Usage and Nuance
"근데" is a very common spoken conjunction in Korean that means "but" or "however." It is informal and often used in casual conversations to introduce a contrast or a new topic related to what was just said.
Common Contexts
You will hear "근데" frequently in daily conversations among friends, family, or colleagues when they want to add a contrasting statement or a question after a previous sentence.
Collocations and Patterns
- "근데 + sentence": introduces a contrasting idea or question.
- Often used at the beginning of a sentence to shift the topic slightly or to express hesitation.
Register and Politeness
"근데" is informal and should be avoided in formal writing or speech. In formal contexts, use "그러나" or "하지만" instead.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "근데" with "그런데." While both mean "but," "그런데" is slightly more formal and can also mean "by the way." "근데" is a shortened, more casual form used mainly in speech.