-다가

Korean

Alternative forms

• 다 (-da) — short form of both

Etymology 1

First attested in the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜 / 월인석보), 1459, as Middle Korean 다가〮 (Yale: -tàká), from 다ᄀᆞ다 (Yale: tako-ta, “to hold, to have”) + 아〮 (Yale: -á, verbal infinitive suffix). Equivalent to modern 다그 (dageu-) +‎ 아 (-a).

Particle

다가 • (-daga)

1. An emphatic particle.

   여기다가 두면 되겠소? ― Yeogi-daga dumyeon doegetso? ― Shall it be all right if I put it here?

   톱으로다가 나무를 이렇게 자르시오. ― Tob-euro-daga namu-reul ireoke jareusio. ― Cut the wood with the saw like this.

Usage notes

• The particle is attached to 에 (-e, “at”), 에게 (-ege, “to”), 한테 (-hante, “to”), and 으로 (-euro, “with, by”), and with certain adverbs or nouns referring to place, direction, or means. Historically, it could also combine with 을 (-eul, accusative case marker), but this is now fully obsolete.

Etymology 2

First attested in the Cheoyong-ga (處容歌 / 처용가), 1281, as Late Old Korean 如可 (Yale: *-taka). The Cheoyong-ga is claimed to be from the ninth century but is almost certainly of much later provenance, possibly as late as the thirteenth century. Not attested in earlier Old Korean sources.

In the Hangul script, first attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 다가〮 (Yale: -tàká).

Further etymology unclear. Early Middle Korean gugyeol evidence suggests that this is a compound of 더〮 (Yale: -té-, imperfect past suffix) + 오〮 (Yale: -wó-, unclear suffix, perhaps the modulator) + 가〮 (Yale: -ká, unclear suffix), but this is incompatible with the tonal pattern, as the syllable 다 has low pitch rather than the high pitch expected from this etymology. Perhaps the pitch was affected by that of the particle, although Kim Seong-gyu rejects this possibility.

Suffix

다가 • (-daga)

1. and then; conveys an action or state coming to a halt and another beginning

   비가 오다가 갑작스레 갰다.

   Bi-ga odaga gapjakseure gaetda.

   It was raining, then suddenly cleared.

   마라톤 선수는 뛰다가 쓰러졌다.

   Maraton seonsu-neun ttwidaga sseureojeotda.

   The marathon athlete was running, then collapsed.

2. when; while

   아무 생각 없이 걷다가 모서리에 부딪혔다.

   Amu saenggak eopsi geotdaga moseori-e budicheotda.

   I bumped into an edge while walking carelessly.

   가을 풍경을 그리다가 문득 네가 생각나서 이 글을 보낸다.

   Ga'eul punggyeong-eul geuridaga mundeuk ne-ga saenggangnaseo i geur-eul bonaenda.

   You suddenly came to mind when I was drawing the autumn scenery, you suddenly came to my mind, so that I am writing this letter.

3. because, due to

   뭐 하다가 이제 와? ― Mwo hadaga ije wa? ― What made you so late?

Suffix

다가... 다가 • (-daga... -daga)

1. changing repeatedly; over and over

   요새 날씨가 덥다가 춥다가 한다.

   Yosae nalssi-ga deopdaga chupdaga handa.

   The weather nowadays gets hot, then cold again.

References