HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 14 · LESSON 99
-(으)ㄴ/는 데다가On top of… / Not only that, but…
-(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 piles one fact on top of another, both pointing the same way: “It’s cheap, and on top of that it’s tasty.” Good + good, or bad + bad. It is not used for contrast.
Listen buttons use your device’s Korean voice. A Korean voice must be installed and available to the browser.
A situation you already know
A friend asks why you always go to the same restaurant.
That restaurant is cheap, and on top of that, the food is good.
Two good points, stacked. 데다가 says “and that’s not all.”
Build the form
- 싸다 → 싸 + ㄴ 데다가 → 싼 데다가Complete expression
- 많다 → 많 + 은 데다가 → 많은 데다가Complete expression
- 오다 → 오 + 는 데다가 → 오는 데다가Complete expression
- 먹었다 → 먹 + 은 데다가 → 먹은 데다가Complete expression
- 학생 → 학생 + 인 데다가 → 학생인 데다가Complete expression
- Adjectives: -(으)ㄴ 데다가 → 싼 데다가, 좋은 데다가, 추운 데다가.
- Verbs and 있다/없다 (present): -는 데다가 → 오는 데다가, 맛있는 데다가.
- Verbs (past): -(으)ㄴ 데다가 → 먹은 데다가, 잠을 못 잔 데다가.
- Nouns: 인 데다가 → 학생인 데다가, 주말인 데다가.
- 가 can be dropped: 싼 데다 맛있어요.
- Both halves point the same way. 도 or 까지 often appears in the second half: 비까지 와요.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English “on top of that / besides / plus” matches well, but in Korean the connector sits between the two facts.
- At the start of a new sentence, use 게다가: 싸요. 게다가 맛있어요.
- It is not for contrast: ✗싼 데다가 맛없어요 (cheap but not tasty) → use -지만.
Six examples in context
It’s cold today, and on top of that it’s raining.
This apartment is spacious, and it’s close to the station too.
I couldn’t sleep last night, and I missed breakfast too.
That singer sings well and dances well too.
It was the weekend and the weather was nice, so it was crowded.
The roads were jammed, and on top of that there was an accident.
Compare with related patterns
-고
싸고 맛있어요.“Cheap and tasty.” Simply lists; 데다가 stresses “and that’s not all.”
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라
쌀 뿐만 아니라 맛있어요.“Not only cheap, but also tasty.” Similar and a bit more formal (Lesson 134).
-지만
싸지만 맛없어요.“Cheap, but not tasty.” For contrast, use -지만, not 데다가.
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 | add a second point in the same direction |
| -고 | simply list |
| -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 | not only… but also (more formal) |
| -지만 | contrast |
Common mistakes
Adjectives take -(으)ㄴ 데다가.
It is raining right now → present -는 데다가.
For contrast, use -지만.
Nouns take 인 데다가.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank이 카페는 커피가 ______ 분위기도 좋아요. (맛있다)
Check answer
이 카페는 커피가 맛있는 데다가 분위기도 좋아요.
있다 type → -는 데다가.
- Fill in the blank오늘은 머리가 ______ 열도 나요. (아프다)
Check answer
오늘은 머리가 아픈 데다가 열도 나요.
Adjective → -(으)ㄴ 데다가.
- Choose the natural form어제 많이 (걸은 데다가 / 걷는 데다가) 잠도 못 자서 피곤해요.
Check answer
걸은 데다가
A past action → -(으)ㄴ 데다가; 걷다 is ㄷ irregular.
- Choose the natural form이 노트북은 가벼운 데다가 (배터리도 오래가요 / 너무 비싸요).
Check answer
배터리도 오래가요
Same direction: good + good.
- Fix the mistake그 사람은 친절하는 데다가 재미있어요.
Check answer
그 사람은 친절한 데다가 재미있어요.
친절하다 is an adjective → 친절한.
- Say it in KoreanIt’s Monday, and on top of that it’s raining.
Check answer
월요일인 데다가 비까지 와요.
Noun → 인 데다가; 까지 adds “even.”
Today’s key point
Stack facts in the same direction: adjective -(으)ㄴ 데다가, verb -는 데다가 (past -(으)ㄴ 데다가), noun 인 데다가. Not for contrast.
Keep learning
M.A. in Korean Language Education · Certified Korean language teacher
About the educator →