Learn Korean: Active Verb + 다니까

Let’s take a look at the pattern Active Verb + 다니까요. Have you ever found yourself in a situation wherein no matter how many times you say something or how much you try to convince someone, he does something that suggests he wasn’t paying attention to you when you said it. For example, you are at a Korean restaurant and your friend offered some kimchi. But you gently refused it because you can’t stand its taste. Then after a couple of minutes, another bowl of kimchi is served on the table and he asks if you want some. In here, you would say I told you I don’t eat kimchi. In Korean, we do this by attaching –ㄴ/는다니까(요) to the stem of an active verb. If it ends in vowel, add ㄴ. If it ends in a consonant, add 는.

김치 안 먹는다니까요.

I told you I don’t eat kimchi.

안 된다니까요.

I said no.

(stop bugging me)

싫다니까요.

I said I don’t want to do it.

(싫다 is considered adjective)

박 선생님 안 계신다니까.

I told you Mr. Park is not here.

(계시다 is the honorific form of 있다)

연필 없다니까.

I said I don’t have a pencil.

(stop asking me)