Korean Connectors: 그런데, 그래서, 하지만 and More Sentence Linkers

Learn the Korean connectors and conjunctions you need for natural conversation — 그런데, 그래서, 하지만, 그리고, 그러면 — with meanings, examples, and usage tips.

Connectors are the small words that make Korean sentences flow — without them, speech sounds choppy and disconnected. Native speakers lean on a handful of connectors constantly, and learning them is one of the fastest ways to sound fluent. Here are the essential Korean connectors, grouped by function.

Contrast Connectors

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Example
그런데	geureonde	but / by the way	날씨가 좋아요. 그런데 바람이 세요.
하지만	hajiman	however	열심히 했어요. 하지만 실패했어요.
-지만	-jiman	but (attached)	비싸지만 좋아요. — It's expensive but good.

그런데 is by far the most common — it softly shifts a topic or introduces mild contrast, and Koreans use it in almost every conversation.

Cause and Result Connectors

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Example
그래서	geuraeseo	so / therefore	배고파요. 그래서 밥을 먹었어요.
-어서/아서	-eoseo/aseo	so, because (attached)	피곤해서 일찍 잤어요.
왜냐하면	waenyahamyeon	because (explaining)	왜냐하면 시간이 없었거든요.

Addition and Sequence Connectors

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Example
그리고	geurigo	and / then	밥을 먹었어요. 그리고 공부했어요.
그러고 나서	geureogo naseo	after that	숙제를 끝냈어요. 그러고 나서 잤어요.
그러면	geureomyeon	then / in that case	그러면 내일 만나요.

Sentence-Level vs Attached Connectors

Korean connectors come in two forms: standalone words that start a new sentence (그런데, 그래서, 그리고) and grammar endings attached directly to a verb stem (-지만, -어서/아서). Both are correct — the attached form simply merges two clauses into one sentence, which feels slightly more natural in writing and formal speech.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using 그래서 when you mean simple addition — 그래서 always implies cause and effect, not just "and."
Attaching -어서 to explain a command or suggestion — Korean grammar rules block -어서 before imperative or suggestion endings; use -니까 instead.
Overusing 그런데 as a filler — while extremely common, stacking it in every sentence can sound repetitive even in Korean.

Quick FAQ

What is the difference between 그래서 and -어서? They mean the same thing, but 그래서 starts a new sentence while -어서 attaches directly to the previous clause's verb stem.

Is 하지만 more formal than 그런데? Slightly — 하지만 feels a touch more written/formal, while 그런데 is used constantly in spoken, casual Korean.

Mastering connectors instantly makes your Korean sound more like a native speaker's. Klovers' live conversation classes give you real practice stringing sentences together naturally, with feedback from a real teacher every step of the way.