Learn Hardcore Korean: gansigeun gagyeogi ssaseo joha. - Snacks are nice because they’re cheap.

은/는 marks the topic, setting up “as for snacks” or “speaking of snacks (in general).” It frames what you’re talking about, often for general statements or contrasts. 간식 ends in a consonant, so you use 은 (after vowels, use 는). Using 은 here makes the statement feel generic, not about one specific snack right in front of you.

Why is 가격이 marked with 이 (가격이 싸서)?

Inside the reason clause, 가격 is the subject of 싸다 (“to be cheap”). So 가격이 싸서 means “because the price is cheap.” The outer clause’s topic is 간식은, and the inner clause’s subject is 가격이—two different roles in two linked clauses.

Can I say 간식이 가격이 싸서 좋아?

Yes. It’s grammatical. With 간식이, you’re treating “snacks” as the grammatical subject of 좋아 (rather than a broad topic). Nuance:

간식은 가격이 싸서 좋아 = As for snacks (in general), the price is cheap, so they’re good.
간식이 가격이 싸서 좋아 = Snacks are good because their price is cheap (a bit more specific/neutral, less “as for …” framing). Using 은 feels more like a general comment or contrast setup, which is very natural here.

What exactly is happening with 싸서?

싸서 = stem 싸- (from 싸다, “to be cheap”) + connective -아서. Because the stem’s vowel is ㅏ/ㅗ, you use -아서 (not -어서). 싸아서 contracts to 싸서. This -아서/어서 connective marks a natural cause/reason: “because it’s cheap.”

How is -아서/어서 different from -니까 or -기 때문에?

-아서/어서: Neutral, matter-of-fact cause leading to a natural result. Often sounds more “internal,” obvious, or backgrounded.
-니까: More external/argumentative or justificatory. Freely used with commands/suggestions (which -아서/어서 generally doesn’t allow).
-기 때문에: Explicit, formal/neutral “because,” with stronger emphasis on causality. Good for writing or careful speech. All three fit here, but -아서/어서 sounds smooth and conversational.

What politeness level is 좋아? When should I use 좋아요 or 좋습니다?

좋아: Plain intimate (to friends, close peers).
좋아요: Polite informal (to most adults you’re not close with; default safe choice).
좋습니다: Polite formal (announcements, presentations, formal settings). Same sentence, polite: 간식은 가격이 싸서 좋아요.

Does 좋아 here mean “I like (them)” or “they’re good”?

With 좋다, the thing that is pleasing is the grammatical subject/topic. So 간식은 … 좋아 can read as either:

“Snacks are good (to me)” → effectively “I like snacks.”
A neutral evaluation “Snacks are good,” given the stated reason. Korean often omits the experiencer (“to me”), so both readings are natural in context.

What’s the difference between 좋다 and 좋아하다? How do I say “I like snacks”?

좋다: “to be good/pleasing.” The thing liked is the subject/topic. Ex: 저는 간식이 좋아요 (As for me, snacks are pleasing → I like snacks).
좋아하다: “to like” (an action). The liker is the subject, and the thing liked takes 을/를. Ex: 저는 간식을 좋아해요. Both mean “I like snacks,” but 좋아하다 sounds more like an explicit act of liking.

Can I drop 가격이 and just say 간식은 싸서 좋아?

Yes. 싸다 usually implies “cheap in price,” so 간식은 싸서 좋아 is perfectly natural. Including 가격이 just makes the reason explicit and slightly more formal/precise.

Can I use 싸니까 instead of 싸서?

Yes: 간식은 가격이 싸니까 좋아. Nuance:

싸서: matter-of-fact cause; flows naturally in narration.
싸니까: more overt justification/explanation. Also fine here. Both sound natural in everyday speech.

Is 싸라서 ever correct?

No. -(이)라서 attaches to nouns (e.g., 학생이라서, “because (someone) is a student”). 싸다 is an adjective/descriptor, so you must use 싸서, not 싸라서.

Can I change the word order, like 가격이 싸서 간식은 좋아 or split it as 간식은 좋아, 가격이 싸서?

가격이 싸서 간식은 좋아: Possible, but fronting the topic (간식은) first is more typical.
간식은 좋아, 가격이 싸서: In conversation, adding the reason afterward is common and natural. In writing, reasons usually precede results.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

좋아 is pronounced roughly like [조아]; the final ㅎ in 좋 is silent before a vowel.
가격이 is [가겨기] due to liaison: 가격 [가격] + 이 → the final ㄱ links to the following syllable.
싸서 sounds as written; double ㅆ is tense but there’s no special assimilation here.

Can I drop particles in casual speech?

Yes, you may hear things like 간식은 가격 싸서 좋아 or even 간식 가격 싸서 좋아. Particle dropping is common in speech, but as a learner, keep 이/가, 은/는 until you’re comfortable with when omission won’t cause ambiguity.

What’s the nuance difference between 가격, 값, and 저렴하다 vs 싸다?

가격: Sino-Korean “price,” neutral/formal.
값: Native “price/cost,” very common with 싸다/비싸다 (e.g., 값이 싸다).
싸다: “cheap”; can imply low cost (sometimes low quality depending on context).
저렴하다: “affordable/inexpensive,” more polite/formal and value-neutral than 싸다. Examples:
간식은 값이 싸서 좋아.
간식은 가격이 저렴해서 좋아요.

Can I say 가격은 싸서 좋아?

Yes, when contrasting aspects: 간식은 가격은 싸서 좋지만 양은 적어 (“As for snacks, the price is cheap so that’s nice, but the portion is small”). Without a contrast, 가격은 can sound like you’re setting up a comparison you haven’t stated.

How can I make the sentence more polite and explicit about the subject?

Polite and natural: 저는 간식이 가격이 싸서 좋아요. (As for me, snacks are good because the price is cheap.)
Alternatively split: 저는 간식을 좋아해요. 가격이 싸서요. Both are common; the split version is very natural in conversation.