Breakdown of bajireul sagi jeone jumeoniga keunjido kkok hwaginhaeyo.
Questions & Answers about bajireul sagi jeone jumeoniga keunjido kkok hwaginhaeyo.
Why is it 바지를 and not just 바지?
Because 바지 is the object of 사다 (to buy), so it takes the object marker -를.
- 바지 = pants
- 바지를 사다 = to buy pants
Even though English often doesn’t mark objects, Korean usually does with particles.
What does 사기 전에 mean, and why is 사다 changed to 사기?
사기 전에 means before buying or before you buy.
Here, 사다 becomes 사기 because the verb is turned into a noun-like form with -기:
- 사다 = to buy
- 사기 = buying
- 사기 전에 = before buying
So the structure is:
- Verb stem + -기 전에 = before doing something
Examples:
- 먹기 전에 = before eating
- 자기 전에 = before sleeping
Could this also be 사기 전에는 or 사기 전? What is the difference?
Yes.
- 사기 전 = before buying
- 사기 전에 = before buying / before you buy
- 사기 전에는 = before buying, as for that time / at least before buying
In this sentence, 사기 전에 is the most neutral and natural choice.
The extra -는 in 전에는 adds contrast or emphasis, something like:
- At least before buying, check...
What is going on in 주머니가 큰지도?
This is one of the most important parts of the sentence.
Break it down like this:
- 크다 = to be big
- 큰지 = whether it is big
- 큰지도 = whether it is big too / also whether it is big
So 주머니가 큰지도 확인해요 means:
Check whether the pockets are big too
or more naturally in English:
Make sure to check whether the pockets are big.
The grammar here is:
- Adjective/Verb + -(으)ㄴ지 / -는지 / 인지 = whether...
Examples:
- 비싼지 확인해요 = Check whether it’s expensive.
- 좋은지 알아요 = I know whether it’s good.
- 오는지 물어봐요 = Ask whether they’re coming.
Why is it 큰지 and not 크는지?
Because 크다 is a descriptive verb (an adjective in meaning), not an action verb.
For descriptive verbs, Korean uses:
- stem + -(으)ㄴ지
So:
- 크다 → 큰지 = whether it is big
- 작다 → 작은지 = whether it is small
For action verbs, Korean uses:
- stem + -는지
For example:
- 가다 → 가는지 = whether someone goes / is going
- 먹다 → 먹는지 = whether someone eats / is eating
Why is it 주머니가 and not 주머니를?
Because 크다 describes the subject, and the subject marker -가 is used.
In 주머니가 크다:
- 주머니가 = the pockets
- 크다 = are big
So the thing being described as big is the subject, not the object.
Then the whole clause 주머니가 큰지 means whether the pockets are big.
What does the 도 in 큰지도 add?
도 usually means also / too / even.
Here, it attaches to 큰지 and adds the sense of: check that point too or also make sure to check whether they’re big.
So the sentence implies that pocket size is one of the important things to check, possibly along with other things like:
- the fit
- the color
- the price
- the material
Without 도, 큰지 확인해요 would simply mean: Check whether they’re big.
With 도, it sounds more like: Be sure to check whether they’re big as well.
What does 꼭 mean here?
꼭 means definitely, surely, or be sure to.
In this sentence, it adds strong advice:
- 확인해요 = check
- 꼭 확인해요 = definitely check / make sure to check
So it gives the sentence a feeling of emphasis: Don’t forget to check this.
Why does the sentence end with 확인해요?
확인해요 is the polite present-style form of 확인하다 (to check / confirm).
- 확인하다 → dictionary form
- 확인해요 → polite everyday form
It can sound like:
- a general instruction
- friendly advice
- something written in a guide or recommendation
It is softer than a direct command like 확인하세요, but still clearly tells the listener what to do.
Is 주머니 singular or plural here?
It could be understood as pocket or pockets, but in this sentence English would usually translate it as pockets.
Korean often does not mark plural unless it is necessary. So:
- 주머니가 큰지 literally = whether the pocket(s) are big
Because pants normally have more than one pocket, English naturally uses pockets.
What is the overall word order of the sentence?
Korean puts information in a different order from English.
Sentence: 바지를 사기 전에 주머니가 큰지도 꼭 확인해요.
Chunk by chunk:
- 바지를 = pants
- 사기 전에 = before buying
- 주머니가 큰지도 = whether the pockets are big too / as well
- 꼭 확인해요 = definitely check
So the natural English order is:
Before buying pants, make sure to check whether the pockets are big.
Korean often puts the background information first and the main action at the end.
Could I say 주머니가 큰지 꼭 확인해요 without 도?
Yes, absolutely.
- 주머니가 큰지 꼭 확인해요 = Make sure to check whether the pockets are big.
- 주머니가 큰지도 꼭 확인해요 = Make sure to check whether the pockets are big too / as well.
Both are grammatical. The version with 도 just adds the nuance that this is another important thing to check.
Is this sentence giving advice to one person, or talking generally?
It can do either, depending on context.
Because it ends in polite -해요, it can sound like:
- advice to you
- a general recommendation
- something like a tip in an article or video
So it could mean:
- Before you buy pants, make sure to check whether the pockets are big.
- or more generally, Before buying pants, be sure to check whether the pockets are big.
Korean often leaves the subject unstated when it is obvious from context.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning KoreanMaster Korean — from bajireul sagi jeone jumeoniga keunjido kkok hwaginhaeyo to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions