TOPIK 2The official curriculum files 덕분 in its word list, at level 2.
덕분에 (deokbune) means "thanks to".
Indicates a positive cause. Means 'Thanks to'.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a verb, usually the past form: 도와준 덕분에 dowajun deokbune.
Build it
When to use it
Credit for good results
The cause of something good.
With a verb
Past form + 덕분에 deokbune.
A polite answer
Answering "How are you?"
Watch out
For a bad result, use 때문에 ttaemune. Here it would sound sarcastic.
It happened yesterday, so use the past form 도와준 dowajun.
In context
8 examples- 1
친구 덕분에 즐거웠어요.
Chingu deokbune jeulgeowosseoyo.
I had fun thanks to my friend.
- 2
응원 덕분에 힘이 나요.
Eungwon deokbune himi nayo.
I feel energized thanks to your support.
- 3
여러분 덕분에 행사가 잘 끝났습니다.
Yeoreobun deokbune haengsaga jal kkeunnatseumnida.
The event went well, thanks to all of you.
- 4
네 덕분에 살았다!
Ne deokbune saratda!
You saved me!
- 5
지도 앱 덕분에 길을 안 잃었어.
Jido aep deokbune gireul an ireosseo.
Thanks to the map app, I didn't get lost.
- 6
덕분에 잘 지내고 있어요.
Deokbune jal jinaego isseoyo.
I'm doing well, thank you.
- 7
열심히 연습한 덕분에 실력이 많이 늘었어요.
Yeolsimhi yeonseupan deokbune sillyeogi mani neureosseoyo.
All that practice paid off. I've gotten much better.
- 8
부모님 덕분에 유학을 올 수 있었어요.
Bumonim deokbune yuhageul ol su isseosseoyo.
Thanks to my parents, I was able to come here to study.
Practice
8 questions비 덕분에 경기가 취소됐어요.
Bi deokbune gyeonggiga chwisodwaesseoyo.
The game was canceled because of the rain.
덕분에 vs 때문에
Both give a reason, and they sit in the same spot in the sentence. The difference is the feeling. 덕분에 gives credit. 때문에 ttaemune is neutral, but with people it often sounds like blame.
- 친구 덕분에 이사를 빨리 끝냈어요. chingu deokbune isareul ppalli kkeunnaesseoyo "I finished moving fast thanks to my friend."
- 친구 때문에 이사가 늦어졌어요. chingu ttaemune isaga neujeojyeosseoyo "The move got delayed because of my friend."
Because 덕분에 is so positive, using it for something bad is a classic piece of sarcasm:
- 네 덕분에 다 망했다. ne deokbune da manghaetda "Thanks a lot. You ruined everything."
덕분에 on its own
You'll often hear 덕분에 with nothing in front of it. It means "thanks to you", and it's the polite reply when someone asks how you've been:
- 덕분에요. deokbuneyo "Fine, thanks to you."
Nobody thinks you mean they personally made your life better. It's just a warm, humble way to answer.
A formal twin: 덕택에
덕택에 deoktaege means the same thing. It's a bit more formal and shows up in speeches and writing: 여러분의 덕택에 yeoreobunui deoktaege, "thanks to all of you".
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 덕분에 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
