Breakdown of gyeouri jinago bomi wayo.
~이~i
subject particle
오다oda
to come
겨울gyeoul
winter
봄bom
spring
지나다jinada
to pass
~고~go
and
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Questions & Answers about gyeouri jinago bomi wayo.
What is the function of the particle -이 in 겨울이 and 봄이?
-이 is the subject marker you attach to a noun ending in a consonant. In 겨울이 지나고 봄이 와요, both 겨울 and 봄 are subjects of their respective verbs (지나다, 오다), so you mark each with -이.
What does 지나고 mean, and why is it used here?
지나고 comes from the verb 지나다 (to pass, to go by) plus the connective -고 (and/then). Together 지나고 literally means “after (it) passes” or “(it) passes and…,” showing that one action (winter passing) precedes another (spring coming).
Why is -고 used instead of -서 (e.g., 지나서) or -면 (e.g., 지나면)?
- -고 simply strings two actions in sequence: “A happens, and then B happens.”
- -서 can also indicate sequence but often adds a sense of causation or result (“because A happened, B happened”).
- -면 means “if/when A happens, then B happens,” implying a conditional.
Here, the speaker is stating a simple sequence of seasons, so -고 is most natural.
What does 와요 mean, and why is it not in the past tense like 왔다?
와요 is the polite present tense of 오다 (to come). The speaker is describing a general, recurring fact: “Spring comes.” If you used 왔어요, it would mean “Spring came” (at some specific past time).
What level of politeness is the -요 ending in 와요?
The -요 ending marks polite speech (존댓말) but not the most formal style. It’s commonly used in everyday conversation with strangers, colleagues, or people you don’t know well.
Can you omit the particles and say 겨울 지나고 봄 와요?
Informally among close friends or in casual writing (like notes), you might drop particles: 겨울 지나고 봄 와요. However, for clarity and correctness, especially as a learner, it’s better to keep -이 on each noun.
How would you express this sentence in a more formal style?
You could use the formal deferential ending -습니다:
“겨울이 지나고 봄이 옵니다.”
Is there any pronunciation change with 지나고?
No major changes here. You’ll hear it as [ji-na-go], with clear syllables. Just be sure to pronounce the final -고 fully, not as a clipped “goh.”
Are there alternative ways to say “after winter passes, spring comes”?
Yes. For example:
- 겨울이 지나면 봄이 와요. (“If/when winter passes, spring comes”)
- 겨울 다음에 봄이 와요. (“After winter, spring comes”)
- 겨울이 지나서 봄이 와요. (adds a bit of cause–effect nuance)
Each variant has a slightly different nuance, but all convey the same basic sequence.