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

는 마당에

는 마당에: In a Situation Where… — Awkward Context

Expression: in a situation where… — given this awkward context.

Before this, make sure you know: -은 / -는 (modifier) , -아요 / -어요

How to form it

When Form Example
Adnominal + 마당에 -(으)ㄴ/는 마당에 바쁜 마당에 / 아픈 마당에 / 싸우는 마당에
With critical sequel …마당에 … 바쁜 마당에 왜 불러요?

는 마당에 frames an awkward given context.

Situation package. Not place -에서.

Why this is hard

마당 looks like a yard. Here it is a situation. Learners also mash it with -을 때. This package says: given this (bad/awkward) backdrop….

What it does

바쁜 마당에 왜 불러요?
아픈 마당에 일을 시키면 안 돼요.
싸우는 마당에 농담은 그만해요.
이런 마당에 어떻게 웃어요?

Front = awkward given. Back = complaint, refusal, or challenge.

Forms

Adnominal + 마당에: -(으)ㄴ/는 마당에, also 이런/그런 마당에.

When not to use it

Do not use it as a physical place — -에서.

Do not use it as neutral clock time — -을 때.

Do not force it into cheerful neutral narration.

Neighbours — and why they differ

FormWhy it is not this slot
-에서Place / source.
-을 때Time-when.
-는데Softer background — different coat.

Ask: am I framing an awkward given situation? If yes, 는 마당에. If place, -에서.

If the English in your head is given that… / in this situation… with complaint, you are here.

Do not confuse it with

에서

where an action happens, and where you came from

-을 때

when — the moment something happens

Taught alongside this

On the jabi learning path, this appears in 표현 (expression) — Advanced Korean 2, Unit 4, on the theme of expression. These come with it:

-기 일쑤이다 always ends up… — what commonly / habitually happens (-기(가) 일쑤이다) -기 짝이 없다 extremely… — so much there is no comparison -는 한이 있어도 even if it kills me… — willing to pay any cost -을 바에 given you are (doing) that — the situation of that act (often with a better alternative) -으려도 even if one tries to… — attempt that still fails or contrasts -으리라는 the idea that one will… — naming a future claim 를 막론하고 regardless of — without picking and choosing among that set -어 치우다 get it done fast — finishing off, often roughly -는다는 the… that says / that will — framing a quoted claim as a noun 이라고는 as for… (only) — singled out under emphasis, usually before scarce/negative (이라고는) -는다던가1 is that the order…? — checking what you were told to do -으래서야 how can you only now…? — challenging the late order or claim -으리라고 that one will… — quoting a future claim -자면2 how about… / let's say… — suggesting a course

Words used above

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마당madangsituation / occasion (here)
는 마당에neun madangein a situation where…
상황sanghwangsituation
곤란gollanawkwardness
배경baegyeongbackground context

Quick check

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

1. You are busy, and calling you now is the complaint. This is not a place and not a clock time. Which line?

2. They are sick, and giving them work is what you refuse. Not 'when they are sick' as a schedule. Which line?

3. A fight is the backdrop, and the joke should stop. You are not locating the joke in a room. Which line?

Common questions

Job?

Frame the awkward given situation before the complaint or question.

Form?

Adnominal + 마당에 — 바쁜 마당에, 이런 마당에.

Vs -을 때?

-을 때 is time-when. 마당에 is situational backdrop.

Register?

Complaint, argument, editorial tone — not neutral place talk.