HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 48 · LESSON 133
-ㄴ/는다면 · -다면 · N(이)라면if (supposing)… / if it were…
-ㄴ/는다면 makes a supposition: something that is unlikely, imaginary, or just a possibility. 복권에 당첨된다면 세계 여행을 할 거예요 (If I won the lottery, I’d travel the world). 내가 너라면 그렇게 안 할 거야 (If I were you, I wouldn’t do that).
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A situation you already know
Friends are chatting about dreams over coffee.
If I could turn back time, I’d want to go back to high school.
Turning back time is impossible, so it’s a pure supposition. -다면 fits much better than -(으)면 here.
Build the form
- 가다 → 가 + ㄴ다면 → 간다면Complete expression
- 먹다 → 먹 + 는다면 → 먹는다면Complete expression
- 있다 → 있 + 다면 → 있다면Complete expression
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘 + 다면 → 예쁘다면Complete expression
- 너 → 너 + 라면 → 너라면Complete expression
- Verbs: vowel stem + -ㄴ다면, consonant stem + -는다면 → 간다면, 먹는다면.
- Adjectives and 있다/없다: stem + -다면 → 예쁘다면, 있다면.
- Nouns: vowel + 라면, consonant + 이라면 → 너라면, 학생이라면.
- Past: -았/었다면 → 몰랐다면, 갔다면.
- The forms match reported speech (-ㄴ/는다고, Lesson 93): -ㄴ/는다 + -면.
- Often paired with 만약(에) / 혹시 at the start.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- -(으)면 is the everyday “if/when” (비가 오면 집에 있을게요). -다면 feels more like “supposing” or “if it were the case that…”.
- For impossible situations or dreams, -다면 is usually more natural.
- English “If I were you…” = 내가 너라면 / 제가 당신이라면.
Six examples in context
If you won the lottery, what would you want to do?
If I were you, I’d accept that offer.
If you have time, would you like to watch a movie together?
If I were born again, I’d want to be a bird.
If I had known that beforehand, I would have told you.
If the weather is good, I’ll go hiking tomorrow.
Compare with related patterns
-(으)면
비가 오면 집에 있을게요.“If/When it rains, I’ll stay home.” Everyday condition, likely to happen (Lesson 64).
-았/었더라면
일찍 출발했더라면 안 늦었을 거예요.“If I had left early, I wouldn’t have been late.” Regret about the past (Lesson 137).
-(으)려면
합격하려면 열심히 해야 해요.“If you want to pass, you have to work hard.” Condition for a goal (Lesson 89).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -(으)면 | Everyday, realistic if/when |
| -ㄴ/는다면 | Supposing / imaginary / less likely |
| -았/었다면 · -았/었더라면 | If (in the past) had… |
| -(으)려면 | If you want to… |
Common mistakes
있다 takes -다면.
Nouns → (이)라면.
Verbs need -ㄴ/는다면.
Adjectives just take -다면.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank만약 한국에 ______ 어디에 가고 싶어요? (가다)
Check answer
만약 한국에 간다면 어디에 가고 싶어요?
Verb, vowel stem → -ㄴ다면.
- Fill in the blank제가 ______ 매일 맛있는 걸 먹을 거예요. (부자)
Check answer
제가 부자라면 매일 맛있는 걸 먹을 거예요.
Noun ending in a vowel → 라면.
- Choose the natural form(현실적인 계획) 내일 비가 (오면 / 온다면) 우산을 가져갈게요.
Check answer
오면
Realistic everyday condition → -(으)면 is more natural (온다면 is possible but sounds hypothetical).
- Choose the natural form외계인을 (만나면 / 만난다면) 무슨 말을 하고 싶어요?
Check answer
만난다면
Imaginary situation → -ㄴ/는다면.
- Fix the mistake돈이 많는다면 집을 사고 싶어요.
Check answer
돈이 많다면 집을 사고 싶어요.
많다 is an adjective → -다면.
- Say it in KoreanIf I were you, I’d talk to her first.
Check answer
제가 당신이라면 먼저 그 사람하고 이야기해 볼 거예요.
“If I were you” → 제가 당신이라면 (or 제가 ○○ 씨라면).
Today’s key point
Supposing: verbs -ㄴ/는다면, adjectives/있다 -다면, nouns (이)라면, past -았/었다면. Use -(으)면 for everyday realistic conditions, -다면 for imaginary or less likely ones.
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