-(으)ㄴ지라
since, as it was
A reason given in a formal, slightly old-fashioned voice. Common enough in written Korean that you will meet it without going looking.
Build it
Pick a form
When to use it
Adjectives take -(으)ㄴ지라, verbs -는지라, and past forms -았/었는지라. Stems in ㄹ drop it, and the whole thing is written joined.
It gives a reason: 워낙 바쁜지라 연락을 드리지 못했습니다.
The tone is explanatory and slightly apologetic — you are accounting for something, often for a failure to do what was expected.
It is close to -(으)ㄴ/는 터라. 터라 rests on an existing circumstance; 지라 is more purely causal. Either usually fits.
How to attach it
| Word type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | -(으)ㄴ지라 | 바쁘다 → 바쁜지라 |
| Verb | -는지라 | 모르다 → 모르는지라 |
| Past | -았/었는지라 | 늦었는지라 |
| Ends in ㄹ | ㄹ drops | 만들다 → 만드는지라 |
| Spelling | joined — one ending | 바쁜지라 |
| Close relative | -(으)ㄴ/는 터라 | 바쁜 터라 |
In use
워낙 바쁜지라 연락을 드리지 못했습니다.
Being so very busy, I failed to get in touch.
사정을 잘 모르는지라 뭐라 말씀드리기 어렵습니다.
Not knowing the circumstances well, it is hard for me to say.
이미 늦었는지라 서둘러 봐야 소용없었다.
It being already late, hurrying was of no use.
처음 있는 일인지라 모두가 당황했다.
It being the first such occurrence, everyone was thrown.
부품을 직접 만드는지라 시간이 걸립니다.
As we make the parts ourselves, it takes time.
워낙 조용한 성격인지라 눈에 띄지 않았다.
Being of so quiet a disposition, he went unnoticed.
Compared with
-(으)ㄴ/는 터라
Very close, and usually interchangeable. 터라 rests on an existing footing; 지라 is more purely a reason.
바쁜 터라 못 갔다. / 바쁜지라 못 갔다.
-(으)므로
므로 is the standard formal causal, neutral in tone; 지라 is warmer and often apologetic.
바쁘므로 참석하지 못합니다. (notice) / 바쁜지라 연락을 못 드렸습니다. (explaining oneself)
-(으)매
Both are older causal endings. 매 is classical and appears mainly in scripture and verse; 지라 still turns up in ordinary formal writing.
뜻이 있으매 길이 열린다. (classical) / 바쁜지라 못 갔습니다. (formal, current)
Watch out
부품을 직접 만들는지라 시간이 걸립니다.
부품을 직접 만드는지라 시간이 걸립니다.
Stems ending in ㄹ drop it before -는, as everywhere in the modifier system.
워낙 바쁜 지라 연락을 못 드렸습니다.
워낙 바쁜지라 연락을 못 드렸습니다.
-(으)ㄴ지라 is a single ending and is written joined.
사정을 잘 모른지라 말씀드리기 어렵습니다.
사정을 잘 모르는지라 말씀드리기 어렵습니다.
모르다 is a verb, so it takes -는지라. -(으)ㄴ지라 belongs to adjectives.
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