-(으)니까

RuleVerb/adjective stem + -(eu)nikka: gives a reason or grounds. After a consonant use -eunikka; after a vowel use -nikka.

Curiosity

We already have -aseo/eoseo for reasons, so how is -(eu)nikka different? It allows a command to follow, as in "it is raining, so take an umbrella."

Intuition

-(eu)nikka stresses the speaker's judgment or grounds, so a command, request, or suggestion follows naturally (unlike -aseo/eoseo). The flow is "as I see it, this is so, therefore do that."

Visualization

meokda (dictionary) → meok (stem, has batchim) → meogeunikka. With a final consonant it takes -eunikka.

먹다meokdadictionary form

Essence

With a consonant use -eunikka (meogeunikka); with a vowel -nikka (ganikka). It stresses the speaker's reason and allows a following command or suggestion. For the reason behind thanks or an apology, use -aseo/eoseo and avoid -(eu)nikka (neujeoseo joesonghamnida is fine; neujeunikka joesong is not).

Examples

비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요.

It is raining, so take an umbrella.

시간이 없으니까 빨리 갑시다.

We have no time, so let us hurry.

날씨가 좋으니까 산책할까요?

The weather is nice, so shall we take a walk?

Mini-quiz

Attach the reason -(eu)nikka to "meokda" (to eat). (consonant-final)