-(으)니까 (because)

-(으)니까 (because)

The Korean grammar pattern -(으)니까 is used to express the reason or cause of an action or situation. It can be translated as 'because' or 'since' in English, and is used to connect two clauses in a sentence.

The -(으)니까 ending can also be used to express a suggestion or advice, with the first clause expressing the reason and the second clause expressing the suggestion. For example, "지금 시간이 늦으니까 지하철을 타세요" (Since it's late, you should take the subway).

When the adjective/verb stem ends with a vowel or ㄹ, add –니까

이다 (to be)

1. 이다 -> 이
2. 이 + 니까
3. 이니까

오다 (to come)

1. 오다 -> 오
2. 오 + 니까
3. 오니까

보다 (to see)

1. 보다 -> 보
2. 보 + 니까
3. 보니까

• 저는 학생이니까 출입 가능해요. (I'm a student, so I can enter.)
• 친구가 집에 오니까 청소를 해야 해요. (My friend came home, so I have to clean up.)
• 이따가 영화를 보니까 미리 준비를 해야 해요. (I'm going to watch a movie later, so I have to prepare in advance.)

When the adjective/verb stem ends with a final consonant, use –으니까

작다 (to be small)

1. 작다 -> 작
2. 작 + 으니까
3. 작으니까

넓다 (to be wide)

1. 넓다 -> 넓
2. 넓 + 으니까
3. 넓으니까

듣다 *irregular verb (to listen)

1. 듣다 -> 들
2. 들 + 으니까
3. 들으니까

• 이방은 작으니까 다른 방을 볼래요. (This room is small, so I want to look at another room.)
• 학교가 너무 넓으니까 버스를 타야 돼요. (The school is too wide, so you have to take the bus.)
• 한국어를 들으니까 더 집중해야 돼요. (I have to focus more because I’m listening to Korean.)

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Here are some additional examples of how to use -(으)니까 in sentences:

• 날씨가 추우니까 따뜻하게 입으세요. (Since the weather is cold, dress warmly.)
• 한국어를 능숙하게 하고 싶으니까 열심히 공부해야 돼요. (If you want to speak Korean well, you need to study hard.)
• 지하철이 많이 지체돼니까 일찍 집을 나와야 돼요. (Since the subway is delayed a lot, you should leave home early.)