Korean Pattern ~(으)니까: How to Say "because / since (with commands)"

Verb stem + (으)니까. Reason clause that CAN be used with commands and proposals, unlike ~아/어서.

The Rule

~(으)니까 = "because / since (with commands)" Verb stem + (으)니까. Reason clause that CAN be used with commands and proposals, unlike ~아/어서. This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "because / since (with commands)" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "because / since (with commands)" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~(으)니까 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + (으)니까 Verb stem + (으)니까. Reason clause that CAN be used with commands and proposals, unlike ~아/어서. Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가으니까 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 추우니까 옷을 입으세요. (chuunikka oteur ipeuseyo.) — "Since it's cold, put on clothes." • 늦었으니까 빨리 가자. (neuteoteunikka pparri gaja.) — "Since it's late, let's go quickly."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "because / since (with commands)" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~(으)니까 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "because / since (with commands)" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~(으)니까 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가으니까 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹으니까 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~(으)니까 = "because / since (with commands)"

Examples

추우니까 옷을 입으세요. — chuunikka oteur ipeuseyo. — Since it's cold, put on clothes.

늦었으니까 빨리 가자. — neuteoteunikka pparri gaja. — Since it's late, let's go quickly.