LEARN + KOREAN / 91 of 125 TOPIK II

Worried It Might -까 봐

You leave early because you are worried about traffic. Your friend suggests taking a coat because it will probably be cold later. Both sentences look ahead, but only one makes worry the reason.

A Worry Prompts an Action

Use -ㄹ까 봐 after a vowel or ㄹ and -을까 봐 after another consonant: 늦을까 봐, 잊을까 봐, 비가 올까 봐. It introduces a feared possibility, often followed by worry or a precaution. -ㄹ까 봐서 is also possible.

neujeulkka bwa iljjik chulbalhaesseoyo.

I left early because I was afraid I might be late.

pyoga eopseulkka bwa miri yemaehaesseoyo.

I booked ahead in case there were no tickets.

An Expectation Sets Up the Next Point

-(으)ㄹ 텐데 presents an expectation or supposition as background for a question, concern, or suggestion: 추울 텐데…. It can also concern an assumed past difficulty: 어려웠을 텐데…. It does not have to express fear.

bameneun chuul tende oetureul gajyeogaseyo.

It will probably be cold at night, so take a coat.

honja junbihagi eoryeowosseul tende eotteoke haesseoyo?

It must have been hard to prepare alone; how did you manage?

Hint · 힌트

-ㄹ 테니까 makes a plan or prediction the reason for what follows. -ㄹ 텐데 sets an expectation in the background, often leaving room for concern, contrast, or discussion.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
출발하다 chulbalhada	to depart
표 pyo	ticket
미리 miri	in advance
예매하다 yemaehada	to book tickets
외투 oetu	coat
준비하다 junbihada	to prepare
걱정하다 geokjeonghada	to worry
불안하다 buranhada	to be anxious
긴장하다 ginjanghada	to be nervous
서두르다 seodureuda	to hurry
늦잠을 자다 neutjameul jada	to oversleep
지각하다 jigakhada	to arrive late
늦다 neutda	to be late
약속 yaksok	appointment
회의 hoeui	meeting
시험 siheom	exam
실수하다 silsuhada	to make a mistake
잊어버리다 ijeobeorida	to forget
놓치다 nochida	to miss
일찍 iljjik	early

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