‘데다가’ is a useful Korean grammar structure that means “in addition to” or “moreover.” It is commonly used to add extra information or emphasize multiple qualities of a subject. This grammar is frequently used in both spoken and written Korean, making it an essential expression for learners. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use ‘데다가’ correctly with explanations, examples, and practice exercises.
Contents
1. Definition
‘데다가’ is used to add supplementary information to a statement. In English, it can be translated as “in addition to”, “besides”, or “on top of that” when emphasizing cumulative effects.
2. Form (Structure)
The basic structure for using ‘데다가’ is:
[Clause 1] + 데다가 + [Clause 2]
Verb/Adjective + 데다가
- When using verbs, use the present tense (는) form before ‘데다가’.
- When using adjectives, use the plain form before ‘데다가’.
- When using past tense, use (으)ㄴ before ‘데다가’.
Here’s a table illustrating the structure with different word types:
| Word Type | Structure | Example |
| Present Tense Verbs | V-는 데다가 | 공부하는 데다가 운동도 해요. (I study, and I also exercise.) |
| Past Tense Verbs | V-(으)ㄴ 데다가 | 비가 온 데다가 바람도 불었어요. (It rained, and the wind blew as well.) |
| Adjectives | A-(으)ㄴ 데다가 | 날씨가 더운 데다가 습해요. (The weather is hot and humid.) |
When using ‘데다가’ with different word types:
- Present Tense Verbs: Use the present tense (는) form before ‘데다가’.
예: 시간이 빨리 가는 데다가 할 일도 많아요. (Time is passing quickly, and I have a lot to do.) - Past Tense Verbs: Use (으)ㄴ before ‘데다가’ to describe past situations or completed actions.
예: 어제는 피곤한 데다가 배도 아팠어요.
(Yesterday, I was tired, and I also had a stomachache.) For past tense, the choice between 은 and ㄴ depends on whether the verb stem ends in a consonant or a vowel:- Consonant ending: 읽다 → 읽은 데다가 (read and…)
- Vowel ending: 가다 → 간 데다가 (went and…)
3. Adjectives: Use the descriptive form (으)ㄴ before ‘데다가’.
예: 이 집은 넓은 데다가 조용해요. (This house is spacious and quiet.)
For adjectives, the choice between 은 and ㄴ depends on whether the adjective stem ends in a consonant or a vowel:
- Consonant ending: 작다 → 작은 데다가 (small and…)
- Vowel ending: 크다 → 큰 데다가 (big and…)
📌 Note: Some adjectives undergo stem changes when adding (으)ㄴ:
- ㅂ Irregular Adjectives:
- The final ‘ㅂ’ changes to ‘우’ before vowel endings.
- Examples:
- 쉽다 (easy) -> 쉬운 데다가 (easy and…)
- 어렵다 (difficult) -> 어려운 데다가 (difficult and…)
- 가깝다 (close) -> 가까운 데다가 (close and…)
- ㄹ Irregular Adjectives:
- The ‘ㄹ’ is dropped before certain endings.
- Examples:
- 길다 (long) -> 긴 데다가 (long and…)
- 멀다 (far) -> 먼 데다가 (far and…)
- ㅎ Irregular Adjectives:
- The final ‘ㅎ’ is dropped before vowel endings.
- Examples:
- 파랗다 (blue) -> 파란 데다가 (blue and…)
- 하얗다 (white) -> 하얀 데다가 (white and…)
- 르 Irregular Adjectives:
- The ‘르’ changes to ‘ㄹ’ and an additional ‘ㄹ’ is added before vowel endings.
- Examples:
- 빠르다 (fast) -> 빠른 데다가 (fast and…)
- 달르다 (different) -> 다른 데다가 (different and…)
- ㅅ Irregular Adjectives:
- The ‘ㅅ’ is dropped before vowel endings.
- Examples:
- 낫다 (better) -> 나은 데다가 (better and…)
- 낫다 (better) -> 나은 데다가 (better and…)
📌 Note: Not all adjectives ending in these consonants are irregular.
For example:
- 좁다 (narrow) -> 좁은 데다가 (narrow and…) [Regular adjective]
- 넓다 (wide) -> 넓은 데다가 (wide and…) [Regular adjective]
Understanding these irregular patterns is crucial for correctly using adjectives with ‘데다가’ and in other grammatical structures.
3. Meaning & Usage
‘데다가’ is used to connect related ideas, emphasizing cumulative effects or additional information. Here are the main ways to use this grammar pattern:
- Adding Similar Information
The second clause adds similar or reinforcing information to the first clause.
- 그 가게는 가격이 싼 데다가 서비스도 좋아요. (That store has low prices, and in addition, the service is good.)
- 날씨가 추운 데다가 바람도 많이 불어요. (The weather is cold, and besides, it’s also very windy.)
- 그 배우는 연기를 잘하는 데다가 노래도 잘해요. (That actor acts well, and on top of that, sings well too.)
- 이 호텔은 위치가 좋은 데다가 시설도 깨끗해요. (This hotel has a good location, and in addition, the facilities are clean.)
- 그 식당은 음식이 맛있는 데다가 양도 많아요. (That restaurant’s food is delicious, and on top of that, the portions are large.)
- Emphasizing a Worsening or Improving Condition
The second clause intensifies the first clause, showing how a situation is getting better or worse.
- 어제는 길이 막힌 데다가 비까지 왔어요. (Yesterday, there was traffic, and on top of that, it rained.)
- 그는 바쁜 데다가 피곤해 보여요. (He looks busy and tired as well.)
- 오늘은 날씨가 더운 데다가 습해서 너무 불편해요. (Today, the weather is hot, and besides, it’s humid, so it’s very uncomfortable.)
- 시험이 어려운 데다가 시간이 부족했어요. (The exam was difficult, and on top of that, there wasn’t enough time.)
- 경기 침체로 실업률이 높아진 데다가 물가까지 상승해서 서민들의 생활이 더욱 어려워졌어요. (Due to the economic recession, unemployment rates have risen, and on top of that, prices have increased, making life even more difficult for ordinary people.)
- Connecting Past Situations
Used to describe past situations with accumulated effects.
- 어제는 피곤한 데다가 감기까지 걸렸어요. (Yesterday, I was tired, and I even caught a cold.)
- 비가 많이 온 데다가 길이 미끄러웠어요. (It rained a lot, and on top of that, the road was slippery.)
- 여행을 많이 한 데다가 사진도 많이 찍었어요. (I traveled a lot, and in addition, I took many photos.)
- 날씨가 추운 데다가 눈까지 내려서 길이 미끄러웠어요. (The weather was cold, and on top of that, it snowed, making the road slippery.)
- 장기간 해외에 체류한 데다가 현지 문화에 깊이 관여해서 귀국 후 적응하는 데 시간이 걸렸어요. (I stayed abroad for a long time, and on top of that, I was deeply involved in the local culture, so it took time to readjust after returning home.)
- Used in Negative Contexts
Often used in negative situations to emphasize difficulties or compounding problems.
- 일이 많은 데다가 야근도 해야 해요. (I have a lot of work, and besides, I also have to work overtime.)
- 감기가 심한 데다가 두통까지 생겼어요. (My cold got worse, and on top of that, I have a headache.)
- 그는 돈이 없는 데다가 빚까지 있어요. (He has no money, and besides, he is in debt.)
- 컴퓨터가 느린 데다가 자꾸 오류가 나요. (The computer is slow, and on top of that, it keeps having errors.)
- 회사의 실적이 저조한 데다가 경쟁사의 신제품 출시로 시장 점유율까지 떨어져서 경영진이 비상 대책을 마련하고 있어요. (The company’s performance is poor, and on top of that, with the launch of a competitor’s new product causing a drop in market share, the management is preparing emergency measures.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘데다가’ connects two related facts to emphasize accumulation.
- The second clause should naturally build upon the first.
- It is not used for contrasting ideas.
5. Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences using ‘데다가’:
- 이 식당은 음식이 (맛있다)________ 가격도 저렴해요. (This restaurant’s food is delicious, and in addition, the prices are reasonable.)
- 그는 영어를 (잘하다)________ 중국어도 유창해요. (He speaks English well, and in addition, he is fluent in Chinese.)
- 오늘은 날씨가 (춥다)________ 바람도 많이 불어요. (Today, the weather is cold, and besides, it’s also very windy.)
- 이 회사는 급여가 (높다)________ 복지 혜택도 좋아요. (This company offers high salaries, and in addition, the benefits are good.)
- 그녀는 외모가 (아름답다)________ 성격도 좋아요. (She is beautiful, and in addition, she has a good personality.)
- 그 영화는 (지루하다)________ 너무 길어요. (The movie is boring, and it is also too long.)
- 저는 (피곤하다)________ 두통도 있어요. (I’m tired, and I also have a headache.)
- 이 스마트폰은 (비싸다)________ 사용하기 어려워요. (This smartphone is expensive, and it’s difficult to use.)
- 그는 일이 (많다)________ 야근도 해야 해요. (He has a lot of work, and in addition, he also has to work overtime.)
- 어제는 길이 (막히다)________ 비까지 왔어요. (Yesterday, there was traffic, and on top of that, it rained.)
6. Answers
- 맛있는 데다가
- 잘하는 데다가
- 추운 데다가
- 높은 데다가
- 아름다운 데다가
- 지루한 데다가
- 피곤한 데다가
- 비싼 데다가
- 많은 데다가
- 막힌 데다가
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘데다가’ for Contrasting Information
Incorrect: 저는 바쁜 데다가 시간이 많아요. ❌ (I am busy, and in addition, I have a lot of time.)
Correct: 저는 바쁜 데다가 피곤하기까지 해요. ✅ (I am busy, and on top of that, I am also tired.)
💡 Tip: ‘데다가’ should always connect related facts. If you want to express contrast, use ‘지만’ instead.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using ‘데다가’ with Unrelated Facts
Incorrect: 그는 노래를 잘하는 데다가 축구도 싫어해요. ❌ (He sings well, and besides, he dislikes soccer.)
Correct: 그는 노래를 잘하는 데다가 춤도 잘 춰요. ✅ (He sings well, and in addition, dances well too.)
💡 Tip: The second clause should logically build upon the first, rather than introducing an unrelated fact.
Understanding ‘데다가’ will help you fluently connect ideas and express accumulation effectively. Whether you’re talking about good or bad situations, this grammar structure will enhance your Korean skills and make your speech more natural.