-(이)거니
(i)geoni
Grammar · 3 senses
not only .... but also, as well as
Examples
그는 친절하거니와 지혜로워요.
He is not only kind but also wise.
날씨가 춥거니와 바람도 많이 불어요.
The weather is not only cold but also very windy.
이 음식은 맛있거니와 가격도 저렴해요.
This food is not only delicious but also affordable.
When you'd hear it
This is a formal, literary connective, most often encountered in writing, formal speeches, and polished descriptions rather than casual conversation. In actual examples, it commonly appears in the longer form 거니와, as in 친절하거니와 지혜로워요.
What learners get wrong
Learners may overuse it as a casual equivalent of 뿐만 아니라. Unlike 뿐만 아니라, -(이)거니 is a sentence-linking ending with a distinctly formal or literary tone.
indeed, yes, that is true
Examples
내가 잘못했거니 후회가 남았어요.
Yes, I was wrong, and I have regrets about it.
그녀가 바빴거니 더 이상 기다리지 않았어요.
Yes, she was busy, so I didn’t wait any longer.
When you'd hear it
This is literary and old-fashioned, appearing mainly in reflective prose, poetry, or historical-style dialogue rather than everyday conversation. Learners may encounter it in novels and older dramas, but it is unusual in the workplace or with friends.
What learners get wrong
Do not confuse -(이)거니 with -거나, which presents alternatives such as “or.” -(이)거니 is an acknowledgment pattern, not a choice between two possibilities.
Repetition or Alternation
Examples
사람들이 모임에 오거니 가거니 합니다.
People come and go to the gathering.
When you'd hear it
This pattern is mainly found in formal writing, literary prose, and speeches. In everyday conversation, speakers generally choose more familiar alternatives such as -거나 or -기도 하다.
What learners get wrong
Do not confuse -거니 with -거나: -거나 presents alternatives, while repeated forms such as 오거니 가거니 하다 describe the paired pattern found in the sentence. It commonly appears with 하다 at the end of the construction.
Ask Ipsae about -(이)거니
You looked up -(이)거니 — Ipsae makes sure you still know it in three weeks.
No account needed to try.