Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about geunyeoga jal jinaendaneun sosigeul banggeum deureosseo.
What does the ending -다는 in 잘 지낸다는 소식 do?
It turns a quoted statement into an adjective-like clause that modifies a noun. Here, 잘 지낸다 (she does/is doing well) + 는 → 잘 지낸다는, which modifies 소식 (news): “the news that [she] is doing well.” It’s the attributive (modifier) form of reported speech.
Could I say -다고 instead of -다는 here?
Yes, two common options:
- 그녀가 잘 지낸다고 방금 들었어. (reported clause + 듣다)
- 그녀가 잘 지낸다는 소식을 방금 들었어. (reported clause modifying the noun 소식) Both are natural; the first quotes the content directly, the second packages it as a “piece of news.”
Is 그녀 natural in everyday Korean?
Not usually in casual speech. More natural choices:
- Use her name/title: 민지 씨가…
- Polite/neutral: 그분이… (if she’s older/respected)
- Casual about someone familiar: 걔가… (she/he, informal)
- Omit the subject if clear from context. 그녀 appears more in writing or when translating “she.”
Why is it 그녀가, not 그녀는?
- -가/이 marks the subject of the embedded clause (그녀가 잘 지낸다).
- -는 would topicalize “her,” shifting focus: 그녀는 잘 지낸다는 소식을… = “As for her, I heard the news that she’s doing well.” It’s possible but adds topic contrast/emphasis.
How would I make this respectful toward “her”?
Add honorific -시- in the embedded clause and choose a respectful referent:
- 그분이 잘 지내신다는 소식을 방금 들었습니다. If she’s much older or you’re being very formal, that’s appropriate.
What are the politeness options for the sentence ending?
- Casual: 들었어.
- Polite: 들었어요.
- Formal: 들었습니다. Match the level to your relationship and context. Everything else in the sentence can stay the same.
Why is it 지낸다 (plain present) inside the clause, not 지내고 있다?
In reported clauses, Korean often uses the plain present to state general/current facts. Both are fine:
- 잘 지낸다는 소식 (neutral “is doing well”)
- 잘 지내고 있다는 소식 (a bit more explicitly “is currently doing well”) Nuance difference is small here.
Can I move 방금 around? Where does it sound most natural?
Yes, adverbs are flexible:
- 방금 그녀가 잘 지낸다는 소식을 들었어.
- 그녀가 잘 지낸다는 소식을 방금 들었어. (your original) Both are natural; placing 방금 before 들었어 slightly emphasizes the timing of hearing.
Do I need the noun 소식 at all?
No. You can say:
- 그녀가 잘 지낸다는 걸(=것을) 방금 들었어. This treats the content as a “thing” you heard. Using 소식 sounds like you received a “piece of news” or an update.
Why use 듣다 with 소식? Could I use 받다 or 접하다?
- Most natural: 소식을 듣다 or 소식을 전해 듣다 (to hear [the] news).
- 소식을 접하다 is formal/written (“come across news”).
- 소식을 받다 is rarer but possible in certain contexts (e.g., receiving a notification/message). For everyday speech, prefer 듣다.
What’s the difference among 방금, 아까, and 금방?
- 방금: “just now,” seconds/minutes ago; pairs with past: 방금 들었어.
- 아까: “earlier (today),” a bit earlier; also past: 아까 들었어.
- 금방: context-dependent “in a moment/just now/soon.”
- Past: 금방 들었어. (just now)
- Future-ish: 금방 갈게. (I’ll be there soon)
Can I drop 그녀가?
Yes, if context makes the subject clear:
- 잘 지낸다는 소식을 방금 들었어. Korean often omits subjects when they’re understood.
Why is it 가 and not 이 after 그녀?
-이/가 choice depends on the preceding sound:
- Ends with a consonant → -이
- Ends with a vowel → -가 그녀 ends with a vowel sound, so 그녀가.
Could I say 지내는 소식 instead of 지낸다는 소식?
No. 지내는 소식 would mean “news that (someone) is spending/leading (something)” and doesn’t carry the reported-speech meaning. To express “the news that she is doing well,” you need the reported, declarative form: 잘 지낸다는 소식 (from 잘 지낸다).
Is there a shorter, colloquial way to say this?
Yes, hearsay/report forms:
- 방금 걔가 잘 지낸대. (…they say she’s doing well)
- 방금 잘 지낸다더라. (I heard she’s doing well) These are casual and very common in speech.
Does 소식 mean “the news” like mass media?
No. 소식 here means “news/update” about a person. Mass-media “news” is 뉴스. So 소식 fits personal updates; 뉴스 is for TV/news articles.
Can I say 그녀에 대한 소식을 방금 들었어?
Yes, it means “I just heard news about her,” but it doesn’t state what the news is. Your original specifies the content with a clause (잘 지낸다는), which is usually more informative.
Is the object marker -을/를 after 소식 required?
It’s optional in speech. You can say:
- 소식을 들었어 (with the marker; slightly clearer/formal)
- 소식 들었어 (dropping the marker; very natural in casual speech)
Could I use a passive-like expression for the news “coming” to me?
In writing/formal style, yes:
- 그녀가 잘 지낸다는 소식이 방금 들려왔어요/전해졌어요. In everyday speech, 들었어 is simpler and more common.