-(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에
thanks to
A reason that gives credit. The result is always good, which makes it the standard way to thank someone for how things turned out.
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When to use it
With a noun, 덕분에 attaches directly: 선생님 덕분에, 여러분 덕분에. With a clause it follows the modifier system — verbs take -는 덕분에, completed actions -(으)ㄴ 덕분에, adjectives -(으)ㄴ 덕분에. Stems in ㄹ drop it.
The outcome must be good. 덕 means benefit or grace, so the construction always credits someone or something for a favourable result.
It is a fixed part of Korean politeness. 덕분에 잘 지내고 있습니다 is a standard reply to “how have you been,” and 덕분입니다 deflects praise onto the other person. Learners who never use it can sound less gracious than they intend.
The related 덕택에 means the same and sounds a little more formal.
How to attach it
| Situation | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any noun | noun + 덕분에 | 선생님 덕분에 |
| Completed action | -(으)ㄴ 덕분에 | 돕다 → 도와주신 덕분에 |
| Verb, present | -는 덕분에 | 일하는 덕분에 |
| Ends in ㄹ | ㄹ drops | 만들다 → 만드는 덕분에 |
| Set expression | 덕분입니다 | 다 덕분입니다 |
| Result must be | good | bad outcomes take 탓에 |
In use
선생님 덕분에 시험에 합격했어요.
I passed the exam thanks to you.
도와주신 덕분에 일이 잘 끝났습니다.
Thanks to your help, the work finished smoothly.
덕분에 잘 지내고 있습니다.
I’ve been well, thank you for asking.
날씨가 좋은 덕분에 행사를 무사히 마쳤어요.
Thanks to the good weather, the event finished without a hitch.
어머니가 매일 만드는 덕분에 건강해졌어요.
Thanks to my mother cooking every day, I’ve got healthier.
아닙니다. 다 여러분 덕분입니다.
Not at all — it’s all thanks to you.
Compared with
-(으)ㄴ/는 탓에
An exact pair. 덕분에 credits, 탓에 blames. The result decides which one you can use.
도와주신 덕분에 잘됐어요. (credit) / 준비가 부족한 탓에 실패했어요. (blame)
-기 때문에
때문에 is neutral. Using it where 덕분에 belongs is grammatical but sounds oddly flat when someone has done you a favour.
선생님 때문에 합격했어요. (because of you) / 선생님 덕분에 합격했어요. (thanks to you)
덕택에
The same meaning in a slightly more formal register, common in speeches and written thanks.
덕분에 잘 지냅니다. / 여러분의 덕택에 성공했습니다.
Watch out
비가 온 덕분에 행사가 취소됐어요.
비가 온 탓에 행사가 취소됐어요.
덕분 means benefit. For an unwelcome outcome the word is 탓.
어머니가 매일 만들는 덕분에 건강해졌어요.
어머니가 매일 만드는 덕분에 건강해졌어요.
Stems ending in ㄹ drop it before -는, as everywhere in the modifier system.
선생님 때문에 합격했어요.
선생님 덕분에 합격했어요.
Not ungrammatical, but 때문에 is neutral and can even sound like blame. When thanking someone, 덕분에 is the expected word.
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