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Grammar Advanced TOPIK II · Level 5–6 Advanced Korean 2 · inspection

깨나

깨나: Quite a… — No Small Amount

Particle: the preceding noun is of more than ordinary degree / amount.

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

How to form it

When Form Example
After a noun N깨나 돈깨나 / 힘깨나 / 심술깨나
With a following predicate N깨나 + V/A 돈깨나 있다 / 힘깨나 쓰다

깨나 says the noun is no small amount — quite a…, a fair bit of….

Dictionary: a particle meaning more than a certain degree. It rides on the noun and often walks with a following predicate: has quite some money, puts out quite some strength.

Why this is hard

It looks like a tiny tag, so learners space it (돈 깨나) or swap it for 꽤나, which sits on the adverb side (꽤 + 나). Same neighbourhood of “quite,” different attachment story.

Tone is easy to miss. With neutral nouns it can sound like plain emphasis. With loaded nouns (심술깨나) it can shade toward teasing or mild dismissal — still “more than a little,” not a soft compliment by default.

What it does

You mark that the amount or degree on that noun clears a low bar — often with a raised eyebrow.

돈깨나 있다고 자랑하지 마세요.
힘깨나 쓰는 일이었어요.
그 사람 심술깨나 부려요.
공부깨나 한 티가 나요.

The point is not exact measurement. It is “not just a little.”

Forms

Noun + 깨나, written attached — no space.

돈깨나 있다
힘깨나 쓰다
심술깨나 부리다

Then the sentence continues with an ordinary predicate. 깨나 itself does not conjugate.

When not to use it

Do not write 돈 깨나 with a space. Particles glue.

Do not replace every “quite” with 깨나. If you mean adverbial 꽤 / 꽤나, stay on the adverb lane.

Do not stick 깨나 on a verb stem as if it were -게 or -도록. Classroom core is noun-side.

Do not expect a polite honorific flavour from 깨나 alone — respect comes from other choices.

Neighbours — and why they differ

FormWhy it is not this slot
도Also / even — inclusion, not degree-on-noun.
만Only — limit, not “more than a little.”
밖에Nothing but / only (with negation) — different limit story.

Ask: am I grading this noun as more than a little? If yes, N깨나. If you mean also or only, pick the matching particle instead.

Do not confuse it with

도

also, too — and the particle it quietly replaces

만

only, just — and why it takes a positive verb where 밖에 takes a negative

밖에

nothing but — and why the verb after it must be negative

Taught alongside this

On the jabi learning path, this appears in 조사 (inspection) — Advanced Korean 2, Unit 1, on the theme of inspection. These come with it:

마는 but — opposing what the noun led you to expect 이라고2 so-called / mere… — dismissing it as trifling 을랑 that one in particular — singled out, often before advice 이라면 if it really is… — stressing the noun as the hinge

Words used above

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깨나kkaenaparticle: more than a little
돈깨나donkkaenaquite a bit of money
힘깨나himkkaenaquite some strength
심술simsulspite / mean streak
꽤나kkwaenaadverb 꽤 + 나 — different spelling/job

Quick check

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

1. They have more than a little money — amount graded up on the noun. Which line?

2. Which line uses the forms-table shape 힘깨나 with a following predicate?

3. Which grades ‘quite some money’ with the particle 깨나, not the sound-alike adverb 꽤나?

Common questions

Dictionary?

표준국어대사전/우리말샘: particle meaning more than a certain degree. Examples like 심술깨나 부리다, 힘깨나 쓰다.

Tone?

Often factual emphasis; can edge into teasing or mild side-eye depending on the noun (심술깨나).

Vs 도?

도 adds ‘also/even’. 깨나 grades the noun’s amount/degree upward.

Can it follow verbs?

Core classroom use is after nouns. Do not treat it as a free verb ending.