How To Express Relief in Korean Using 기에 망정이지

Written byLee Min-jung (이민정)

The phrase V + 기에 망정이지 is a valuable Korean grammar construct used to express relief for having avoided a negative outcome.

This pattern often appears in conjunction with conditional expressions like 안 했더라면... 을 것이다 ('if I hadn't... I would have') or 안 했더라면... 을 뻔했다 ('if I hadn't... I almost certainly would have'), emphasizing the gravity of the avoided situation.

Grammar Rule: Verb + 기에 망정이지

Examples of 기에 망정이지

Let’s explore how this grammar structure is used in sentences:

It's a good thing that we took the subway instead of the bus -- if we didn't we'd be stuck in traffic.

It a good thing that we studied hard because otherwise we'd have almost certainly failed the test.

It's a good thing that you brought water bottles otherwise we'd be really thirsty because now it's really hot.

It's a good job that we saved up otherwise we couldn't have afforded the plane tickets.

It's a good thing that you called me otherwise I'd have been late for school.

It's a good job you charged your phone or we'd never have found that restaurant.

It's a good job you brought a map since there's no internet connection -- otherwise we'd have been lost.

Conclusion

기에 망정이지 is an essential structure for expressing relief in Korean, particularly when reflecting on how negative outcomes were narrowly avoided.

Its use in various contexts enriches your understanding of nuanced emotional expressions in Korean.

Reminiscing: 던

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Learn how to express relief over avoided negatives in Korean using 기에 망정이지, with examples showing its combination with conditional patterns.

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Lee Min-jung (이민정)

어디든 가치가 있는 곳으로 가려면 지름길은 없다.Learn Korean here.Make sure to subscribe.