Korean Pattern ~기 때문에: How to Say "because"

Verb stem + 기 때문에. More formal than ~아/어서. Used in writing and formal speech.

The Rule

~기 때문에 = "because" Verb stem + 기 때문에. More formal than ~아/어서. Used in writing and formal speech. This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "because" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "because" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~기 때문에 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 + 기 때문에 Verb stem + 기 때문에. More formal than ~아/어서. Used in writing and formal speech. Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가기 때문에 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 바쁘기 때문에 못 갔어요. (bappeugi ttaemune mot gateoyo.) — "Because I was busy, I couldn't go." • 비가 오기 때문에 우산을 가져가세요. (biga ogi ttaemune usaneur gajyeogaseyo.) — "Because it's raining, take an umbrella."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "because" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~기 때문에 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "because" 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 ~기 때문에 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가기 때문에 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹기 때문에 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~기 때문에 = "because"

Examples

바쁘기 때문에 못 갔어요. — bappeugi ttaemune mot gateoyo. — Because I was busy, I couldn't go.

비가 오기 때문에 우산을 가져가세요. — biga ogi ttaemune usaneur gajyeogaseyo. — Because it's raining, take an umbrella.