2 · Linking clauses, first steps
Because, so please: -(으)니까
the connective of reason and discovery
-(으)니까 gives a reason the listener is meant to accept, and it is the "because" that can come before a request.
After a vowel the ending is -니까 (가니까, 바쁘니까), after a consonant -으니까 (먹으니까, 많으니까). A stem in l loses its l and adds -니까: 살다 gives 사니까, 멀다 머니까, 알다 아니까. Irregular stems: 추우니까, 들으니까. With a noun: 일요일이니까, 친구니까. The past is possible: 왔으니까, 늦었으니까.
Like -아서/어서, it gives a reason, but it presents the reason as the speaker’s justification — often something the listener can see for themselves or ought to agree with. That is why it is the form for reasons followed by a request, an order or a suggestion: 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요, 늦었으니까 택시를 탑시다.
The same quality makes it wrong in apologies and thanks. 늦으니까 죄송합니다 sounds as if you were arguing that the lateness justified something; the apology wants 늦어서 죄송합니다. In plain statements both are possible, but -아서/어서 sounds more neutral and -(으)니까 more insistent.
A second meaning appears after your own action in the past: “when I did this, I found that …”. 집에 가니까 아무도 없었어요, “when I got home, there was nobody there”. The -(으)니까 clause stays in the present, and what follows is the discovery. With -아/어 보다 this is very common: 먹어 보니까 맛있었어요.
The form
| after a vowel | 바쁘다 → 바쁘니까 |
| after a consonant | 많다 → 많으니까 |
| the l drops | 멀다 → 머니까, 살다 → 사니까 |
| with a noun and 이다 | 주말이니까, 친구니까 |
| a reason in the past | 늦었으니까 |
| a discovery | 가 보니까 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
-니까 after a vowel, -으니까 after a consonant; a stem in l loses its l.
길이 머니까 일찍 출발하세요.It is a long way, so set off early.
Unlike -아서/어서, it may be followed by a request, an order or a suggestion.
날씨가 좋으니까 밖에 나갑시다.The weather is nice, so let's go out.
The reason may be in the past.
벌써 늦었으니까 택시를 탑시다.It is already late, so let's take a taxi.
After your own action, it can introduce what you found.
문을 여니까 고양이가 있었어요.When I opened the door, there was a cat.
A closer look
The short form -(으)니 and 그러니까
In writing, in proverbs and in some set phrases the ending appears without 까: -(으)니. It means the same and sounds more literary.
At the start of a sentence, 그러니까 means “so, that is why”, and it keeps the arguing tone: 내일 시험이 있어요. 그러니까 오늘은 일찍 자야 해요. In conversation it is also a filler, “I mean”, used to restate something more clearly.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the stem ends in l, as in 살다, 멀다, 만들다 or 알다
the l drops: 사니까, 머니까, 만드니까, 아니까.
제가 그 길을 아니까 따라오세요.I know the way, so follow me.
A stem-final l disappears before n, and -니까 begins with n.
How to spot it
- -(으)니까
- -(으)세요
- -(으)ㅂ시다
- -아/어 보니까
Example sentences
지금은 바쁘니까 나중에 전화할게요.I am busy now, so I will ring you later.
이 영화는 재미있으니까 꼭 보세요.This film is good, so be sure to see it.
오늘은 일요일이니까 은행이 문을 안 열어요.Today is Sunday, so the banks are closed.
시간이 없으니까 빨리 갑시다.We have no time, so let's hurry.
집에 도착하니까 열한 시였어요.When I got home, it was eleven o'clock.
먹어 보니까 생각보다 맛있었어요.When I tried it, it was tastier than I expected.
8 more example sentences
날씨가 추우니까 따뜻하게 입으세요.It is cold, so dress warmly.
저는 매운 음식을 못 먹으니까 덜 맵게 해 주세요.I cannot eat spicy food, so please make it less spicy.
내일은 주말이니까 늦게 일어나도 돼요.Tomorrow is the weekend, so you can get up late.
아이가 자니까 조용히 하세요.The child is sleeping, so please be quiet.
숙제를 다 했으니까 이제 게임을 해도 돼요.You have done all your homework, so now you can play games.
밖에 나가니까 눈이 오고 있었어요.When I went outside, it was snowing.
버스가 안 오니까 걸어갑시다.The bus is not coming, so let's walk.
직접 만나 보니까 아주 친절한 사람이었어요.When I met him in person, he turned out to be very kind.
Worth knowing (1)
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The reason afterwards: -(으)니까요
In conversation the reason often comes after the main point, as a sentence of its own ending in -(으)니까요: 우산 가져가세요. 비가 오니까요. It sounds like “… you see” or “… because”.
오늘은 일찍 갈게요. 내일 시험이 있으니까요.I will leave early today. I have an exam tomorrow, you see.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-(으)니까 presents the reason as an argument, so before an apology it sounds as if you were defending yourself. Thanks and apologies take -아서/어서, which simply states the cause.
Nikka argues: "please" and "let's" can follow it, but "sorry" cannot.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.