33 Most Common Korean Conjunctions

As you begin studying Korean grammar, you'll soon come across the crucial role of conjunctions. These small but powerful words can elevate your ability to construct Korean sentences.

Let's review the fundamental Korean conjunctions necessary for basic conversation.

What Are Korean Conjunctions?

In Korean, the term for conjunctions is 접속사.

Conjunctions serve as linking words in a sentence. Their function is to combine phrases, concepts, and different parts of a sentence.

In English, examples include words such as “and,” “but,” and “or.”

Korean conjunctions are somewhat more complex than their English counterparts for the following reasons:

• Several choices exist for a single conjunction (for instance, there are multiple Korean words for “and”).
• Some conjunctions sound alike and share common syllables.
• The usage of conjunctions depends on context, and their meanings can vary slightly.
• Certain conjunctions might drop or add a syllable, influenced by the preceding or following sound.

It's also crucial to understand that Korean conjunctions don't always stand alone as separate words. They can also function as particles that attach directly to a word.

Undeniably, conjunctions can be a challenging subject for learners of Korean (and sometimes even native speakers), yet they are incredibly important.

Although English was my second language, I recall the sense of ease I felt as a child when I first learned about English conjunctions—it was far simpler than I had imagined. Even today, I occasionally find it difficult to select the appropriate Korean conjunction for a given situation.

But don't worry, because familiarity will come with time and practice. That's why it's best to start slowly with these basic conjunctions and gain a general understanding of their usage.

How to Say “And” in Korean

그리고 (geu-ri-go)

This word for “and” connects sentences or nouns. It can also begin a subsequent related sentence.

오늘 그리고 내일 — Today and tomorrow

~ 이랑 (i-rang) or ~ 랑 (rang)

This “and” joins nouns and has a more casual tone compared to 그리고. It can also mean “with,” but in that usage, no noun should come after the conjunction.

~이랑 is used after a syllable ending in a consonant. ~랑 is used after a syllable ending in a vowel. Adding 이 to form 이랑 aids in smoother pronunciation, particularly after a hard consonant sound.

밥이랑 딸기랑 먹었어요 — I ate rice and strawberries.

~ 하고 (ha-go) or ~ 고 (go)

This “and” usually connects verbs and verbal phrases. It can also suggest a sequence of events, so it might be understood as “and then.”

하고 is used when the previous syllable ends in a vowel sound. Similar to the 이 in 이랑, adding 하 to form 하고 can help with smoother pronunciation.

친구하고 먹고 마셨어요. — I ate and drank with my friend.

How to Say “But” in Korean

그렇지만 (geu-reo-chi-man)

This “but” usually follows a statement that is true or agreeable. It often introduces a contradiction or contrasting information.

저는 많이 아파요. 그렇지만 내일은 괜찮을 거예요. — I am in a lot of pain but tomorrow I will be fine.

그런데 (geu-reon-de) / 근데 (geun-de)

These share the same meaning as 그렇지만. They can also be interpreted as “however” or “by the way.”

근데 is a shorter, more informal version of 그런데, making it suitable for conversations with friends or family.

어제는 비가 왔다. 그런데 오늘은 날씨가 좋다. — Yesterday it rained but today the weather is good.

그러나 (geu-reo-na)

This is a more formal, instructive way of saying 그런데. It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it can still appear.

한국은 반도이다. 그러나 일본은 섬나라이다. — Korea is a peninsula, but Japan is an island nation.

~ 지만 (ji-man)

This can mean “but” or “although.” It's used to link independent clauses. Notice it's essentially the latter part of the previous conjunction 그렇지만.

춥지만 아이스크림이 먹고 싶어요. — I’m cold but I want ice cream.

~ ㄴ데 or ~ 는데 (neun-de)

This means “but,” “however,” or “though,” and is typically used between verbs. If the preceding syllable ends in a vowel, you add ㄴ underneath it followed by 데. Otherwise, you add ~는데.

열심히 공부했는데 시험을 잘 못 봤어요. — I studied a lot but I didn’t do well.

How to Say “Or” in Korean

~ 이나 (i-na) or ~ 나 (na)

This “or” is typically used to connect nouns. If the prior noun ends in a consonant, use ~이나. If it ends in a vowel, use ~나.

밥이나 국수나 둘 중에 하나를 선택하세요. — Please choose between rice or noodles.

~ 거나 (geo-na)

This “or” is typically used to connect verbs.

내일은 흐리거나 비가 오겠습니다. — Tomorrow it will be cloudy or it will rain.

아니면 (ani-myeon)

This directly translates to “if not,” so it's often used when offering alternative choices.

예면 예 아니면 아니라고 하세요. — Say yes if yes, if not, say no.

How to Say “If” in Korean

만약 (man-yak)

This can also be translated as “in case” or “in the event that.” It often implies uncertainty, as if the speaker doesn't truly believe the event will happen.

만약에 복권에 당첨되면 집을 살 거예요. — If I win the lottery, I will buy a house.

~ 한다면 (han-da-myeon)

Technically, this conjunction combines two words: 한다 (“to do”) and 면 (implying “if”).

This is usually for hypothetical situations that are plausible, as opposed to those that are unlikely.

열심히 공부한다면, 시험에 통과할 거예요. — If you study hard, you will pass the exam.

그러면 (geu-reo-myeon)

This can also mean “if it’s so” or “in that case.”

너 숙제 안했어? 그러면 집에 못 가. — Did you not do your homework? In that case, you can’t go home.

~ 면 (~myeon)

This conjunction is often used with verbs. It also implies a sequence of events (e.g., If X, then Y).

그렇게 할 수 있으면 그렇게 하세요. — If you can do that, then do so.

그래도 (geu-rae-do)

Meaning “nonetheless,” “even so,” or “but still,” this conjunction introduces information that contrasts with the value or truth of the preceding statement.

It's also used to indicate that something will happen regardless of the previously mentioned action or state.

니가 날 싫어해도 그래도 난 널 좋아해. — You don’t like me, even so, I like you.

How to Say “So/Therefore” in Korean

그래서 (get-rae-seo)

This is used to show a causal relationship between verbs and actions.

다리를 다쳤어. 그래서 병원에 갔어. — I hurt my leg therefore I went to the hospital.

그러니까 (geu-reo-ni-kka)

While very similar to 그래서, and often used interchangeably, 그러니까 places slightly more emphasis and importance on the action that follows it.

아기가 금방 잠 들었어요. 그러니까 조용히 하세요. — The baby just fell asleep, so please be quiet.

How to Say “Because” in Korean

~ 서 (seo)

This typically indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship, and thus can also carry the meaning of “therefore.”

비가 와서 땅이 젖었어요. — Because it rained, the ground got wet.

~ 으니까 (eu-ni-kka) or ~ 니까 (ni-kka)

Similar to 그러니까 and 서, this can also be closely translated as “therefore” in certain contexts.

으니까 is used after a word ending in a consonant, and 니까 is used after a word ending in a vowel.

냉장고에 불고기가 있으니까 먹어. — Because there is bulgogi in the fridge, eat it.

~ 기 때문에 (gi ttae-mun-e) or ~ 때문에 (ttae-mun-e)

Used to indicate a strong causal link, ~기 때문에 is typically used with verbs.

저는 해외 여행을 좋아하기 때문에 영어 공부를 매일 해요. — I love traveling abroad, so I study English every day.

~ 때문에 (ttae-mu-ne)

This translates closely to “because of” and is usually preceded by a noun.

감기 때문에 학교에 못 갔어요. — I couldn’t go to school because of my cold.

왜냐하면 (wae-nya-ha-myeon)

This is a shortened form of the phrase 왜 그러냐 하면, meaning “if you are wondering/asking why it is.” A more casual version is 왜냐면.

김치찌개를 먹었어요. 왜냐하면 한국음식을 좋아하거든요. — I ate kimchi stew because I like Korean food.

How to Say “For” in Korean

~ 위해 (wi-hae) or ~ 위해서 (wi-hae-seo)

Either of these conjunctions can be used with nouns and verbs, but they must be preceded by a specific syllable depending on the context.

When used with nouns, the conjunctions should be directly preceded by either 을 (if the noun ends with a consonant) or 를 (if the noun ends with a vowel).

When used with verbs, the conjunctions should be directly preceded by 기.

친구를 위해 가게에 갔어요. — I went to the store for my friend.

시험에 합격하기 위해서 열심히 공부했어요. — I studied hard to pass the exam.

How to Say “With” in Korean

~ 와 (wa) or ~과 (gwa)

Use 와 when the previous syllable ends in a vowel sound. Use 과 when the previous syllable ends in a consonant sound.

영어와 수학이 좋아요. — I like English and math (subjects).

오늘은 선생님과 학생들이 함께하는 특별한 행사가 있어요. — Today, there is a special event where teachers and students come together.

Keep in mind that this list doesn't cover every Korean conjunction! However, it will take time to master the ones presented here, so be patient during your learning process. Even if a native speaker might understand you if you make a mistake with a conjunction, it's valuable to learn the subtle nuances and appropriate contexts for each one.

To help commit them to memory, try writing your own short Korean sentences using these conjunctions. You can also search for these words in videos to see them used in context. Lingflix is particularly useful for this activity. Lingflix uses authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and transforms them into personalized language lessons.