-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다

Build it

When to use it

The form follows the modifier system. Adjectives take -(으)ㄴ 편이다: 좋은 편이에요. Verbs take -는 편이다: 자주 가는 편이에요. Stems in ㄹ drop it.

It softens a characterisation. 저는 매운 음식을 잘 먹는 편이에요 says you are on the “handles spice” side without claiming to be an expert. Korean speakers use it constantly when describing themselves, because flat self-assessment sounds blunt.

It describes tendencies, not single events. A one-off has no side to be on: 어제 늦은 편이에요 does not work, because being late once yesterday is a fact rather than a pattern.

How to attach it

In use

1. 저는 매운 음식을 잘 먹는 편이에요.

   I’m fairly good with spicy food.

2. 이 동네는 조용한 편이에요.

   This neighbourhood is on the quiet side.

3. 저는 아침에 일찍 일어나는 편이에요.

   I tend to get up early.

4. 그 식당은 값이 좀 비싼 편이에요.

   That restaurant is on the expensive side.

5. 저는 요리를 자주 만드는 편이에요.

   I cook fairly often.

6. 학생 때는 조용한 편이었어요.

   I was rather quiet back in my school days.

Compared with

• -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다

  것 같다 hedges your certainty about a fact; 편이다 hedges the degree of a quality. You can be quite sure and still use 편이다.

  비싼 것 같아요. (I think it’s expensive)  /  비싼 편이에요. (it’s on the expensive side)

• Plain adjective

  The plain form asserts; 편이다 places on a scale. For self-description, Korean strongly prefers the softer version.

  저는 조용해요. (I am quiet)  /  저는 조용한 편이에요. (I’m on the quiet side)

• 좀 / 조금

  These reduce the degree; 편이다 places the thing relative to others. They combine happily: 좀 비싼 편이에요.

  좀 비싸요. (a bit expensive)  /  비싼 편이에요. (expensive, comparatively)

Watch out

• 이 동네는 조용하는 편이에요.

  이 동네는 조용한 편이에요.

  조용하다 is an adjective, so it takes -(으)ㄴ. -는 belongs to verbs and the 있다 group.

• 저는 요리를 자주 만들는 편이에요.

  저는 요리를 자주 만드는 편이에요.

  Stems ending in ㄹ drop it before -는, as everywhere in the modifier system.

• 어제 조금 늦은 편이에요.

  어제 조금 늦었어요.

  편이다 describes a habit or a general quality. A single event yesterday is just a fact and takes the plain past.

Next

← All TOPIK 2 grammar