What does ~는 데 (neunde) & 그런데 (geureonde) mean?

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In Korean, the structures ~는데 (also often spelled 그런데) and ~는 데 have different but closely related usages. 

First, ~는데 is used as a conjunction describing a cause-and-effect relationship, often translated as "but" or "however." 

For example, "바빴는데 친구를 만났어요" can be translated as "I was busy, but I met a friend." On the other hand, ~는 데 is used to express a specific place, time, or situation related to an event. 

For example, "서점에 가는 데 시간이 걸렸어" can be translated as "It took time to go to the bookstore." 

By understanding the differences and the usage context of both, Korean speakers can convey information more precisely and contextually.

Here's an explanation of how to use each:

는데

~는 데 serves to specify the reason, timing, or location of an action or occurrence. Its English translation can vary, encompassing terms like "in," "at," "on," "while," or "for," depending on the particular context. 

Here are a few illustrations:

For Purpose: 

It elucidates why an action is taken. For instance, "Reading a book takes time."

Regarding Time: 

It pinpoints when an event transpired, such as "I received a phone call while waking up this morning."

In Relationship to Place: 

This shows the location of an action, such as "I took the subway to go to school."

In essence, "~는 데" helps provide additional information or context in the sentence, with specific interpretations that depend on the situation at hand.

그런데

More ~는데" is often used to introduce contrasting or unexpected information. It's similar to saying "but" or "however" in English.

Example: 

> 그 사람은 착해 보이는데 매우 까다로워요.  

  (That person seems nice, but they are very picky.)

In the previous lesson, we learned that you can use ~는데 between two clauses. If used like this, "~는데" then this word would have a slightly less precise meaning than "although". 

Read Also: What is the difference between 때 & 데

However, there isn't a single English word that perfectly encapsulates the meaning of this Korean term. The explanation we'll delve into today serves as an example of how native speakers use "그런데" in everyday conversations.

Let's examine the following elucidation:

"그런데" is composed of the word "그렇다" and the suffix "~ㄴ데" (not "~는데" because "그렇다" is an adjective).

While we encounter this term frequently, it's uncommon to encounter it in its original form, "그렇다." Instead, you often encounter this word employed in one of the following ways:

• 그렇게
• 그런
• 그래서
• 그렇지만

Each consists of the following grammar:

• 그렇게 = 그렇다 + ~ 게 (used to create adverbs) meaning "like that"
• 그런 = 그렇다 + ~ ㄴ/은 (used to create adjectives) meaning "that kind of"
• 그래서 = 그렇다 + ~ 아/어서 > 그래서(used to mean "because") meaning "therefore"
• 그렇지만 = 그렇다 + ~지만 > 그렇지만 (used to mean "but/though") which means "even though it is like that"

"그렇다" itself has a limited meaning, but it has various meanings in different grammatical contexts. The word can be translated as "it", although, the exact interpretation depends on the specific form used, whether it's "그렇게", "그런", "그래서", and so on.

Now, contemplate the significance of "그런데." Once more, "그런데" closely resembles "although," and it smoothly transitions to the subsequent clause. 

Read Also: What does 이, 그, 저 mean?

Consequently, "그런데" is employed in sentences where the subject discussed earlier is mildly countered, paving the way for new information or insights about a situation.

However, that still appears quite unusual.

The connotation is exceedingly nuanced and isn't necessarily indispensable. My intention was merely to offer an explanation of this term since it frequently emerges in conversations.

An illustration of this term might be:

> 그런데 그 것을 언제 했어요? 

   (The subtle meaning of 그런데)... but when did you do it?

> 그런데 엄마 집 에 갔을 때 엄마가 없었 어요 

   (subtle meaning of 그런데) ... but when I went to my mom's house, she wasn't there.

Additional ~는 데 Meanings: "I require ____ to accomplish that."

Even after delving into the diverse interpretations that ~는데 can assume, there's still more to uncover. There are alternative grammatical structures employing ~ 는 데 (with a space) instead of ~ 는데.

By inserting ~는 데 between two clauses, you can signify the time needed to carry out an action. The action itself is articulated in the first clause, while the required time is expressed in the second clause. For instance:

> 제가 미국에서 스페인까지 여행하는 데 2개월 걸렸어요

   It took me two months to travel from the US to Spain.

> 여기까지 오는 데 시간이 많이 걸렸어요"

   It took me a considerable amount of time to get here.

> 모든 방을 청소하는 데 1시간 걸렸어요" 

   It took me an hour to clean all of the rooms

It's worth noting that the verb "걸리다" is commonly used to indicate that an action consumes a specific amount of time.

In conclusion, a good understanding of the difference between ~는데 (그런데) and ~는 데 helps Korean learners to strengthen their communication skills. 

While ~는데 is used as a causal conjunction with the meaning of "but" or "however," ~는 데 refers to a place, time, or situation related to an event. 

Understanding the context in which they are used allows speakers to convey messages clearly and effectively in a variety of everyday conversational situations.

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