-니

Korean

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

Etymology 1

A nineteenth-century contraction of Early Modern Korean ᄂᆞ니 (-neuni), which it replaces, as attested by the older spelling 늬 (-nui). The uncontracted form is now written 느니 (-neuni) due to spelling reforms and no longer has interrogative meaning; see there for more. As expected by the etymology, 니 (-ni) could originally only combine with verbs and existential adjectives but expanded rapidly to adjectives in the early twentieth century.

Suffix

니 • (-ni)

1. A plain-style interrogative suffix, with a more friendly tone than 냐 (-nya).

   너 가니? ― Neo ga-ni? ― Are you going?

   여우야, 여우야, 뭐 하니? ― Yeou-ya, yeou-ya, mwo ha-ni? ― Foxy, foxy, what are you doing?

Usage notes

• More often used by women.

Particle

니 • (-ni)

1. With an indirect quote, equivalent to a short form of 고 하니 (-go ha-ni, “does [one] say that...”)

   친구가 아프다니? ― Chin'gu-ga apeuda-ni? ― Does he say that his friend is sick?

   같이 런던으로 가자니? ― Gachi Reondeon-euro ga-ja-ni? ― Is he asking to go to London with him?

2. With an indirect quote, equivalent to a short form of 고 하다니 (-go ha-dani, “how can [one] say that...”)

   나보고 도둑이냐니. ― Na-bogo dodug-inya-ni. ― How on earth could he ask if I'm a thief?

Etymology 2

From Middle Korean 니〮 (Yale: -ní). See the main entry for more.

Suffix

니 • (-ni)

1. Post-vowel and post-ㄹ (l) allomorphic form of 으니 (-euni, “because, since”).

Particle

니 • (-ni)

1. In an indirect quote, equivalent to a short form of 고 하니 (-go ha-ni, “since [one] says that...”)

   너가 아니라니 다행이야. ― Neo-ga ani-ra-ni dahaeng-iya. ― What a relief that it isn't you.

   여기 남으라니 남았지. ― Yeogi nam-eura-ni namatji. ― I stayed behind because you told me to.

   좋은 대학에 붙었다니 잘 됐지.

   Jo'eun daehag-e buteot-da-ni jal dwaetji.

   Given that he went to a good university, things have turned out well.

Etymology 3

Suffix

니... 니 • (-ni... -ni)

1. Colloquial form of 느니 (-neuni).

   하니 마니 ― ha-ni ma-ni ― whether to do it or not

Suffix

니... 니 • (-ni... -ni)

1. Post-vowel and post-liquid allomorphic form of 으니 (-euni, alternative form of 느니 (-neuni)).

Etymology 4

From Middle Korean 니〮 (Yale: -ní). See the main entry for more.

Suffix

니 • (-ni)

1. Post-vowel and post-liquid allomorphic form of 으니 (-euni, alternative form of 느니 (-neuni)).

References