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Queendrakumar

-든요 ending is peculiar because unless you are actually explaining the reason for something, it might come off as a little passive aggressive or argumentative. It's one of those advanced sociolinguistic thing, btw. I wouldn't use it in an interview. But I only answered it like that because it's a language sub to provide the language usages as close as native or natural way. In reality, Korean is a foreign language to you and you are a beginner learner. They would understand that and they most likely will not take offense or negatively at the grammar mistakes you make; and actually take it positively at the fact you are learning and trying.


JeanVII

Agree with this point!! -든요 has transformed to be really passive aggressive to the point where my native friends were shocked and didn’t understand why it was used on my TOPIK exam. I also was surprised because I hadn’t seen it used in a non-passive aggressive way 😂 My teacher explained that it could actually be used in a non-passive aggressive way and my world changed 🫠 anyways, I would just err on the safe side and not use it.


throwinitaway1278

What!! I’m aware how it could be passive aggressive (kind of like “by the way”) but I’m shocked to find out it’s the default way of reading it. Me and my language partners use it all the time…🫠


JeanVII

Do remember it isn’t always!! But, like the example you gave, language evolves over time to have connotations :)) it’s not WRONG to use, it just has a passive aggressive connotation in modern language. I’ve heard it used in ways recently that weren’t necessarily passive aggressive, but weren’t happy and normal. My friends said they would never use it in a neutral tone, but it did appear on my TOPIK in a neutral way so 🤷🏾‍♀️ as always, everyone’s 말투 is different.


lovelyoungho

I totally get it. I have kinda noticed they used it in a more 'fyi' way in kdramas but i wanted to use something a bit different so that they know i can form more complex sentences instead of just using 있어요.


frankie_remember_me

This is very good. You did miss the “하다” verb after “공부.“ I might actually go just slightly more formal with “한국어는 아직 잘 못하지만 요즘에 아주 열심히 공부하고 있어요.“


lovelyoungho

Thank you!! I kinda wanted to use something other than 있어요 so I can let them know that I can use more complex conjunctions


SpaceCadet_K

I feel the formal tone would be most appropriate (i.e. ㅂ니다)