Key Facts
- Hangul: 그런데; Revised Romanization: geureonde
- Part of speech: adverb (conjunction)
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; common connector in speech. Shortened to 근데 in casual speech.
But in Korean: What Does 그런데 Mean?
그런데 is a connector with two jobs: "but" and "by the way". It can set up a contrast with the sentence before it, or it can move the conversation to a new topic. The tone is neutral, and it is very common in speech. In casual talk it shortens to 근데. For a plain contrast, 하지만 is the other common word for "but", compared in the table below.
How Do You Pronounce 그런데?
그런데 has three syllables: geu-reon-de. The vowel ㅡ is written eu, and ㅓ is written eo, so the Revised Romanization is geureonde. In fast speech it shrinks to the two-syllable 근데.
Example Sentences with 그런데
비가 와요. 그런데 우산이 없어요.
Biga wayo. Geureonde usani eopseoyo.
It is raining. But I do not have an umbrella.
비가 와요 means "it is raining", and 우산이 없어요 means "there is no umbrella", so 그런데 joins a problem to the situation.
맛있어요. 그런데 좀 비싸요.
Masisseoyo. Geureonde jom bissayo.
It is tasty. But it is a bit expensive.
맛있어요 means "tasty", and 비싸요 means "expensive", so 그런데 turns praise into a caveat.
그런데 이름이 뭐예요?
Geureonde ireumi mwoyeyo?
By the way, what is your name?
이름이 뭐예요? means "what is your name?", and the opening 그런데 is the "by the way" use, not a contrast.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 그런데 말이야 | by the way (casual) |
| 그런데도 | even so |
| 근데 | but (casual) |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ Using 그런데 only to mean "but"
Correct: ✓ 그런데 as "but" or "by the way"
Why: The word also introduces a new topic, so its meaning shifts with context.
그런데 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 그런데 | but / by the way | Contrasts with an earlier point or introduces a new topic. |
| 하지만 | but | A clear contrast; used in speech and writing. |
| 그러나 | however | Written and formal. |
| 근데 | but (casual) | The spoken shortening of 그런데. |
Use 근데 in relaxed conversation and 그런데 in everyday speech. 하지만 makes a clear contrast in both speech and writing; 그러나 is especially common in writing and formal speech.
Where Does the Word Come From?
Nothing in the spelling of 그런데 comes from Chinese characters, because it is a native Korean word.
Choosing a Cafe with a Classmate
Two classmates are choosing where to meet. The first 그런데 adds a concern; the second moves to a related question about the place.
Jisu
이 카페 좋아요.
I kape joayo.
This cafe is nice.
Minho
그런데 사람이 너무 많아요.
Geureonde sarami neomu manayo.
But there are too many people.
Jisu
그럼 옆 카페에 갈까요?
Geureom yeop kapee galkkayo?
Then shall we go to the cafe next door?
Minho
좋아요. 그런데 몇 시에 문 닫아요?
Joayo. Geureonde myeot sie mun dadayo?
Sure. By the way, what time does it close?
Minho first weighs the cafe’s good points against the crowd. In the last line, 그런데 brings up closing time as a new practical question about the other place. Nothing in the spelling changes between these uses. To translate it, ask whether the next line challenges an expectation or shifts the conversation to another point.
How Do You Choose between “but” and “by the Way”?
With contrast, 그런데 connects two ideas whose combination matters. In the existing food example, something tastes good but costs a little too much. The second sentence limits the positive impression created by the first. The speaker is not claiming that good food can never be expensive; they are adding a drawback relevant to a choice.
With a topic shift, 그런데 introduces a question or another point without contradicting the previous sentence. The example asking someone's name does this. Translating it as “but” can make a friendly question sound argumentative in English. “By the way” often captures the conversational job more naturally.
Sometimes both readings are possible. A question about closing time can be a simple new topic, or it can challenge a plan to visit very late. The surrounding conversation supplies that difference. Learn the connection between the ideas, rather than assigning 그런데 the same English translation every time.
Set Phrases and Their Tone
그런데도 means “even so” or “despite that”. The added 도 emphasizes that the next result holds despite the situation already mentioned. Compared with a simple topic shift, this expression asks the listener to connect the result to an obstacle or an unmet expectation. Keep 그런데도 together as one written word.
그런데 말이야 introduces something the speaker wants to say in casual conversation. 말이야 gives the phrase its familiar tone, so it fits friends more readily than a formal exchange with a stranger. The basic connector 그런데 does not itself make a sentence casual; the words and endings that follow also matter.
근데 is the common spoken shortening. You will hear it in dramas, chats and relaxed conversation, including sentences with polite 요 endings. A shortened connector and a polite sentence ending can occur together. In a formal presentation or a careful email, the full 그런데 is the safer wording of the two.
Which Connector Matches the Relationship?
| Word | Meaning | What it connects |
|---|---|---|
| 그리고 | and / and then | An additional point or the next event. |
| 그래서 | so | A result linked to the previous situation. |
| 하지만 | but | A clear contrast; also common in everyday speech. |
| 그러나 | however | A contrast often presented in writing or formal speech. |
The conjunction vocabulary lesson puts these connectors side by side. 그래서 explains a result, while 그런데 may introduce an unexpected complication. A rain sentence followed by a decision to stay home naturally suggests a result; one followed by having no umbrella highlights a problem instead.
Write a space after 그런데 before the next word. It can start a new sentence and needs no subject or object marker. Its job is to connect the next thought to the conversation, while the sentence's own verb ending carries the speech level.
Quick Self-Test
- Must 그런데 이름이 뭐예요? express a disagreement?
- Can 근데 appear in a sentence ending in polite 요?
- Which word emphasizes “despite that”: 그런데도 or 그리고?
Show answers
- No. 그런데 can introduce a new topic, so “by the way” fits.
- Yes. It is a conversational shortening, and it can occur with polite endings.
- 그런데도. 그리고 adds a point or continues a sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "but" in Korean?
But in Korean can be 그런데 (geureonde). It is neutral and common in speech.
How do I say "by the way"?
Say 그런데. The casual version is 그런데 말이야.
How do I say "even so"?
Say 그런데도.
What is 근데?
근데 is the casual, spoken shortening of 그런데.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean Conjunctions Vocabulary groups 그런데 with its neighbours.
- Index: find but beside every other single-word entry in Korean words A to Z.
- See also so.