HONORIFIC-IF
F.2a 그때에 at-that-time 내 my 말이 words 잊었노라 forgot
F.2b geuttae-e (GEU-tteh-eh) that-time-LOC nae (NEH) I-GEN mari (MA-ree) word-SUBJ ijeonnora (EE-juhn-no-ra) forget-PAST-DECLARATIVE.LITERARY
F.3a 당신이 you 속으로 inwardly 나무라면 if-reproach
F.3b dangsini (DANG-shi-nee) you.BELOVED-SUBJ sogeuro (SO-geu-ro) inside-INSTR namuramyeon (NA-moo-ra-myuhn) reproach-IF
F.4a 무척 very-much 그리다가 yearning-and-then 잊었노라 forgot
F.4b muchuk (MOO-chuk) very-much geuridaga (GEU-ri-da-ga) yearn-and-then ijeonnora (EE-juhn-no-ra) forget-PAST-DECLARATIVE.LITERARY
F.5a 그래도 even-so 당신이 you 나무라면 if-reproach
F.5b geuraedo (GEU-reh-do) even-so dangsini (DANG-shi-nee) you.BELOVED-SUBJ namuramyeon (NA-moo-ra-myuhn) reproach-IF
F.6a 믿기지 be-believed 않아서 not-because 잊었노라 forgot
F.6b mitgiji (MIT-gi-ji) believe-PASSIVE-NEG.CONN anaseo (A-na-suh) not-BECAUSE ijeonnora (EE-juhn-no-ra) forget-PAST-DECLARATIVE.LITERARY
F.7a 오늘도 today-too 어제도 yesterday-too 아니 not 잊고 forgetting
F.7b oneuldo (O-neul-do) today-ALSO eojedo (UH-je-do) yesterday-ALSO ani (A-ni) not itgo (IT-go) forget-AND
F.8a 먼 far 훗날 future-day 그때에 at-that-time 잊었노라 forgot
F.8b meon (MUHN) far-ADNOMINAL hunnal (HOON-nal) later-day geuttae-e (GEU-tteh-eh) that-time-LOC ijeonnora (EE-juhn-no-ra) forget-PAST-DECLARATIVE.LITERARY
F-B: Original and Translation
먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면 / 그때에 내 말이 '잊었노라' / 당신이 속으로 나무라면 / '무척 그리다가 잊었노라' / 그래도 당신이 나무라면 / '믿기지 않아서 잊었노라' / 오늘도 어제도 아니 잊고 / 먼 훗날 그때에 '잊었노라'
"If in some far-off day you come to look for me, / then my words will be 'I have forgotten.' / If in your heart you reproach me, / 'I forgot, from yearning so much.' / If still you reproach me, / 'I forgot, for I could not believe it.' / Not forgetting today, nor yesterday, / in that far-off day, then: 'I have forgotten.'" (Translation: Latinum Institute.)
F-C: Original
먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면 그때에 내 말이 '잊었노라' 당신이 속으로 나무라면 '무척 그리다가 잊었노라' 그래도 당신이 나무라면 '믿기지 않아서 잊었노라' 오늘도 어제도 아니 잊고 먼 훗날 그때에 '잊었노라'
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
The text of 1925 is printed in the spelling of its day, and the lines read: 먼훗날 당신이 차즈시면 / … 내말이 「니젓노라」 / 당신이 속으로나무리면 / 「뭇쳑그리다가 니젓노라」 / 그래도 당신이 나무리면 / 「밋기지안어서 니젓노라」 / 오늘도어제도 아니닛고 / 먼훗날 … 「니젓노라」. The text above keeps the words and modernises the spelling and spacing (차즈시면 → 찾으시면, 니젓노라 → 잊었노라, 나무리면 → 나무라면, 뭇쳑 → 무척, 밋기지안어서 → 믿기지 않아서). The title 〈먼 후일〉 is written 먼 後日 in the 1925 book, with 後日 (후일) "a later day"; the first line has 먼 훗날.
The poem is built on three conditions in -(으)면 (찾으시면, 나무라면, 나무라면), each answered by the same line, '잊었노라'. This is exactly the pattern of the lesson: if so, then so. Yet the poem does not use 그러면. It uses 그때에, "at that time," and the "then" it wants is the day itself, the far-off day on which the beloved will come, and not a conclusion from an argument. The two words divide the work: 그때 fixes a day, 그러면 draws the consequence. Try both ways: 그때에 내 말이 … is "on that day my words will be …," while 그러면 내 말이 … would be "in that case my words will be …," a reply to an argument. The poem names the day.
-노라 is a literary first-person ending of declaration, now found only in poems, in old-style writing and in translations of the old texts: 잊었노라 is "I did forget" or "I have forgotten," with the solemn flavour of a statement for the record. 그리다 here is 그리워하다, "to long for, to yearn" (and not "to draw"). 당신 is "you," used of someone close or loved, and in poetry of the beloved.
Commentators read 잊었노라 as irony: "I have forgotten" means "I have not forgotten." The more reasons the speaker gives (yearning, disbelief), the less believable the denial becomes. The conditional grammar carries it: the denial is rehearsed three times for a day that has not yet come.
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Jiho comes home late at night and cannot find the key. The narrative is in the plain written style (-ㄴ다 / -다) and in the present tense, as in the previous lessons. Every sentence carries a "then" word from this lesson: 그러면, 그럼, 그때, 그러자, 그제야 or 그러고 나서.
52.16a 지호가 Jiho 집 house 앞에 in-front-of 선다 stands 열쇠가 key 없다 isn't 그러면 then 어디에 where 있을까 might-it-be
52.16b jihoga (JEE-ho-ga) Jiho-SUBJ jip (JIP) house ape (A-peh) front-LOC seonda (SUHN-da) stand-PLAIN yeolsoega (YUHL-sweh-ga) key-SUBJ eopda (UHP-da) not-exist-PLAIN geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then eodie (UH-dee-eh) where-LOC isseulkka (EESS-seul-kka) exist-WONDER.PLAIN
52.17a 가방을 bag 뒤진다 rummages 휴대폰은 phone 있다 is 그럼 then 동생에게 to-younger-sibling 전화하면 if-phones 된다 will-do
52.17b gabangeul (GA-bang-eul) bag-OBJ dwijinda (DWEE-jin-da) rummage-PLAIN hyudaeponeun (HYOO-deh-po-neun) phone-TOP itda (EET-da) exist-PLAIN geureom (GEU-ruhm) then.SHORT dongsaengege (DONG-saeng-eh-geh) younger-sibling-DAT jeonhwahamyeon (JUHN-hwa-ha-myuhn) phone-IF doenda (DWEN-da) become-PLAIN
52.18a 신호가 signal 간다 goes 그때 that-time 문 door 안에서 inside-from 벨 bell 소리가 sound 난다 arises
52.18b sinhoga (SHEEN-ho-ga) signal-SUBJ ganda (GAN-da) go-PLAIN geuttae (GEU-tteh) that-time mun (MOON) door aneseo (A-neh-suh) inside-AT bel (BEL) bell soriga (SO-ri-ga) sound-SUBJ nanda (NAN-da) arise-PLAIN
52.19a 아무도 anyone-even 받지 receive 않는다 not 그러면 then 동생은 younger-sibling 자는 sleeping 걸까 is-it-that
52.19b amudo (A-moo-do) anyone-EVEN batji (BAT-jji) receive-NEG.CONN anneunda (AN-neun-da) not-PLAIN geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then dongsaengeun (DONG-saeng-eun) younger-sibling-TOP janeun (JA-neun) sleep-ADNOMINAL geolkka (GUHL-kka) thing-WONDER.PLAIN
52.20a 지호는 Jiho 문을 door 세게 hard 두드린다 knocks 그러면 then 동생이 younger-sibling 일어날지도 might-get-up 모른다 not-know
52.20b jihoneun (JEE-ho-neun) Jiho-TOP muneul (MOO-neul) door-OBJ sege (SEH-geh) hard dudeurinda (DOO-deu-rin-da) knock-PLAIN geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then dongsaengi (DONG-saeng-ee) younger-sibling-SUBJ ireonaljido (EE-ruh-nal-jee-do) get-up-MAYBE moreunda (MO-reun-da) not-know-PLAIN
52.21a 한참 a-good-while 뒤에 after 안에서 inside-from 발소리가 footsteps 들린다 are-heard 그러자 whereupon 문이 door 천천히 slowly 열린다 opens
52.21b hancham (HAN-cham) a-good-while dwie (DWEE-eh) after-LOC aneseo (A-neh-suh) inside-AT balsoriga (BAL-sso-ri-ga) footstep-SUBJ deullinda (DEUL-lin-da) be-heard-PLAIN geureoja (GEU-ruh-ja) whereupon muni (MOO-nee) door-SUBJ cheoncheonhi (CHUHN-chuhn-hee) slowly yeollinda (YUHL-lin-da) be-opened-PLAIN
52.22a 동생이 younger-sibling 하품을 yawn 하며 doing 묻는다 asks 그럼 then 열쇠는 key 어디 where 있는데 is-I-ask
52.22b dongsaengi (DONG-saeng-ee) younger-sibling-SUBJ hapumeul (HA-poo-meul) yawn-OBJ hamyeo (HA-myuh) do-WHILE mutneunda (MUN-neun-da) ask-PLAIN geureom (GEU-ruhm) then.SHORT yeolsoeneun (YUHL-sweh-neun) key-TOP eodi (UH-dee) where inneunde (IN-neun-deh) exist-CIRCUMSTANTIAL
52.23a 지호가 Jiho 주머니에 in-pocket 손을 hand 넣는다 puts 그때 that-time 손끝에 at-fingertips 차가운 cold 것이 thing 닿는다 touches
52.23b jihoga (JEE-ho-ga) Jiho-SUBJ jumeonie (JOO-muh-nee-eh) pocket-LOC soneul (SO-neul) hand-OBJ neonneunda (NUHN-neun-da) put-in-PLAIN geuttae (GEU-tteh) that-time sonkkeute (SON-kkeu-teh) fingertip-LOC chagaun (CHA-ga-oon) cold-ADNOMINAL geosi (GUH-shee) thing-SUBJ danneunda (DAN-neun-da) touch-PLAIN
52.24a 열쇠다 it's-the-key 그러면 then 처음부터 from-the-start 주머니에 in-pocket 있었다는 that-it-was 말이다 is-the-meaning
52.24b yeolsoeda (YUHL-sweh-da) key-COP.PLAIN geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then cheoeumbuteo (CHUH-eum-boo-tuh) first-from jumeonie (JOO-muh-nee-eh) pocket-LOC isseotdaneun (EESS-sseot-da-neun) exist-PAST-QUOTATIVE.ADNOMINAL marida (MA-ri-da) words-COP.PLAIN
52.25a 지호는 Jiho 혼자 alone 웃는다 laughs 그러자 whereupon 동생도 younger-sibling-too 따라 following 웃는다 laughs
52.25b jihoneun (JEE-ho-neun) Jiho-TOP honja (HON-ja) alone unneunda (UN-neun-da) laugh-PLAIN geureoja (GEU-ruh-ja) whereupon dongsaengdo (DONG-saeng-do) younger-sibling-ALSO ttara (TTA-ra) follow-CONN unneunda (UN-neun-da) laugh-PLAIN
52.26a 동생이 younger-sibling 말한다 says 그럼 then 들어와 come-in 늦었으니까 since-it's-late 빨리 quickly 자자 let's-sleep
52.26b dongsaengi (DONG-saeng-ee) younger-sibling-SUBJ malhanda (MAL-han-da) say-PLAIN geureom (GEU-ruhm) then.SHORT deureowa (DEU-ruh-wa) come-in-INFORMAL neujeosseunikka (NEU-juhss-eu-nik-kka) be-late-PAST-SINCE ppalli (PPAL-li) quickly jaja (JA-ja) sleep-LET'S.INFORMAL
52.27a 지호는 Jiho 신발을 shoes 벗고 taking-off 그제야 only-then 배가 stomach 고프다는 that-is-hungry 것을 fact 깨닫는다 realises
52.27b jihoneun (JEE-ho-neun) Jiho-TOP sinbareul (SHEEN-ba-reul) shoe-OBJ beotgo (BUHT-kko) take-off-AND geujeya (GEU-jeh-ya) only-then baega (BEH-ga) stomach-SUBJ gopeudaneun (GO-peu-da-neun) be-hungry-QUOTATIVE.ADNOMINAL geoseul (GUH-seul) thing-OBJ kkaedanneunda (KKEH-dan-neun-da) realise-PLAIN
52.28a 찬장에는 in-cupboard 라면이 instant-noodles 하나 one 남아 remaining 있다 exist 그러면 then 오늘 today 밤은 night 그것으로 with-that 충분하다 is-enough
52.28b chanjangeneun (CHAN-jang-eh-neun) cupboard-LOC.TOP ramyeoni (RA-myuh-nee) ramyeon-SUBJ hana (HA-na) one nama (NA-ma) remain-CONN itda (EET-da) exist-PLAIN geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then oneul (O-neul) today bameun (BA-meun) night-TOP geugeoseuro (GEU-guh-seu-ro) that-thing-INSTR chungbunhada (CHOONG-boon-ha-da) be-enough-PLAIN
52.29a 물이 water 끓는다 boils 그러면 then 면을 noodles 넣을 put-in-PROSPECTIVE 차례다 turn-is
52.29b muri (MOO-ree) water-SUBJ kkeulneunda (KKEUL-leun-da) boil-PLAIN geureomyeon (GEU-ruh-myuhn) then myeoneul (MYUH-neul) noodle-OBJ neoeul (NUH-eul) put-in-PROSPECTIVE charyeda (CHA-ryuh-da) turn-COP.PLAIN
52.30a 지호는 Jiho 라면을 ramyeon 먹는다 eats 그러고 doing-so 나서 having-finished 열쇠를 key 책상 desk 위에 on 올려 placing 놓는다 puts
52.30b jihoneun (JEE-ho-neun) Jiho-TOP ramyeoneul (RA-myuh-neul) ramyeon-OBJ meongneunda (MUNG-neun-da) eat-PLAIN geureogo (GEU-ruh-go) do-so-AND naseo (NA-suh) having-finished-AFTER yeolsoereul (YUHL-sweh-reul) key-OBJ chaeksang (CHEK-sang) desk wie (WEE-eh) top-LOC ollyeo (OL-lyuh) raise-CONN notneunda (NON-neun-da) put-PLAIN
52.16 지호가 집 앞에 선다. 열쇠가 없다. 그러면 어디에 있을까? (jihoga jip ape seonda. yeolsoega eopda. geureomyeon eodie isseulkka?) "Jiho stands in front of the house. The key isn't there. Then where can it be?" 52.17 가방을 뒤진다. 휴대폰은 있다. 그럼 동생에게 전화하면 된다. (gabangeul dwijinda. hyudaeponeun itda. geureom dongsaengege jeonhwahamyeon doenda.) "He rummages in his bag. The phone is there at least. Then he can just phone his younger sibling." 52.18 신호가 간다. 그때 문 안에서 벨 소리가 난다. (sinhoga ganda. geuttae mun aneseo bel soriga nanda.) "The call goes through. Then, from inside the door, a ringtone sounds." 52.19 아무도 받지 않는다. 그러면 동생은 자는 걸까? (amudo batji anneunda. geureomyeon dongsaengeun janeun geolkka?) "Nobody answers. Then is the sibling asleep?" 52.20 지호는 문을 세게 두드린다. 그러면 동생이 일어날지도 모른다. (jihoneun muneul sege dudeurinda. geureomyeon dongsaengi ireonaljido moreunda.) "Jiho knocks hard on the door. Then perhaps the sibling will get up." 52.21 한참 뒤에 안에서 발소리가 들린다. 그러자 문이 천천히 열린다. (hancham dwie aneseo balsoriga deullinda. geureoja muni cheoncheonhi yeollinda.) "After a good while, footsteps are heard inside. Whereupon the door slowly opens." 52.22 동생이 하품을 하며 묻는다. "그럼 열쇠는 어디 있는데?" (dongsaengi hapumeul hamyeo mutneunda. geureom yeolsoeneun eodi inneunde?) "Yawning, the sibling asks, 'Then where is the key?'" 52.23 지호가 주머니에 손을 넣는다. 그때 손끝에 차가운 것이 닿는다. (jihoga jumeonie soneul neonneunda. geuttae sonkkeute chagaun geosi danneunda.) "Jiho puts a hand in his pocket. Then something cold touches his fingertips." 52.24 열쇠다. 그러면 처음부터 주머니에 있었다는 말이다. (yeolsoeda. geureomyeon cheoeumbuteo jumeonie isseotdaneun marida.) "It's the key. Then it was in his pocket from the start." 52.25 지호는 혼자 웃는다. 그러자 동생도 따라 웃는다. (jihoneun honja unneunda. geureoja dongsaengdo ttara unneunda.) "Jiho laughs to himself. Whereupon the sibling laughs along." 52.26 동생이 말한다. "그럼 들어와. 늦었으니까 빨리 자자." (dongsaengi malhanda. geureom deureowa. neujeosseunikka ppalli jaja.) "The sibling says, 'Then come in. It's late, so let's get to sleep quickly.'" 52.27 지호는 신발을 벗고 그제야 배가 고프다는 것을 깨닫는다. (jihoneun sinbareul beotgo geujeya baega gopeudaneun geoseul kkaedanneunda.) "Jiho takes off his shoes, and only then realises that he is hungry." 52.28 찬장에는 라면이 하나 남아 있다. 그러면 오늘 밤은 그것으로 충분하다. (chanjangeneun ramyeoni hana nama itda. geureomyeon oneul bameun geugeoseuro chungbunhada.) "There is one packet of ramyeon left in the cupboard. Then that is enough for tonight." 52.29 물이 끓는다. 그러면 면을 넣을 차례다. (muri kkeulneunda. geureomyeon myeoneul neoeul charyeda.) "The water boils. Then it is time to put in the noodles." 52.30 지호는 라면을 먹는다. 그러고 나서 열쇠를 책상 위에 올려 놓는다. (jihoneun ramyeoneul meongneunda. geureogo naseo yeolsoereul chaeksang wie ollyeo notneunda.) "Jiho eats the ramyeon. And then he puts the key on the desk."
52.16 지호가 집 앞에 선다. 열쇠가 없다. 그러면 어디에 있을까? 52.17 가방을 뒤진다. 휴대폰은 있다. 그럼 동생에게 전화하면 된다. 52.18 신호가 간다. 그때 문 안에서 벨 소리가 난다. 52.19 아무도 받지 않는다. 그러면 동생은 자는 걸까? 52.20 지호는 문을 세게 두드린다. 그러면 동생이 일어날지도 모른다. 52.21 한참 뒤에 안에서 발소리가 들린다. 그러자 문이 천천히 열린다. 52.22 동생이 하품을 하며 묻는다. "그럼 열쇠는 어디 있는데?" 52.23 지호가 주머니에 손을 넣는다. 그때 손끝에 차가운 것이 닿는다. 52.24 열쇠다. 그러면 처음부터 주머니에 있었다는 말이다. 52.25 지호는 혼자 웃는다. 그러자 동생도 따라 웃는다. 52.26 동생이 말한다. "그럼 들어와. 늦었으니까 빨리 자자." 52.27 지호는 신발을 벗고 그제야 배가 고프다는 것을 깨닫는다. 52.28 찬장에는 라면이 하나 남아 있다. 그러면 오늘 밤은 그것으로 충분하다. 52.29 물이 끓는다. 그러면 면을 넣을 차례다. 52.30 지호는 라면을 먹는다. 그러고 나서 열쇠를 책상 위에 올려 놓는다.
Inner questions in the plain style (-을까, -는 걸까). In 52.16 and 52.19 Jiho asks himself a question, and the narrator reports it in the plain style: 있을까? (could it be?), 자는 걸까? (is it that the sibling is asleep?). -(으)ㄹ까 wonders about a possibility; -는 걸까 wonders about a state of things that is already so. 그러면 sets the question as a consequence: "so then, where?"
그러면 inside a thought (52.17, 52.20, 52.24, 52.28, 52.29). In each of these 그러면 / 그럼 is the character's reasoning: the key is missing, then call; the knock is hard, then perhaps the sibling will wake; it is the key, then it was in the pocket all along; there is one packet of ramyeon, then that will do. Narrative prose uses it exactly as speech does.
그때 and 그러자 (52.18, 52.21, 52.23, 52.25). 그때 marks the point on the clock at which something happens: "at that moment." 그러자 says that the second event follows at once from the first, as an answer to it: the footsteps are heard, whereupon the door opens; Jiho laughs, whereupon the sibling laughs. Neither asks for a condition, and neither can be replaced by 그러면.
그제야 (52.27), "only then." 그제야 means "not until that time"; it is related to 그때, with the particle 야 (only, not until). Jiho notices his hunger only when the trouble with the key is over. It is always used for something that took until that moment: 그제야 알았다 (only then did I understand).
-(으)면 되다 (52.17), "it is enough if …" 전화하면 된다 is "it will do if he phones," the usual way to say that one thing is all that is needed. 52.24 shows 있었다는 말이다 (it means that it was): a quoted clause, -다는, before 말이다 "it is the saying that," used to restate a discovery.
In the informal style (52.22, 52.26). The sibling speaks in the informal style without -요: 있는데? (where is it?), 들어와 (come in), 자자 (let's sleep). 늦었으니까 gives the reason: since it is late. 그럼 here is the sibling's way of saying "all right, then."
그러고 나서 (52.30), "and then." 그러고 is 그리하고 ("having done so") and 나서 "afterwards." With a plain sequence of acts, 그러고 나서 is the right choice, and 그러면 is not.
Plain-style endings. Verb stems take -ㄴ다 / -는다 (선다, 뒤진다, 웃는다, 먹는다); adjectives and the copula take -다 (없다, 충분하다, 열쇠다, 차례다). A final consonant is nasalised before the ㄴ of -는다: 웃는다 is pronounced [운는다], and 묻는다 [문는다].
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그러면 (geureomyeon) — IPA: /kɯ.ɾʌ.mjʌn/ — Three syllables, equal weight. ㄱ at the start of a word is lax, between a "g" and a "k" (the respellings write it G). ㄹ between vowels is a quick tap /ɾ/, like the middle of English "butter." ㅡ /ɯ/ is "oo" with spread lips; ㅓ /ʌ/ is open, like the vowel of "cup" with a rounded tinge; 면 ends in /n/. 그럼 (geureom) — IPA: /kɯ.ɾʌm/ — The last sound is a closed /m/. 그럼요 (geureomyo) — IPA: /kɯ.ɾʌm.mjo/ — The ㅁ of 럼 runs on into 요, which is pronounced [그럼묘]. 그때 (geuttae) — IPA: /kɯ.t͈ɛ/ — ㄸ is tense: no breath, a tight throat. 그러자 (geureoja) — IPA: /kɯ.ɾʌ.dʑa/ — ㅈ between vowels is voiced. 그제야 (geujeya) — IPA: /kɯ.dʑe.ja/. 그렇게 (geureoke) — IPA: /kɯ.ɾʌ.kʰe/ — written 그렇게 but pronounced [그러케]: ㅎ joins the following ㄱ to make an aspirated /kʰ/. 그렇다면 (geureotamyeon) — IPA: /kɯ.ɾʌ.tʰa.mjʌn/ — pronounced [그러타면], in the same way. 숙제 (sukje) — IPA: /suk̚.t͈ɕe/ — ㅈ after the final ㄱ is pronounced tense: [숙쩨]. 끝내세요 (kkeunnaeseyo) — IPA: /k͈ɯn.nɛ.se.jo/ — ㅌ becomes ㄴ before ㄴ: [끈내세요]. 있는데 (inneunde) — IPA: /in.nɯn.de/ — ㅆ before ㄴ is pronounced ㄴ: [인는데]. In the same way 웃는다 is [운는다], 닿는다 [단는다], 넣는다 [넌는다], 먹는다 [멍는다], 놓는다 [논는다]. 끓는다 (kkeulneunda) — IPA: /k͈ɯl.lɯn.da/ — The final cluster ㅀ loses its ㅎ, and ㄴ after ㄹ becomes ㄹ: [끌른다]. 잊었노라 (ijeonnora) — IPA: /i.dʑʌn.no.ɾa/ — ㅆ + ㄴ: [이전노라].
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