Korean word

근데

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeunde

Meaning

  • interjectionby the way

Example

근데 너 어제 뭐 했어?keun de neo eo je mwo hae sseo

By the way, what did you do yesterday?

Illustration for 근데 (by the way)

More examples

근데 사실 나도 몰랐어.keun de sa sil na do mol la sseo

By the way, I actually did not know that either.

Core concept

A flexible spoken connector used to introduce what comes next, especially a new thought or a mild contrast.

Common phrases

  • 근데 사실keun de sa sil

    by the way, actually

  • 근데 그거keun de keu geo

    by the way, that thing

Similar words

그런데keureonde: A conversational bridge that adds a question, extra thought, or mild contrast to what was just said.
근데요keundeyo: A polite spoken opener for bringing up a new topic or point.
아참acham: A short signal that a forgotten thought has just come back to mind.
저기cheogi: A call used to get someone's attention before speaking.

Definition in Korean

말을 꺼내기 전 망설임을 메우거나 대화를 이어가기 위해 쓰는 구어체 감탄사.ma reul kkeo nae gi cheon mang seo ri meul me u geo na tae hwa reul i eo ga gi wi hae sseu neun ku eo che kam tan sa

Word origin

근데 (geunde, "but / by the way") comes from shortening a longer connective expression and became common as an informal conversation opener.

Usage tips

  • Its force depends on delivery: a pause can make it sound like a new topic, while a quick delivery can make it sound like a soft objection.

Other meanings

  • butinterjection

Related words

Word lists with this word