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HOW TO USE 는 바람에 AND 는 셈이다
In Korean, certain expressions emphasize actions, their consequences, or logical conclusions.
Two such expressions, 는 바람에 and 는 셈이다, are commonly used in spoken and written Korean to highlight causes and results or to approximate meanings.
CAUSE & CONSEQUENCES WITH 는 바람에
는 바람에 is used to express an unintended or negative consequence caused by an action.
It is often used when something undesirable happens as a result of an event.
This expression is commonly used in past tense situations.
We can translate it in English by “due to”, “because of”.
PATTERN
Verb stem + 는 바람에 + negative result
NOTES:
- It is only used with action verbs.
- The sentence following 는 바람에 generally conveys an unintended consequence.
- 는 바람에 is typically used to describe an unfortunate event or an unexpected consequence.
- This structure is not used for positive or neutral outcomes.
- It is often paired with verbs indicating sudden changes or external factors (e.g., “비가 오다” – “to rain”).
| 비가 오는 바람에 운동회를 취소했어요. | Because it rained, the sports event was canceled. |
| 급하게 뛰는 바람에 넘어졌어요. | Because I ran in a hurry, I fell down. |
View More Examples:
| 차가 막히는 바람에 늦었어요. | Because of the traffic jam, I was late. |
| 휴대폰을 떨어뜨리는 바람에 고장났어요. | Because I dropped my phone, it broke. |
| 중요한 서류를 잃어버리는 바람에 다시 준비해야 했어요. | Because I lost an important document, I had to prepare it again. |
| 감기에 걸리는 바람에 시험을 못 봤어요. | Because I caught a cold, I couldn’t take the exam. |
| 버스를 놓치는 바람에 면접에 지각했어요. | Because I missed the bus, I was late for the interview. |
| 실수를 하는 바람에 프로젝트가 지연됐어요. | Because of a mistake, the project was delayed. |
CULTURAL CONTEXT
In Korean society, punctuality and responsibility are highly valued.
Therefore, using 는 바람에 to explain why something went wrong can soften the blame and indicate that the outcome was beyond one’s control.
This expression is useful in both formal and informal settings when explaining why something undesirable occurred.
APPROXIMATION WITH 는 셈이다
는 셈이다 is used when making a logical conclusion or stating that something is practically equivalent to something else.
It implies that while something may not be exactly the same, it is close enough to be considered so.
We can translate it in English by “to be practically the same as”, “it is considered to be the same as”.
PATTERN
Verb/Adjective stem + 는 셈이다
NOTES:
- Can be used with both action and descriptive verbs.
- Often used when analyzing a situation and drawing conclusions.
- 는 셈이다 suggests a subjective judgment or estimation based on available information.
- It is often used when the speaker wants to approximate or summarize a situation.
- This structure is useful when making a conclusion without precise measurements.
| 하루에 다섯 시간씩 공부하니까 학생이나 마찬가지인 셈이에요. | Since I study five hours a day, it’s practically the same as being a student. |
| 이번 달에도 적자가 났으니까 계속 손해를 보는 셈이에요. | Since we had a deficit this month too, it’s practically the same as continuously losing money. |
View More Examples:
| 서울에서 10년을 살았으니까 서울 사람이 다 된 셈이에요. | Since I’ve lived in Seoul for 10 years, I can be considered a complete Seoul resident. |
| 원래 가격이 5만 원인데 할인 가격은 4만 9천 원이니까 같은 셈이에요. | The original price is 50,000 won, but the discounted price is 49,000 won, so it’s basically the same. |
| 매일 10km씩 뛰니까 매일 마라톤 연습을 하는 셈이에요. | Since I run 10 km every day, it’s practically marathon training every day. |
| 시험이 쉽다고 했지만 100점을 맞은 사람이 없으니까 아주 어려웠던 셈이에요. | They said the test was easy, but since no one got a perfect score, it was actually very difficult. |
NUANCES
- 는 셈이다 can also imply a hypothetical scenario or estimation.
여기서 서울까지 세 시간 걸리니까 가까운 셈이에요.
Since it takes three hours from here to Seoul, it can be considered close.- In casual speech, speakers may omit “이다” for brevity, saying “셈이야” instead.
In conclusion, both 는 바람에 and 는 셈이다 are useful for emphasizing actions in different ways.
는 바람에 is used to describe negative consequences caused by an action, while 는 셈이다 is used to make logical conclusions or approximate statements.
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FAQs
What is the difference between -는 바람에 and -는 셈이다?
-는 바람에 is used to express that an unexpected or unfortunate event caused a negative outcome.
-는 셈이다 is used to indicate that something is basically or practically the case, often to sum up a situation or emphasize equivalence.
Can -는 바람에 be used for positive outcomes?
Not usually.
-는 바람에 typically describes unintended or negative consequences, so it’s better to use other structures for positive or neutral outcomes.
Is -는 셈이다 used in formal or casual situations?
-는 셈이다 is neutral and can be used in both formal and casual contexts. You just need to adjust the speech level:
공부를 안 한 셈이에요. (polite)
공부를 안 한 셈이야. (casual)
Can these expressions be used in the past tense?
Yes!
For -는 바람에, use the past form of the verb: 운이 없었던 바람에.
For -는 셈이다, the tense applies to the overall clause, e.g., 갔다 온 셈이에요 (It’s as if I’ve been there).
Are there any expressions similar in meaning to -는 셈이다?
Yes!
Phrases like -나 마찬가지다 (it’s the same as…) or -과 다름없다 (not different from…) can also express equivalence or summarizing thoughts similarly to -는 셈이다.
Does LTL offer Korean classes?
Yes!
You can study with us in Seoul, in our Hongdae location, or online if you prefer learn from home.
Contact us here if you have any questions.