-거늘
and yet; seeing that
An archaic connective with two faces. It states a given fact, then either draws a conclusion from it or turns it against what followed.
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When to use it
Attach -거늘 to any stem — no vowel rule, ㄹ stays, and tense may appear in front: 하였거늘. The emphatic 거늘랑 also occurs.
In the concessive use it means “and yet”: 여러 번 일렀거늘 어찌 듣지 않았느냐. The second clause is usually a rhetorical question or a reproach.
In the causal use it means “seeing that”: 이치가 그러하거늘 달리 볼 것이 없다.
Which one you get is decided by the second clause. Against -건만, which laments, 거늘 rebukes or reasons — it is drier and more admonishing.
How to attach it
| Situation | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any verb or adjective | -거늘 | 알다 → 알거늘 |
| Past | -았/었거늘 | 일렀거늘 |
| ㄹ stems keep the ㄹ | -거늘 | 만들거늘 |
| Concessive reading | … rhetorical question | 어찌 듣지 않았느냐 |
| Causal reading | … a conclusion | 달리 볼 것이 없다 |
| Lamenting instead | -건만 | 기다렸건만 |
In use
여러 번 일렀거늘 어찌 듣지 않았느냐.
You were told again and again — why did you not listen?
이치가 그러하거늘 달리 볼 것이 없다.
Such being the principle, there is nothing else to consider.
누구나 아는 사실이거늘 새삼 물을 일이 아니다.
It is a fact everyone knows, and no matter for fresh inquiry.
그토록 애썼거늘 어찌 이런 결과가 나왔는가.
After so much effort — how has it come to this?
손수 만들거늘 어찌 값을 따지겠는가.
It is made by his own hand — how should one haggle over the price?
뜻이 굳거늘 무엇을 더 말하랴.
His purpose being firm, what more is there to say?
Compared with
-건만
Both archaic and both concessive. 건만 laments and grieves; 거늘 rebukes and reasons. Sorrow versus reproof.
기다렸건만 오지 않았다. (alas) / 일렀거늘 듣지 않았느냐. (why did you not?)
-(으)매
In the causal reading they overlap. 매 is purely a reason; 거늘 keeps a trace of “this being so, surely…”
뜻이 있으매 길이 열린다. (since) / 이치가 그러하거늘 (seeing that)
-(으)ㄴ들
Both take rhetorical questions. -(으)ㄴ들 supposes something and calls it futile; 거늘 states a fact and demands an explanation.
후회한들 무슨 소용인가. (futile) / 일렀거늘 어찌 듣지 않았느냐. (why not?)
Watch out
여러 번 일렀거늘 잘 들었다.
여러 번 일렀거늘 어찌 듣지 않았느냐.
In the concessive reading the second clause must reproach or question. Compliance leaves the ending with nothing to do.
부장님께서 여러 번 이르셨거늘 어찌 그러셨습니까.
부장님께서 여러 번 말씀하셨는데 어찌 된 일인지요.
거늘 admonishes. Directed at a superior it is impertinent, honorifics or not.
야, 여러 번 말했거늘 왜 안 들어.
야, 여러 번 말했는데 왜 안 들어.
거늘 is classical. In conversation it sounds like a line from a period drama.
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