-(으)되
(eu)doe
Grammar · 2 senses
Says/said so
Examples
임금님이 말씀하시되, "들라 하라!"
The king said, "let him in!"
When you'd hear it
This is an archaic, literary quotative form found in historical narratives, old-style religious texts, and set portrayals of royal or formal speech. It is not used in ordinary modern conversation or workplace Korean.
What learners get wrong
Unlike modern quotation patterns such as -다고 하다 or -라고 하다, -(으)되 gives a distinctly old-fashioned narrative voice. It commonly appears before a direct quotation, as in 말씀하시되, rather than in everyday reported speech.
But, however, just
Examples
한국 드라마를 당연히 보시되 영어 자막만 쓰지 마셔요.
Watch K-dramas, of course, just don't use English subtitles.
돈은 있으되 쓸 시간은 없다...
I have the money, but not the time to spend it...
When you'd hear it
-(으)되 is formal and is especially common in writing, speeches, official instructions, and careful advice. In dramas, it may appear in authoritative or old-fashioned speech; it is uncommon in casual conversation.
What learners get wrong
Unlike -지만, -(으)되 often frames a condition or instruction with a limitation, as in “do this, but…”. It can sound stiff in everyday conversation, where -지만 or -는데 is usually more natural.
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