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Grammar Advanced TOPIK II · Level 5–6 Advanced Korean 2 · conjunctive ending

-자니3

-자니③: Meaning To… — Intention Hits a Snag

Connective: meaning to… — intention that then hits a snag.

Before this, make sure you know: -으려고 / -려고 , -아요 / -어요

How to form it

When Form Example
Action verbs (하다-type) -자니 가자니 / 먹자니 / 하자니
With a following obstacle clause -자니 … 가자니 늦었어요 / 사자니 비싸요

-자니③ opens an intention, then the snag — I meant to…, but….

Curriculum sense: 의도. The page number ③ marks this intention-linker job, not every -자 you already know.

Why this is hard

Beginners meet propositive -자 (가자) and stop. Advanced learners meet -자니 and hear let’s again. Wrong. Here the first clause is what you set out to do; the second clause is why it does not go smoothly.

It also crowds intention neighbours: -(으)려고, -고자. Those name purpose. -자니③ likes the plan-then-hitch storytelling shape.

What it does

가자니 비가 와요.
사자니 너무 비싸요.
먹자니 배가 안 고파요.
말하자니 부끄러워요.

Front = intended act. Back = cost, weather, pride, timing — the hitch.

Forms

Action stems take -자니. The sequel is usually a problem, hesitation, or conflicting fact — not a cheerful second plan.

가다 → 가자니
하다 → 하자니
사다 → 사자니

When not to use it

Do not use it as a bare let’s ending — that is propositive -자.

Do not use it as past narrative -더니 colour.

Do not invent noun+자니 as a free particle.

Neighbours — and why they differ

FormWhy it is not this slot
-(으)려고Purpose / plan — often without the snag hinge.
-고자Formal intention.
Propositive -자Invitation ending — stops at let’s.

Ask: am I naming an intention that then hits trouble? If yes, -자니③. If let’s, stop at -자.

Do not confuse it with

-으려고 / -려고

intending to, in order to

-고자

in order to — the purpose of speeches and documents

-자

let's — the casual version of 읍시다

Taught alongside this

On the jabi learning path, this appears in 연결어미 (conjunctive ending) — Advanced Korean 2, Unit 2, on the theme of conjunctive ending. These come with it:

-거들랑1 if / when that is so — if the fact holds or comes true (connective) -노라면 if you keep doing… — as you go along doing that -건대 as I see / hear / think… — prefacing that what follows is from your observation -건만 and yet — the expected sequel fails to follow -기로서니 even if / no matter how — conceding the premise then rejecting the conclusion -느니만큼 inasmuch as — to the degree that, so… -되 but / with the caveat — granting then restricting -디1 really does… — emphasising by repeating the stem -이라야 only if it is… — specifying that noun as the required one -으련마는 would…, but — hoped result blocked because the condition is unmet -는다고1 intending to… / claiming one will… — intention as a linker -자면1 if you mean to… — taking that intention as the starting point -은들 even if it is… — conceding the point and still refusing -을망정 even if / granted — conceding one line and setting the other against it -을라치면 whenever it comes to… — taking that case as the condition

Words used above

Tap the speaker to hear it read aloud by your browser.

-자니-janimeaning to… (then a snag)
의도uidointention
비싸다bissadato be expensive

Quick check

No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.

1. You were going to speak up in the meeting, but the words froze on you when the moment counted. Which line matches?

2. Which sentence correctly shows -자니③ attached to 먹다?

3. Both 사려고 and 사자니 name the intention to buy, but they lead different sequels. Which line feeds the intention into a wall rather than toward the goal?

Common questions

Curriculum sense?

의도 — intention as a linker that then meets difficulty.

Vs -으려고?

-(으)려고 states purpose/plan. -자니③ often sets that plan against what blocks it.

Vs -고자?

-고자 is formal intention. Different coat; still not this snag hinge by default.

Register?

Natural in storytelling and careful talk when you narrate a blocked plan.