-는지
-는지: Whether / Embedded Questions in a Larger Sentence
A connective ending that embeds an interrogative clause into a governing matrix predicate expressing knowledge, curiosity, verification, or uncertainty (알다, 모르다, 궁금하다, 확인하다, 조사하다). It covers both open questions ('whether X or not') and content questions with WH-interrogatives ('where / who / why / how').
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action verbs and existentials (있다/없다) in present tense | V + -는지 | 가는지 / 오는지 / 있는지 / 사는지 |
| Descriptive adjectives with consonant stems | A + -은지 | 좋은지 / 많은지 / 작은지 / 편한지 |
| Descriptive adjectives with vowel stems and Copula (이다) | A/N + -ㄴ지 / -인지 | 큰지 / 바쁜지 / 학생인지 / 누구인지 |
| Past tense action or state (-았/었-) | V/A + -았/었는지 | 도착했는지 / 비가 왔는지 / 사실이었는지 |
The Nesting Engine: Embedding Inquiries with -는지
In fluent communication, we rarely ask isolated, blunt questions (“Where do you live?”). Instead, we embed inquiries inside polite matrices: “Could you tell me where you live?” or “I’m wondering whether you have arrived.” In Korean, this nesting is accomplished by -는지:
“지하철 막차 시간이 몇 시까지인지 역무원에게 확인해 보았습니다.”
(I checked with the station attendant to see what time the last subway runs.)
Under the National Institute of Korean Language (우리말샘):
-는지 [연결 어미]: 막연한 의문이 있는 채로 그것을 뒤 절의 사실이나 판단과 관련시키는 연결 어미.
1. The Classic Orthographic Trap: -는지 vs. -은 지
| Construction | Spacing Rule | Governing Context | Diagnostic Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -는지 (Embedded Question) | 붙여 쓴다 (어미) | 알다, 모르다, 궁금하다 | “그 사람이 언제 올는지 몰라요.” |
| -은 지 (Elapsed Duration) | 띄어 쓴다 (의존명사) | 시간 표현 (시간, 달, 년) | “한국에 온 지 삼 년이 지났다.” |
2. High-Frequency Matrix of Governing Verbs
- 지식 및 인지 (알다 / 모르다): “어디로 가야 하는지 길을 잘 모르겠어요.”
- 호기심 및 확인 (궁금하다 / 확인하다): “재고가 남아 있는지 매장에 전화해 볼게요.”
- 판단 및 의심 (의심하다 / 생각하다): “그 소문이 과연 사실인지 의심스럽습니다.”
3. Diplomatic Inquiry in Professional Communication
In corporate memos and diplomatic correspondence, -는지 softens requests and inquiries into polished business courtesy:
- “보내주신 자료가 정상적으로 접수되었는지 확인 부탁드립니다.” (Please verify whether the submitted materials were received normally).
- “귀사에서 제안하신 일정에 맞출 수 있는지 내부 논의를 거쳐 회신드리겠습니다.” (We will reply after internal discussions regarding whether we can align with your proposed schedule).
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 편의 시설이 잘 갖추어져 있어서 살기 편할 것 같아 (I think it will be comfortable to live in because it is well-equipped with amenities.) — Intermediate Korean 2, Unit 2, on the theme of region. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. You are asking a neighbor for help finding where your delivery package was left: 'Do you happen to know where the courier left the parcel?' Which Korean sentence embeds the question correctly?
2. What is the critical orthographic and semantic distinction between embedded question '-는지' and elapsed time '-은 지'?
3. What is the proper conjugation for the descriptive adjective '좋다' (to be good) when embedding a question: 'I'm curious whether the weather will be good'?
4. How does -는지 behave when a WH-question word (누구, 어디, 언제, 왜, 어떻게) appears inside the clause?
Common questions
Can -는지 end a sentence by itself?
Yes! In soft, polite conversational style, '-는지(요)?' can end a sentence as a gentle, indirect inquiry: '혹시 내일 시간 되시는지요?' (I wonder if you might have time tomorrow?). It sounds exceptionally courteous and respectful.
What verbs typically follow -는지?
Verbs of inquiry, perception, and cognition: '알다' (to know), '모르다' (to not know), '궁금하다' (to be curious), '확인하다' (to check), '물어보다' (to ask), and '조사하다' (to investigate).
How does -는지 compare to -는지 안 는지?
Pairing opposite verbs with -는지 ('갈지 안 갈지', '좋은지 나쁜지') forms a balanced 'whether or not' choice: '비가 올지 안 올지 일기예보를 확인해 보세요'.
Can -는지 be used with nouns?
Yes, through the copula 이다: 'N-인지' (e.g., '진짜인지 가짜인지' = whether it is real or fake, '누구인지' = who it is).