How To Use -ㄴ/은 편이다 || Expressing “Tend To Be” in Korean

Q: What does -ㄴ/은 편이다 mean in Korean?

It’s used to express that something tends to be or is rather a certain way. It softens a statement and indicates that something generally falls into a certain category or tendency.

Q: How do I use -ㄴ/은 편이다 with verbs?

With action verbs, use -는 편이다 instead. For example: 자주 운동하는 편이에요. – I tend to work out often.

Q: Does LTL provide 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.

Home B1 Expressing "tend to be" in Korean

HOW TO USE -ㄴ/은 편이다

Korean grammar includes many expressions to describe tendencies, general characteristics, or patterns.

One such structure is -ㄴ/은 편이다, which means “tends to be” or “is on the ___ side”.

INTRODUCTION

The structure -ㄴ/은 편이다 is used to describe a tendency or a general inclination of a person, object, or situation.

It expresses that something or someone leans toward a certain characteristic rather than being an absolute description.

This form is often translated as “tends to be“, “is on the ___ side“, or “is rather ___“ in English.

It is important to note that while -ㄴ/은 편이다 indicates a tendency, it does not express an absolute truth.

This makes it a useful tool when you want to be more flexible or less direct in your statements. It is frequently used in everyday conversation when describing personality traits, physical features, or behaviors.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

This structure is useful when making a generalisation without being too definitive.

This expression conveys a relative comparison, not an absolute fact.
Often used when giving a soft opinion rather than a definitive statement.
Commonly appears in casual conversation and descriptions.

-ㄴ/은 편이다 is useful when you want to convey a neutral point of view. It allows you to describe general trends or habits without making a strong or overly specific claim.

PATTERN

Adjective stem / Verb + -는/은 편이다

저는 조용한 편이에요.	I tend to be quiet.
그 영화는 긴 편이에요.	That movie tends to be long.
이 지역의 월세는 다른 지역의 월세보다 싼 편이에요.	The monthly rent in this area is relatively cheaper than in other areas.

View More Examples:

그는 성격이 밝은 편이에요.	He tends to have a bright personality.
저는 건강한 편이에요.	I tend to be healthy.
이 길은 다른 길보다 복잡한 편이에요.	This road is relatively more complicated than other roads.

편이다 IN OTHER CONTEXTS

While -ㄴ/은 편이다 is mostly used with adjectives, it can also be used with descriptive verbs to give subjective evaluations.

Opinions & Preferences

When expressing personal preferences or subjective opinions, -ㄴ/은 편이다 is often used to soften the statement.

저는 매운 음식을 잘 먹는 편이에요.	I tend to eat spicy food well.
저는 아침에 일찍 일어나는 편이에요.	I tend to wake up early.

Comparisons

It can also compare characteristics between people or things without making a strong statement.

그는 평균 한국 남자들보다 키가 큰 편이에요.	He is relatively taller than the average Korean men.
이 도시는 조용한 편이에요.	This city is on the quiet side.

Nuances in Speech

➡️ Neutral Tone: -ㄴ/은 편이다 is useful when the speaker wants to express a neutral, non-judgmental observation.

저는 공부를 잘하는 편이에요.

_{I tend to study well.}

➡️ Softening Statements: When you do not want to make a strong claim, use -ㄴ/은 편이다 to avoid sounding too assertive.

그 가게는 비싼 편이에요.

_{That store is on the expensive side.}

➡️ Politeness Levels: This structure can be adjusted to different politeness levels by modifying the verb 이다.

Casual: 큰 편이야 (It’s on the big side.)
Polite: 큰 편이에요 (It tends to be big.)
Formal: 큰 편입니다 (It is on the big side.)

View More Examples:

저는 일주일에 헬스장에 다섯 번 가니까 운동을 자주 하는 편이에요.	I tend to exercise often because I go to the gym five times a week.
이 집은 볕이 잘 드는 편이에요.	This house tends to get a lot of sunlight.
한국은 여름에 일본보다 덜 습한 편이에요.	Korea tends to be less humid than Japan in the summer.
저는 책을 많이 읽는 편인 것 같아요.	I think I tend to read a lot of books.
이 식당의 음식은 다른 식당들보다 짠 편이에요.	The food at this restaurant tends to be saltier than at other restaurants.
그 학생은 조용한 편이지만 소심하지는 않아요.	That student tends to be quiet, but they are not timid.

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FAQs

What does -ㄴ/은 편이다 mean in Korean?

It’s used to express that something tends to be or is rather a certain way.

It softens a statement and indicates that something generally falls into a certain category or tendency.

Can -ㄴ/은 편이다 be used for both objective facts and subjective opinions?

This expression is mainly used for subjective observations or tendencies.

It’s not used for absolute facts but more for personal impressions or general characteristics.

Is there a difference between -ㄴ/은 편이다 and 그냥 -이다?

Yes. Using -이다 states something as a clear fact, while -ㄴ/은 편이다 expresses it more moderately, implying that it leans in that direction but isn’t absolute.

How do I use -ㄴ/은 편이다 with verbs?

With action verbs, use -는 편이다 instead.

For example:

자주 운동하는 편이에요. – I tend to work out often.

Can I use -ㄴ/은 편이다 with adjectives that already express strong opinions?

Yes, but it’s more natural with adjectives that are moderate or neutral.

Pairing it with very extreme adjectives may sound awkward, as the phrase is meant to soften the tone.

Does LTL provide Korean classes?

Yes!

You can study with us in Seoul, in our Hongdae location, or online if you prefer learn from home.