📨

Simply Because (Quoted): -다기에

Keywords
-다기에
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
📨
TL;DR 🦄
  • -다기에 [-da-gi-e] means “because I heard/was told that…” or “since someone said that…”
  • It connects reported information to the speaker’s action: 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요. = I brought an umbrella because I heard it would rain.
  • It is close to -다고 해서, but often feels more compact, written, polished, or slightly formal.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 온다기에 [on-da-gi-e], 맛있다기에 [ma-sit-da-gi-e], 학생이라기에 [hak-saeng-i-ra-gi-e], and 취소됐다기에 [chwi-so-dwaet-da-gi-e]. Listen for the “reported reason” chunk before the main action. 📨
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-다기에 is used when your action or reaction is based on something you heard, read, were told, or understood from someone else.
 
It often feels like:
  • “because I heard that…”
  • “because someone said that…”
  • “since it was said that…”
  • “because I was told that…”
 
Example:
  • 그 식당이 맛있다기에 가 봤어요.
      • [geu sik-dang-i ma-sit-da-gi-e ga bwa-sseo-yo]
      I tried going to that restaurant because I heard it was delicious. 🍜
      식당 [sik-dang] = restaurant, 맛있다 [ma-sit-da] = to be delicious, 가 보다 [ga bo-da] = to try going.
 
Tiny grammar map:
  • 맛있다 = it is delicious
  • 맛있다고 하다 = someone says it is delicious
  • 맛있다기에 = because I heard/someone said it is delicious
 
So -다기에 is not a plain “because.” It usually implies your reason comes from reported information.
 

🧠 Core Meaning

Reported information → speaker’s action

The first clause is what you heard. The second clause is what you did because of it.
 
  • 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요.
      • [bi-ga on-da-gi-e u-sa-neul ga-jyeo-wa-sseo-yo]
      I brought an umbrella because I heard it would rain. ☔
 
  • 친구가 바쁘다기에 혼자 갔어요.
      • [chin-gu-ga ba-ppeu-da-gi-e hon-ja ga-sseo-yo]
      My friend said they were busy, so I went alone. 🚶
 
  • 수업이 취소됐다기에 집에 있었어요.
      • [su-eo-bi chwi-so-dwaet-da-gi-e ji-be i-sseo-sseo-yo]
      I stayed home because I heard class was canceled. 🏠
 

🎨 Formation Rules

Use the quoted-statement base, then add 기에.
 

1. Action verbs: -ㄴ/는다기에

  • Vowel stem or ㄹ-stem → -ㄴ다기에
  • Consonant stem → -는다기에
 
Examples:
  • 가다 → 간다기에 [ga-da → gan-da-gi-e] = because I heard someone is going
  • 오다 → 온다기에 [o-da → on-da-gi-e] = because I heard someone/it is coming
  • 먹다 → 먹는다기에 [meok-da → meong-neun-da-gi-e] = because I heard someone eats/is eating
  • 읽다 → 읽는다기에 [ik-da → ing-neun-da-gi-e] = because I heard someone reads/is reading
  • 살다 → 산다기에 [sal-da → san-da-gi-e] = because I heard someone lives
 

2. Descriptive verbs / adjectives: -다기에

  • 맛있다 → 맛있다기에 [ma-sit-da-gi-e] = because I heard it is delicious
  • 어렵다 → 어렵다기에 [eo-ryeop-da-gi-e] = because I heard it is difficult
  • 멀다 → 멀다기에 [meol-da-gi-e] = because I heard it is far
  • 비싸다 → 비싸다기에 [bi-ssa-da-gi-e] = because I heard it is expensive
 

3. Nouns: -(이)라기에

  • Consonant noun + 이라기에
  • Vowel noun + 라기에
 
Examples:
  • 학생 → 학생이라기에 [hak-saeng-i-ra-gi-e] = because I heard they are a student
  • 의사 → 의사라기에 [ui-sa-ra-gi-e] = because I heard they are a doctor
  • 휴일 → 휴일이라기에 [hyu-il-i-ra-gi-e] = because I heard it is a holiday
  • 무료 → 무료라기에 [mu-ryo-ra-gi-e] = because I heard it is free
 

4. Past and future

  • Past: -았다/었다기에
    • 갔다기에 [gat-da-gi-e] = because I heard they went
    • 끝났다기에 [kkeut-nat-da-gi-e] = because I heard it ended
  • Future/plan: -(으)ㄹ 거라기에
    • 갈 거라기에 [gal geo-ra-gi-e] = because I heard they would go
    • 취소될 거라기에 [chwi-so-doel geo-ra-gi-e] = because I heard it would be canceled
 

🛠️ How It Works in Real Sentences

Action based on what you heard

  • 내일 눈이 온다기에 장갑을 샀어요.
      • [nae-il nu-ni on-da-gi-e jang-ga-beul sa-sseo-yo]
      I bought gloves because I heard it would snow tomorrow. 🧤
      눈이 오다 [nu-ni o-da] = to snow, 장갑 [jang-gap] = gloves.
 
  • 길이 막힌다기에 일찍 나왔어요.
      • [gi-ri ma-kin-da-gi-e il-jjik na-wa-sseo-yo]
      I left early because I heard the road would be jammed. 🚗
      길 [gil] = road, 막히다 [ma-ki-da] = to be blocked/jammed.
 

Trying something because of what people said

  • 이 책이 좋다기에 읽어 봤어요.
      • [i chae-gi jo-ta-gi-e il-geo bwa-sseo-yo]
      I tried reading this book because I heard it was good. 📘
 
  • 그 카페가 조용하다기에 거기서 공부했어요.
      • [geu ka-pe-ga jo-yong-ha-da-gi-e geo-gi-seo gong-bu-hae-sseo-yo]
      I studied there because I heard that café was quiet. ☕
 

Reacting to reported identity or status

  • 오늘이 휴일이라기에 은행에 가지 않았어요.
      • [o-neu-ri hyu-il-i-ra-gi-e eun-haeng-e ga-ji a-na-sseo-yo]
      I didn’t go to the bank because I heard today was a holiday. 🏦
 
  • 무료라기에 바로 신청했어요.
      • [mu-ryo-ra-gi-e ba-ro sin-cheong-hae-sseo-yo]
      I signed up right away because I heard it was free. 🎟️
 

🔍 -다기에 vs -다고 해서

These two are close, and many sentences can use either.
 

-다고 해서

More common and flexible in speech. It can mean both:
  1. “because someone said/heard that…”
  1. “just because…”
 
  • 비가 온다고 해서 우산을 가져왔어요.
      • I brought an umbrella because I heard it would rain.
 
  • 비싸다고 해서 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
      • Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s all good.
 

-다기에

Usually focuses on heard/reported reason → action. It feels more compact, polished, or written. It is less natural for the “just because A doesn’t mean B” pattern.
 
  • 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요.
      • I brought an umbrella because I heard it would rain.
 
Natural contrast:
  • ✅ 비싸다고 해서 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
      • Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s all good.
  • ⚠️ 비싸다기에 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
      • Awkward for the “just because” meaning.
 

🔍 -다기에 vs Plain Reason Grammar

-다기에

Reported reason.
  • 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요.
      • I brought an umbrella because I heard it would rain.
 

-아서/어서

Direct reason/result.
  • 비가 와서 우산을 가져왔어요.
      • I brought an umbrella because it rained.
 

-기 때문에

Strong direct reason.
  • 비가 오기 때문에 우산을 가져왔어요.
      • I brought an umbrella because it was raining.
 

-(으)니까

Reason for request/suggestion/decision.
  • 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요.
      • Since it’s raining, please take an umbrella.
 
Shortcut:
  • 비가 온다기에 → I heard it would rain, so...
  • 비가 와서 → it rained, so...
 

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson was cross-checked against 국립국어원 / korean.go.kr resources, which list the family -ㄴ다기에, -는다기에, -다기에, and -라기에 as a Korean expression pattern. It was also compared with
🗣️
Citing Someone Else's Reason: -다고 해서,
🗣️
Indirect Quote (Statement): -다고 하다,
🏛️
Formal/Written Reason: -(으)므로, and
🧭
Reason for Request: -(으)니까. Practical lesson choice: teach -다기에 as a compact quoted-reason connector for actions based on heard information.
 

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • -다기에 [-da-gi-e] = because I heard/was told that… 📨
  • -다고 해서 [-da-go hae-seo] = because someone said; just because 🗣️
  • -다고 하다 [-da-go ha-da] = to say that… / indirect quotation
  • -대요 [-dae-yo] = they say… / I hear… statement
  • -아서/어서 [-a-seo/-eo-seo] = because/so; direct reason-result
  • -기 때문에 [-gi ttae-mu-ne] = because; strong direct reason
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 비가 오다기에 for “because I heard it would rain” → ✅ 비가 온다기에
  • ❌ 먹다기에 for “because I heard they eat” → ✅ 먹는다기에
  • ❌ 학생라기에 → ✅ 학생이라기에
  • ❌ Using -다기에 for every “because” → ✅ Use it when the reason is reported/heard information.
  • ⚠️ Do not use it as the best default for “just because A doesn’t mean B.” Use -다고 해서 for that pattern.
 
🎉 Reported-reason grammar unlocked. With -다기에, you can say you acted because of what you heard: 맛있다기에 가 봤어요, 무료라기에 신청했어요, 취소됐다기에 집에 있었어요. 📨✨
 
Try this exercise
Instructions Complete each sentence with the correct -다기에 form.
1. 오다 → 비가 ＿＿＿＿ 우산을 가져왔어요. ☔
Answer
온다기에 — “because I heard it would rain.”
2. 맛있다 → 그 식당이 ＿＿＿＿ 가 봤어요. 🍜
Answer
맛있다기에
3. 학생 → 그 사람이 ＿＿＿＿ 도움을 줬어요. 🎓
Answer
학생이라기에
4. 무료 → 무료＿＿＿＿ 신청했어요. 🎟️
Answer
무료라기에
5. 먹다 → 다 같이 ＿＿＿＿ 저도 갔어요. 🍚
Answer
먹는다기에
6. 끝나다 → 회의가 ＿＿＿＿ 들어가지 않았어요. 💼
Answer
끝났다기에
7. 멀다 → 거리가 ＿＿＿＿ 택시를 탔어요. 🚕
Answer
멀다기에
8. 살다 → 친구가 부산에 ＿＿＿＿ 연락했어요. 🌊
Answer
산다기에
9. Fix it: ❌ 비가 오다기에 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
비가 온다기에
10. Choose the better “just because” pattern:
① 비싸다기에 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
② 비싸다고 해서 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
Answer
② — use -다고 해서 for “just because A doesn’t mean B.”
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 비가 오다 [bi-ga o-da] → to rain
  • 우산 [u-san] → umbrella
  • 식당 [sik-dang] → restaurant
  • 맛있다 [ma-sit-da] → to be delicious
  • 학생 [hak-saeng] → student
  • 무료 [mu-ryo] → free of charge
  • 회의 [hoe-ui] → meeting
  • 멀다 [meol-da] → to be far
  • 부산 [bu-san] → Busan
Tip 💡 Ask: “Did I act because of information I heard?” If yes, -다기에 may fit.
🚀
Want more reps? Keep scrolling to the Practice Hub when you’re ready!
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Simply Because (Quoted): -다기에
 
This Practice Hub trains quoted-reason sentences: you hear something, then you act based on it. Each exercise has 10 questions, A–J. Tiny rumor courier not included. 📨
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets when you want to hear each completed sentence.
 

Exercise 1 — Action Verb Reported Reasons 🏃

A. 비가 ＿＿＿＿ 우산을 가져왔어요.
I brought an umbrella because I heard it would rain.
Answer
온다기에
B. 친구가 ＿＿＿＿ 기다렸어요.
I waited because my friend said they were coming.
Answer
온다기에
C. 민수가 먼저 ＿＿＿＿ 따라갔어요.
I followed because I heard Minsu was going first.
Answer
간다기에
D. 다 같이 ＿＿＿＿ 저도 갔어요.
I went too because I heard everyone was eating together.
Answer
먹는다기에
E. 지수가 그 책을 ＿＿＿＿ 빌려줬어요.
I lent it because I heard Jisu was reading that book.
Answer
읽는다기에
F. 친구가 부산에 ＿＿＿＿ 연락했어요.
I contacted them because I heard my friend lives in Busan.
Answer
산다기에
G. 가게가 오늘 ＿＿＿＿ 내일 가기로 했어요.
I decided to go tomorrow because I heard the store is closed today.
Answer
쉰다기에
H. 선생님이 다시 ＿＿＿＿ 기다렸어요.
I waited because I heard the teacher would explain again.
Answer
설명한다기에
I. 아이들이 밖에서 ＿＿＿＿ 문을 열어 줬어요.
I opened the door because I heard the children were playing outside.
Answer
논다기에 — 놀다 drops ㄹ.
J. 엄마가 김치를 ＿＿＿＿ 도와드렸어요.
I helped because I heard Mom was making kimchi.
Answer
만든다기에 — 만들다 drops ㄹ.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 오다 → to come / rain
  • 가다 → to go
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 읽다 → to read
  • 살다 → to live
  • 쉬다 → to rest / be closed
  • 설명하다 → to explain
  • 놀다 → to play / hang out
  • 만들다 → to make
Tip 💡 Action verbs use -ㄴ다기에 or -는다기에.
 

Exercise 2 — Description Reported Reasons 🎨

A. 그 식당이 ＿＿＿＿ 가 봤어요.
I went because I heard the restaurant was delicious.
Answer
맛있다기에
B. 시험이 ＿＿＿＿ 더 공부했어요.
I studied more because I heard the exam was difficult.
Answer
어렵다기에
C. 집이 역에서 ＿＿＿＿ 택시를 탔어요.
I took a taxi because I heard the house was far from the station.
Answer
멀다기에
D. 가격이 ＿＿＿＿ 안 샀어요.
I didn’t buy it because I heard the price was expensive.
Answer
비싸다기에
E. 그 카페가 ＿＿＿＿ 공부하러 갔어요.
I went to study because I heard the café was quiet.
Answer
조용하다기에
F. 길이 ＿＿＿＿ 일찍 나왔어요.
I left early because I heard the road was complicated/crowded.
Answer
복잡하다기에
G. 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿ 코트를 입었어요.
I wore a coat because I heard the weather was cold.
Answer
춥다기에
H. 방이 ＿＿＿＿ 다른 방을 예약했어요.
I booked another room because I heard the room was small.
Answer
작다기에
I. 그 영화가 ＿＿＿＿ 봤어요.
I watched it because I heard the movie was fun.
Answer
재미있다기에
J. 이 방법이 ＿＿＿＿ 따라 해 봤어요.
I tried following it because I heard this method was easy.
Answer
쉽다기에
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 맛있다 → to be delicious
  • 어렵다 → to be difficult
  • 멀다 → to be far
  • 비싸다 → to be expensive
  • 조용하다 → to be quiet
  • 복잡하다 → to be crowded/complicated
  • 춥다 → to be cold
  • 작다 → to be small
  • 재미있다 → to be fun/interesting
  • 쉽다 → to be easy
Tip 💡 Descriptive verbs use -다기에.
 

Exercise 3 — Nouns and Status 🏷️

A. 그 사람이 ＿＿＿＿ 길을 알려 줬어요.
I gave directions because I heard the person was a student.
Answer
학생이라기에
B. 그분이 ＿＿＿＿ 병원 이름을 물어봤어요.
I asked the hospital name because I heard that person was a doctor.
Answer
의사라기에
C. 오늘이 ＿＿＿＿ 은행에 가지 않았어요.
I didn’t go to the bank because I heard today was a holiday.
Answer
휴일이라기에
D. 이 수업이 ＿＿＿＿ 신청했어요.
I signed up because I heard this class was free.
Answer
무료라기에
E. 여기가 ＿＿＿＿ 기다렸어요.
I waited because I heard this was the entrance.
Answer
입구라기에
F. 그게 ＿＿＿＿ 먹어 봤어요.
I tried eating it because I heard it was Korean food.
Answer
한국 음식이라기에
G. 오늘이 ＿＿＿＿ 케이크를 샀어요.
I bought cake because I heard today was their birthday.
Answer
생일이라기에
H. 그곳이 ＿＿＿＿ 사진을 찍으러 갔어요.
I went to take pictures because I heard that place was a tourist attraction.
Answer
관광지라기에
I. 민수가 ＿＿＿＿ 연락했어요.
I contacted Minsu because I heard Minsu was the manager.
Answer
매니저라기에
J. 그게 ＿＿＿＿ 버리지 않았어요.
I didn’t throw it away because I heard it was an important document.
Answer
중요한 서류라기에
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 학생 → student
  • 의사 → doctor
  • 휴일 → holiday
  • 무료 → free of charge
  • 입구 → entrance
  • 한국 음식 → Korean food
  • 생일 → birthday
  • 관광지 → tourist attraction
  • 매니저 → manager
  • 서류 → document
Tip 💡 Consonant noun + 이라기에; vowel noun + 라기에.
 

Exercise 4 — Past and Future Reported Reasons ⏳

A. 회의가 ＿＿＿＿ 집에 갔어요.
I went home because I heard the meeting was canceled.
Answer
취소됐다기에
B. 수업이 벌써 ＿＿＿＿ 들어가지 않았어요.
I didn’t go in because I heard class had already ended.
Answer
끝났다기에
C. 표가 다 ＿＿＿＿ 다른 날을 골랐어요.
I chose another day because I heard all tickets were sold out.
Answer
매진됐다기에
D. 친구가 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 혼자 먹었어요.
I ate alone because I heard my friend had already eaten.
Answer
먹었다기에
E. 민수가 어제 ＿＿＿＿ 전화했어요.
I called because I heard Minsu went yesterday.
Answer
갔다기에
F. 내일 비가 ＿＿＿＿ 일정을 바꿨어요.
I changed the schedule because I heard it would rain tomorrow.
Answer
올 거라기에
G. 다음 주에 한국에 ＿＿＿＿ 선물을 샀어요.
I bought a gift because I heard they would go to Korea next week.
Answer
갈 거라기에
H. 가게가 문을 ＿＿＿＿ 오늘 샀어요.
I bought it today because I heard the store would close.
Answer
닫을 거라기에
I. 가격이 ＿＿＿＿ 빨리 샀어요.
I bought it quickly because I heard the price would go up.
Answer
오를 거라기에
J. 시험이 ＿＿＿＿ 미리 준비했어요.
I prepared in advance because I heard the exam would be difficult.
Answer
어려울 거라기에
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 취소되다 → to be canceled
  • 끝나다 → to end
  • 매진되다 → to be sold out
  • 이미 → already
  • 일정 → schedule
  • 선물 → gift
  • 문을 닫다 → to close
  • 가격이 오르다 → price rises
  • 미리 → in advance
Tip 💡 Past: -았다/었다기에. Future: -(으)ㄹ 거라기에.
 

Exercise 5 — Contrast and Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 비가 오다기에 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
비가 온다기에
B. ❌ 먹다기에 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹는다기에
C. ❌ 학생라기에 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
학생이라기에
D. ❌ 의사이라기에 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
의사라기에
E. Direct reason: “because it rained, I brought an umbrella.” Choose better:
① 비가 와서 우산을 가져왔어요.
② 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요.
Answer
① — direct reason. Use -다기에 when the reason is something heard/reported.
F. Heard reason: “because I heard it would rain, I brought an umbrella.” Choose better:
① 비가 와서 우산을 가져왔어요.
② 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요.
Answer
② — reported reason.
G. “Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s good.” Choose better:
① 비싸다기에 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
② 비싸다고 해서 다 좋은 건 아니에요.
Answer
② — -다고 해서 is the natural “just because” pattern.
H. 무료라기에 신청했어요. means:
Answer
I applied/signed up because I heard it was free.
I. 취소됐다기에 집에 있었어요. means:
Answer
I stayed home because I heard it had been canceled.
J. Best use of -다기에:
Answer
When an action is based on reported/heard information: “I heard A, so I did B.”
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Final Check
  • 온다기에 = because I heard it comes/rains
  • 먹는다기에 = because I heard they eat
  • 맛있다기에 = because I heard it is delicious
  • 학생이라기에 = because I heard they are a student
  • 취소됐다기에 = because I heard it was canceled
Tip 💡 -다기에 = reported information → action.
 
🎉 You’ve finished -다기에. You can now explain actions based on what you heard with compact, polished Korean: 맛있다기에 가 봤어요, 무료라기에 신청했어요, 비가 온다기에 우산을 가져왔어요. 📨✨