Grammar Advanced TOPIK II · Level 5–6 Advanced Grammar Supplement · Curriculum gap

-는가 하면

-는가 하면: And Then Again… — Stacking Cases

Connective package -는가 하면: while noting one case, pivot to another — often contrast or variety.

Before this, make sure you know: -는가① , -아요 / -어요

How to form it

When	Form	Example
Action / state + -는가 하면	-는가 하면	웃는가 하면 / 오는가 하면
Descriptive	-은가 하면 / -ㄴ가 하면	좋은가 하면 / 싼가 하면

-는가 하면 stacks cases — and then again….

You park one observation, then open another — often a flip or a variety.

Why this is hard

English and / but also cover -고, -는데, -는 데다가, -는 반면에. Learners grab one. -는가 하면 is the case-stack seat: here’s A — and then again B.

What it does

You show range, contrast, or restless change.

웃는가 하면 울어요.
오는가 하면 또 안 와요.
조용한가 하면 갑자기 시끄러워요.
싸다고 하는가 하면 비싸대요.

Forms

웃다 → 웃는가 하면
오다 → 오는가 하면
좋다 → 좋은가 하면
이다 → 인가 하면

When not to use it

Do not use it for simple same-direction and also.

Do not drop the second case — the pivot needs a sequel.

Do not force it where plain -는데 already frames background.

Neighbours — and why they differ

Form	Why it is not this slot
-는 데다가	Same-direction pile-on.
-는 반면에	Clear contrast frame.
-는데	Softer background / soft contrast.

Ask: am I stacking another case after the first? If yes, -는가 하면.

Do not confuse it with

-는 데다가

and on top of that — stacking one fact onto another

-는 반면

whereas, while on the other hand

-는데①

setting up background before the main point

Taught alongside this

On the jabi learning path, this appears in 교재·표준 교육과정 밖의 문법 (Grammar outside of textbooks and standard curriculum) — Advanced Grammar Supplement, Unit 1, on the theme of Curriculum gap. These come with it:

-는 셈이다 amounts to / counts as — treating the situation as that result (-는 셈이다) -을 지경이다 to the point of… — an extreme state or plight (-을 지경이다) -기 십상이다 almost certain to… — nine times out of ten (-기 십상이다) -는 둥 마는 둥 half-doing it — barely, half-heartedly (-는 둥 마는 둥) -던 차에 just when… — at the very moment that was underway (-던 차에) 으로 말미암아 owing to… — formal written cause (으로 말미암아) -는답시고 under the pretext of… — claiming to, often critically (-는답시고) -을 겸 while also… — doing it for that purpose too (-을 겸) -게끔 so that… — purpose with a firm push (-게끔) -을 턱이 없다 no reason whatsoever… — denying grounds flatly (-을 턱이 없다) -을 리 만무하다 utterly no chance… — impossibility stressed (-을 리 만무하다) -을 성싶다 seems likely to… — a soft forecast (-을 성싶다) -을지언정 even if… — conceding then holding the other line (-을지언정) -기 그지없다 endlessly… — extreme degree with no bound (-기 그지없다) -기 이를 데 없다 beyond words… — so much there is no way to say it (-기 이를 데 없다) -다 못해 unable to go on… — past the limit, then the sequel (-다 못해) -는 셈치고 pretending / counting it as… — provisional assumption (-는 셈치고) -는다 뿐이지 only that… — limiting the claim to just that (-는다 뿐이지) -는다손 치더라도 even granting that… — strong concession then pushback (-는다손 치더라도) -어 주십사 please do… for me — earnest old-style request (-어 주십사) -겠거니 thinking it would… — assumption that guides the next act (-겠거니) -으랴 -으랴 what with A and B… — piling pressures or tasks (-으랴 -으랴) -으려던 참이다 was just about to… — intention interrupted at the brink (-으려던 참이다) -는다기보다는 rather than saying… — reframing the label (-는다기보다는) -은 끝에 after all that… — only at the end of the ordeal (-은 끝에) -은 바 있다 have (once)… — formal experience on record (-은 바 있다) -건 간에 whether A or B… — it does not matter which (-건 간에)

Words used above

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-는가 하면-neunga hamyeonand then again…

경우gyeongucase

반면banmyeonon the other hand — neighbour

데다가dedagaon top of that — neighbour

다양dayangvariety

Quick check

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

1. A child's mood keeps switching between laughter and tears. Which sentence stacks those contrasting cases?

2. Which sentence is simple same-direction accumulation and therefore fits -는 데다가 better than -는가 하면?

3. Which completion fails because -는가 하면 opens a second-case slot but no second case ever arrives?

Common questions

Dictionary?

Textbook / 기초사전 frame: note one fact with -는가, then 하면 opens another case.

Tone?

Descriptive, essay and speech — people, weather, moods that flip.

Vs -는 반면에?

-는 반면에 is a clearer contrast seat. 는가 하면 can also mean ‘sometimes this, sometimes that’.

Café soft?

어떤 때는… 어떤 때는…. Keep 는가 하면 when the stack itself is the point.