Lesson 15
In this lesson, we are going to learn how to use -니 at the end of a 반말 sentence. Although we looked at -다니/라니 in the previous lesson, this sentence ending is unrelated to that grammar structure.
When can you use -니?
You can only use the -니 ending as a question to a child or someone who you are very close to, or when you are talking to yourself and wondering about something out loud. You cannot use it with anyone older than you.
What kind of meaning does it have?
When -니 is added at the end of a sentence, the sentence’s general meaning does not change, but the tone of the sentence becomes different. When using -니 at the end of a question, you sound more like an older person talking to a child. You can also use it to scold someone younger than you.
Comparison #1
Regular question: 다들 어디 있어? = Where are you guys?
-니 question: 다들 어디 있니? = Where are you guys? (You are probably an adult talking to a group of children.)
Comparison #2
Regular question: 뭐 해? = What are you doing?
-니 question: 뭐 하니? = What are you doing? (You sound like a teacher or adult talking to a child, or like you are talking to a very close friend who does not mind you talking "down" to them.)
Comparison #3
(A mom talking to her child)
Regular question: 엄마가 몇 번 말했어? = How many times did I tell you?
-니 question: 엄마가 몇 번 말했니? = How many times did I tell you? (You sound more upset.)
Usage examples
1. An adult talking to a child (or someone much younger)
꼬마야, 넌 이름이 뭐니?
= Little kid, what is your name?
민송이는 무슨 색깔 좋아하니?
= Minsong, what color do you like?
엄마 어디 계시니?
= Where is your mom?
* On rare occasions, you will hear an adult ending a question to other younger adults with -니. This is definitely not polite and shows the speaker's perception of the listener as someone younger or lower that they do not need to show respect toward.
2. Talking to a close friend
When talking to a close friend, some people use -냐 instead of -니. -냐 sounds stronger and is more commonly used by men, while -니 is more commonly used by women. You need to be careful when using this sentence ending, because if the other person does not feel close to you, they might be offended.
너는 왜 우니?
= Why are YOU crying?
여기서 혼자 뭐 하니?
= What are you doing alone here?
왜 자꾸 이랬다 저랬다 하니?
= Why do you keep going back and forth about your decision?
3. Poetic usage (especially song lyrics)
여우야, 여우야. 뭐 하니? (a line from a popular children's song)
= Fox, fox. What are you doing?
나의 반쪽을 채워 줄 너는 어디 있는 거니?
= The one who will fill my other half, where are you?
4. Scolding a child or a close friend
너 왜 선생님 말 안 듣니?
= Why do you not listen to your teacher?
너 제정신이니?
= Are you even in your right mind?
너 또 거짓말이니?
= Are you lying again?
5. Talking to oneself
나 뭐 하니?
= What am I even doing?
나 뭐라고 하는 거니?
= What am I talking about?
= What did I just say? (It was ridiculous.)
* You can also use this to respond to what someone else has said by dropping 나 and saying “뭐라고 하는 거니?”
나 오늘 왜 이렇게 예쁘니?
= (Looking in the mirror) Why am I so pretty today?
나 왜 이렇게 멍청하니?
= Why am I so stupid?