(으)니까 (eunikka) means "because, since".
Gives a reason based on the speaker's own judgement or discovery.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a vowel or ㄹ: 니까 nikka, and the ㄹ drops. After other consonants: 으니까 eunikka.
Build it
The forms you need
Now
바쁘니까bappeunikkasince I'm busyPast
바빴으니까bappasseunikkasince I was busyNoun
주말이니까jumarinikkasince it's the weekendAs an answer
바쁘니까요bappeunikkayobecause I'm busyWhen to use it
Reason + request
Before "do this" or "let's".
Obvious reason
Something the listener can see too.
Discovery
"When I did X, I found…"
Answering why
End on 니까요 nikkayo.
Watch out
Stems ending in ㄹ drop it: 사니까 sanikka.
Apologies take 늦어서 neujeoseo. 니까 nikka sounds like an excuse.
In context
9 examples- 1
배고프니까 밥 먹으러 가요.
Baegopeunikka bap meogeureo gayo.
I'm hungry, so let's go eat.
- 2
비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요.
Biga onikka usaneul gajyeogaseyo.
It's raining, so take an umbrella.
- 3
제가 했으니까 걱정하지 마세요.
Jega haesseunikka geokjeonghaji maseyo.
I did it, so don't worry.
- 4
내일 시험이 있으니까 오늘은 일찍 자야 해.
Naeil siheomi isseunikka oneureun iljjik jaya hae.
I have an exam tomorrow, so I need to go to bed early tonight.
- 5
추우니까 따뜻하게 입고 나가세요.
Chuunikka ttatteutage ipgo nagaseyo.
It's cold, so bundle up before you go out.
- 6
지금 바쁘니까 나중에 얘기하자.
Jigeum bappeunikka najunge yaegihaja.
I'm busy right now, so let's talk later.
- 7
창문을 여니까 시원한 바람이 들어왔어요.
Changmuneul yeonikka siwonhan barami deureowasseoyo.
When I opened the window, a cool breeze came in.
- 8
다음 주에 또 올 거니까 그때 봐요.
Daeum jue tto ol geonikka geuttae bwayo.
I'll be back next week, so see you then.
- 9
길이 막히니까 지하철 타고 갈까요?
Giri makinikka jihacheol tago galkkayo?
The roads are jammed. Shall we take the subway?
Practice
8 questions먹다 + (으)니까
(으)니까 vs 아/어서 in one line
Use 니까 nikka before a request or suggestion, and when you're stating your own reasoning. Use 서 seo for plain cause and effect, and always for apologies and thanks. The 아/어서 vs (으)니까 comparison goes through it in detail.
"I told you": 다니까
When 니까 nikka comes after a quoted statement, as in 다니까 danikka, it means "I'm telling you" or "I already said". It usually sounds a bit frustrated:
- 괜찮다니까. gwaenchantanikka "I said I'm fine."
- 제가 한다니까요. jega handanikkayo "I told you I'll do it."
Keep this one for people you're close to, since it can sound impatient.
In casual speech: 니깐
In relaxed talk, you'll often hear 니깐 nikkan instead of 니까 nikka. It means the same thing but sounds chattier, so stick to 니까 nikka in careful writing:
- 내가 할 거니깐 걱정 마. naega hal geonikkan geokjeong ma "I'll do it, so don't worry."
Compare with similar particles
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Use it with
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 으니까 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
