Lesson 59 · Giving a Reason for Advice: -(으)니까
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 59 · Grammar
Giving a Reason for Advice: -(으)니까
Learn Giving a Reason for Advice: -(으)니까 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
Use -(으)니까 to give a reason or basis for a statement, suggestion, or instruction. It is especially useful when explaining your advice: “It’s cold, so close the window.”
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Vowel + 니까: 가다 → 가니까; 바쁘다 → 바쁘니까. Consonant + 으니까: 먹다 → 먹으니까; 좋다 → 좋으니까.
- Final ㄹ drops: 멀다 → 머니까; 살다 → 사니까. Irregulars: 춥다 → 추우니까; 듣다 → 들으니까.
- Past reasons take 았/었으니까: 먹었으니까. Nouns use (이)니까: 학생이니까, 친구니까.
Examples
추우니까 창문을 닫으세요.
chuunikka changmuneul dadeuseyo
It’s cold, so please close the window.
시간이 있으니까 같이 걸어요.
sigani isseunikka gachi georeoyo
We have time, so let’s walk together.
배가 고프니까 밥을 먹읍시다.
baega gopeunikka babeul meogeupsida
We’re hungry, so let’s eat.
길이 머니까 일찍 출발하세요.
giri meonikka iljjik chulbalhaseyo
It’s a long way, so please leave early.
숙제를 했으니까 쉴 거예요.
sukjereul haesseunikka swil geoyeyo
I’ve done my homework, so I’m going to rest.
내일 시험이 있으니까 오늘 공부해요.
naeil siheomi isseunikka oneul gongbuhaeyo
I study today because I have an exam tomorrow.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 58
-아/어서
배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요.A natural cause in a statement. It can’t be followed by a command or suggestion.
Review Lesson 58 →LESSON 61
-기 때문에
비가 오기 때문에 행사가 취소됐어요.A more formal way to give a reason, with weight on the cause.
Look ahead: Lesson 61 →RELATED PATTERN
-(으)니까 (discovery)
집에 가니까 아무도 없었어요.With a past situation, -(으)니까 can also mean “when I…, I found that…”.
LESSON 60
-아/어서 vs -(으)니까
추우니까 창문을 닫을까요?Lesson 60 compares the two side by side.
Look ahead: Lesson 60 →| Pattern | Can be followed by… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)니까 | commands, suggestions, anything | 추우니까 코트를 입으세요 |
| -아/어서 | statements (not commands) | 추워서 코트를 입었어요 |
| -기 때문에 | statements (formal) | 춥기 때문에 행사를 연기합니다 |
| -았/었으니까 | past reason + advice | 많이 먹었으니까 좀 걸어요 |
Common mistakes
Both -아/어서 and -(으)니까 can explain reasons, but their conversational effect and following clauses differ. For a beginner command or suggestion based on a reason, -(으)니까 is the useful choice. Avoid claiming they are interchangeable in every sentence.
A suggestion (갑시다) follows, so use -(으)니까.
오 ends in a vowel → 니까.
Apologies use -아/어서. -(으)니까 sounds like an excuse.
ㅂ-irregular: 덥다 → 더우니까.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank오늘은 많이 ______ 집에서 쉬세요. (피곤하다)
Check answer
오늘은 많이 피곤하니까 집에서 쉬세요.
A command follows (쉬세요) → -(으)니까.
- Fill in the blank내일 시험이 ______ 같이 공부해요. (있다)
Check answer
내일 시험이 있으니까 같이 공부해요.
있 ends in a consonant → 으니까.
- Choose the correct form배가 (고파서 / 고프니까) 뭐 좀 먹읍시다.
Check answer
고프니까
A suggestion follows → -(으)니까.
- Choose the better form길이 (막혀서 / 막히니까) 늦었어요. 죄송해요.
Check answer
막혀서
You’re explaining and apologizing → -아/어서.
- Find and fix the mistake밖이 추워서 따뜻하게 입으세요.
Check answer
밖이 추우니까 따뜻하게 입으세요.
A command follows → -(으)니까: 추우니까.
- Say it in KoreanIt’s late, so let’s go home.
Check answer
늦었으니까 집에 갑시다.
A suggestion follows → 늦었으니까.
Today’s Key Point
Use -(으)니까 for a reason supporting advice; drop final ㄹ; nouns use (이)니까.
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