If you’re learning Korean and want to talk about things you do regularly or habits you’ve had in the past, the grammar pattern ‘-곤 하다’ is essential. It clearly expresses repeated or habitual actions and is commonly used in both spoken and written Korean. In this post, you’ll learn how to use ‘-곤 하다’ naturally with clear explanations and real-life examples.
Contents
1. Definition
‘-곤 하다’ is a Korean grammar pattern used to describe actions that used to happen repeatedly in the past or happen repeatedly in general. In English, it can be translated as:
- “used to”
- “would often”
- “tend to”
2. Form (Structure)
To use ‘-곤 하다’, attach it to the verb stem.
- Verb stem + -곤 하다
Structure Table
| Verb Stem | + 곤 하다 | Example |
| 가다 (to go) | 가곤 하다 | 학교에 가곤 하다 (I used to go to school) |
| 먹다 (to eat) | 먹곤 하다 | 김밥을 먹곤 하다 (I often eat kimbap) |
| 보다 (to see) | 보곤 하다 | 영화를 보곤 하다 (I often watch movies) |
3. Meaning & Usage
1. Talking about past habits or repeated actions
This is the most common usage. It describes something that happened regularly in the past but may not anymore.
- 방학 때마다 시골에 가곤 했어요. (I used to go to the countryside every vacation.)
- 어릴 때는 만화책을 자주 읽곤 했어요. (I used to read comic books often when I was little.)
- 비 오기 전에 무릎이 아프곤 했어요. (My knees used to hurt before it rained.)
- 시험이 끝나면 친구들이랑 노래방에 가곤 했어요. (We used to go to karaoke after exams.)
- 밤에 라디오를 들으면서 잠들곤 했어요. (I used to fall asleep listening to the radio at night.)
2. Describing general or recurring actions (less common, but possible)
It can also be used in the present tense to show a pattern of behavior, especially in a reflective or narrative context.
- 요즘은 아침에 커피를 마시곤 해요. (These days, I tend to drink coffee in the morning.)
- 주말마다 공원에서 산책하곤 해요. (I usually take a walk in the park every weekend.)
- 밤마다 늦게 자곤 해요. (I often sleep late at night.)
- 그 사람은 실수를 하곤 해요. (He tends to make mistakes.)
- 스트레스를 받으면 단것을 먹곤 해요. (I tend to eat sweets when I’m stressed.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- Only used with verbs, not adjectives.
- Most commonly used in the past tense with ‘-곤 했어요’ to describe past habits or repeated actions.
- Can be used in the present tense with ‘-곤 해요’ for current regular or recurring actions.
- Does not describe one-time actions.
- Has a reflective or habitual tone.
- Not used for future repeated actions.
- Rarely used with emotion or state verbs (such as 사랑하다, 싫어하다).
5. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks using the correct form of ‘-곤 하다’:
- 어릴 때 자주 강아지랑 (놀다)________. (I used to play with my dog often.)
- 주말에 친구들이랑 영화를 (보다) ________. (I often watch movies with friends on weekends.)
- 시험이 끝나면 늦게까지 (자다) ________. (I used to sleep late after exams.)
- 아침에 일어나서 커피를 (마시다) ________. (I tend to drink coffee in the morning.)
- 스트레스를 받으면 음악을 (듣다) ________. (I used to listen to music when I was stressed.)
- 일할 때 종종 실수를 (하다) ________. (I tend to make mistakes while working.)
- 그 시절에는 친구들이랑 해변에 자주 (가다) ________. ( We used to go to the beach often.)
- 저녁마다 TV를 (보다) ________. (I often watch TV in the evening.)
- 피곤하면 낮잠을 (자다) ________. (I used to take naps when I was tired.)
- 여름이면 산으로 캠핑을 ________. (가다 / We used to go camping in the mountains in summer.)
6. Answers
- 놀곤 했어요
- 보곤 해요
- 자곤 했어요
- 마시곤 해요
- 듣곤 했어요
- 하곤 해요
- 가곤 했어요
- 보곤 해요
- 자곤 했어요
- 가곤 했어요
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-곤 하다’ with adjectives
Incorrect: 피곤하곤 했어요. ❌ (I used to be tired.)
Correct: 피곤해서 쉬곤 했어요. ✅ (I used to rest when I was tired.)
💡 Tip: ‘-곤 하다’ only works with verbs, not adjectives. Rephrase if needed.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using ‘-곤 하다’ for one-time actions
ncorrect: 어제 영화를 보곤 했어요. ❌ (I watched a movie yesterday.)
Correct: 어제 영화를 봤어요. ✅ (I watched a movie yesterday.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘-곤 하다’ only for repeated or habitual actions, not single events.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using ‘-곤 하다’ with verbs that do not naturally express repeated actions
Incorrect: 사랑하곤 해요. ❌ (I tend to love.)
Correct: 사랑해요. ✅ (I love.)
💡 Tip: ‘-곤 하다’ is used to describe habitual or repeated actions. It is rarely used with verbs that express states, emotions, or mental conditions (such as 사랑하다, 싫어하다, 알다). Use simple verb forms for these meanings.
‘-곤 하다’ is a useful Korean grammar pattern to describe actions that happen repeatedly, especially in the past. It helps express habits naturally and is often used when talking about memories or routines. Remember that it only applies to verbs and habitual actions, not single events or adjectives. Practice using it in context to sound more fluent and natural in Korean.