Korean Grammar Point
~했더니 [haetdeoni] (After doing)

~했더니 [haetdeoni] (After doing)

Short explanation:

Used to express an unexpected result or surprise after doing an action.

Formation:

Verb in Past Tense + 더니

Examples:

나는 오늘 아침에 일찍 일어났더니, 헤드에이크가 심해졌어요.
Naneun oneul achime iljik ireonatdeoni, hedeueikeuga simhaejyeosseoyo.
I woke up early this morning and to my surprise, my headache got worse.
그녀에게 전화를 했더니, 그녀는 이미 집에 왔어요.
Geunyeoege jeonhwareul haetdeoni, geunyeoneun imi jibe wasseoyo.
I called her and surprisingly, she was already home.
나는 저녁을 먹고 숙제를 했더니, 어떻게 벌써 12시가 됐어요?
Naneun jeonyeogeul meokgo sukje reul haetdeoni, eotteoke beolsseo 12 siga dwaesseoyo?
I ate dinner and did my homework, how on earth is it already 12 o'clock?
나는 신발을 가게에서 샀더니, 집에 돌아왔을 때는 발이 아팠어요.
Naneun sinbaleul gageeseo sasseodeoni, jibe dorawasseul ttaeneun bali apasseoyo.
I bought shoes from the store, but when I got home, my feet hurt to my surprise.

Long explanation:

'~했더니 [haetdeoni]' is a grammar point used when the speaker wants to convey an unexpected or surprising outcome happened right after they did a certain action. It sometimes carries a nuance of a causal relationship between two events, but the emphasis is more on the surprise or unexpectedness from the result, not just the sequence or cause-and-effect relationship.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~했더니 [haetdeoni] (After doing)

Korean Grammar Point: ~했더니 [haetdeoni] (After doing)

Grammar Point: ~했더니 [haetdeoni] (After doing)

1. Introduction

The grammar structure ~했더니 is used in Korean to express the idea that after performing an action, a certain result or outcome occurs. This structure helps in narrating events and linking actions to their consequences.

2. Core Grammar Explanation

Detailed Explanation

  • The structure consists of the verb stem plus the suffix -했더니 (haetdeoni).
  • It indicates that the speaker did something, and as a result of that action, they experienced something else.

Structure

  • Formation Diagram:

    Verb Stem + 했더니
    
  • Examples of Verb Stems:

    • 하다 (hada) → 했더니 (haetdeoni)
    • 가다 (gada) → 갔더니 (gatdeoni)
    • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹었더니 (meogeotdeoni)

Meaning

  • The phrase can often be translated as "after doing (something), (something else) happened" in English.
  • It emphasizes a causative relationship between the action and the outcome.

Visual Aids

Korean Verb Stem Form ~했더니 Form English Translation
하다 (to do) 했더니 (haetdeoni) After doing..
가다 (to go) 갔더니 (gatdeoni) After going..
먹다 (to eat) 먹었 먹었더니 (meogeotdeoni) After eating..

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparison with Similar Grammar Points

  • ~아/어 보니: This structure also indicates a result but emphasizes personal experience after trying something. (e.g., "After trying, I realized...")

    Example:

    • 사라져 보니 (sara-ji bo-ni) — "After trying to disappear, I found..."
  • ~고 나서: This structure shows a sequence of actions but does not emphasize the result or consequence as strongly as ~했더니.

    Example:

    • 숙제를 하고 나서 게임을 했다 (suk-ja-reul ha-go na-seo ge-im-eul hae-dta) — "After doing homework, I played a game."

4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

  • Formal:
    • Korean: 저는 과제를 했더니 선생님이 칭찬하셨어요.
      English: After I did my assignment, the teacher praised me.
  • Informal:
    • Korean: 친구한테 이야기를 했더니 웃더라.
      English: After I talked to my friend, he laughed.
  • Written:
    • Korean: 시험을 준비했더니 좋은 결과를 얻었다.
      English: After I prepared for the exam, I achieved good results.
  • Spoken:
    • Korean: 요리했더니 맛있게 됐어!
      English: After I cooked, it turned out delicious!

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

  • In Korean culture, the outcome of actions often bears significance. The use of ~했더니 reflects society’s focus on responding to actions with appropriate feedback and consequences, which is an important aspect of Korean social interactions.

Levels of Politeness

  • The ending -했더니 can be made more formal or informal depending on the context by adjusting the verb form and ending used in the sentence (e.g., -했더니 -> -했더니요 for formal speech).

Idiomatic Expressions

  • There aren't specific idiomatic expressions with ~했더니, but the structure itself is commonly used for narrating everyday experiences and observations.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  • Common Error: Using ~했더니 without an appropriate verb conjugation for the context.
    • Incorrect: 저는 가기로 했더니.
    • Correct: 저는 갔더니.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: When thinking of ~했더니, visualize a cause-and-effect scenario. "I did this, and then that happened." This can help reinforce its usage.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~했더니 is used to indicate the result of an action.
  • The structure clearly links a previous action to its outcome.
  • Context is crucial for determining politeness and formality.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. What does ~했더니 express in a sentence?
  2. Provide a formal example using ~했더니.
  3. What is the difference between ~했더니 and ~고 나서?
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