目錄
Korean 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 can both easily end up as “doing something” when viewed through Chinese, so when you see 「한국어 공부하기」 and 「한국어를 공부하는 것」, it may even feel as though the only difference is the length of the expression. In Korean itself, however, the distinction is not that simple. 「-기」 often appears in schedules, to-do lists, skill names, and similar contexts, where it turns an action directly into an item or label. 「-는 것」 retains more of what comes before it: locations, objects, and time expressions can all remain inside the clause, and the form can change to 「-(으)ㄴ 것」 or 「-(으)ㄹ 것」 to reflect time. It can even refer directly to a particular thing. The two forms do overlap considerably, and when both genuinely work in the same sentence, there is no need to force a hierarchy between them. Looking first at fixed constructions and then asking whether the sentence is presenting an activity as an item or discussing a complete event or piece of content is far more practical than memorizing “-기 equals X” and “-는 것 equals Y.”
What Are Korean 「-기」 and 「-는 것」? Start with the Difference Between the Two Nominalization Structures
「-기」 is a nominalizing ending in Korean. It attaches to predicates such as verbs and adjectives and allows the preceding content to function like a noun. A typical example given by the National Institute of Korean Language is 「밥을 먹기가 싫다」, where 「먹기」 allows the action 「먹다」 to occupy a noun-like position.
「-는 것」 has a different structure. It consists of the verb’s adnominal form 「-는」 plus the dependent noun 「것」. Strictly speaking, the preceding adnominal clause modifies 「것」. The whole expression can likewise function nominally, which is why Korean grammar teaching often compares it directly with 「-기」. However, the National Institute of Korean Language also specifically notes that the two structures do not always have the same meaning or usage in every context.
- Example: 사진 찍기가 제 취미예요.
Romanization: sa-jin jjik-gi-ga je chwi-mi-ye-yo.
Translation: Taking photos is my hobby.
「사진 찍기」 packages taking photos as an activity, much like a hobby category or activity name, without referring to any particular instance of taking a photo. - Example: 사진을 찍는 것은 생각보다 어려워요.
Romanization: sa-jin-eul jjik-neun geo-seun saeng-gak-bo-da eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Translation: Taking photos is harder than I expected.
「사진을 찍는 것」 retains the object 「사진을」 and the entire action, so it reads more like an evaluation of “the act of taking photos” itself. - Example: 어제 찍은 것을 친구에게 보냈어요.
Romanization: eo-je jjik-eun geo-seul chin-gu-e-ge bo-nae-sseo-yo.
Translation: I sent my friend what I took yesterday.
Here, 「것」 does more than nominalize an action. It directly refers to “what I took yesterday,” which could in practice mean a photo or video depending on the context. The Basic Korean Dictionary also explains that 「것」 can refer to an object or fact that has not been explicitly named.
How 「-기」 and the 「것」 Series Attach: Choosing -는／-(으)ㄴ／-(으)ㄹ
「-기」 attaches directly to a predicate stem. With verbs, forms such as 「먹다→먹기」「읽다→읽기」「공부하다→공부하기」 turn the action into nominalized content.
「것」 itself is a dependent noun, so it must be modified by an adnominal form. With verbs, 「-는 것」 is used for present, habitual, or general actions; 「-(으)ㄴ 것」 is typically used for completed actions; and 「-(으)ㄹ 것」 is commonly used for actions or content that have not yet happened, are planned, or are anticipated. Adjectives generally take 「-(으)ㄴ 것」, while nouns can appear with 「인 것」.
| Intended Meaning | 「-기」 | 「것」 Series | Example |
| General action or activity | V＋기 | V＋는 것 | 읽기／읽는 것 |
| Completed action | 「-기」 itself does not carry this tense contrast | V＋(으)ㄴ 것 | 어제 읽은 것 |
| Action not yet completed / planned content | 「-기」 itself does not carry this tense contrast | V＋(으)ㄹ 것 | 내일 읽을 것 |
| Adjectival description | A＋기 can appear in certain nominalizing or fixed structures | A＋(으)ㄴ 것 | 좋은 것、어려운 것 |
| Noun identification | There is no direct corresponding use of 「N＋기」 | N＋인 것 | 학생인 것 |
Can 「-기」 Express the Past or Future?
It is not accurate to say that it cannot. 「-기」 itself does not create a direct present–completed–future/planned contrast in the way 「-는／-(으)ㄴ／-(으)ㄹ 것」 does through adnominal endings, but the National Institute of Korean Language explains that 「-기」 can also follow prefinal endings such as 「-었-」 and 「-겠-」.
However, in everyday comparisons between 「-기」 and 「것」, if you want to identify something specific such as “the thing I bought yesterday” or “the clothes I’ll wear tomorrow,” forms such as 「산 것」 and 「입을 것」 are far more natural than trying to express the same idea with 「-기」.
- Example: 어제 산 것을 아직 안 열어 봤어요.
Romanization: eo-je san geo-seul a-jik an yeo-reo bwa-sseo-yo.
Translation: I still haven’t opened what I bought yesterday.
「산 것」 directly points to something that was already bought yesterday. This is not a position where 「사기」 can replace it. - Example: 내일 입을 것을 미리 골랐어요.
Romanization: nae-il i-beul geo-seul mi-ri gol-la-sseo-yo.
Translation: I picked out what I’m going to wear tomorrow in advance.
「입을 것」 uses 「-(으)ㄹ」 to incorporate the not-yet-occurring action of wearing something and, depending on context, stands in for “clothes.” - Example: 매일 운동하기가 쉽지는 않아요.
Romanization: mae-il un-dong-ha-gi-ga swip-ji-neun a-na-yo.
Translation: Exercising every day isn’t easy.
There is no need here to identify one completed or future workout. The sentence is simply evaluating the difficulty of the activity “exercising every day,” so 「-기」 is natural.
How Korean 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 Are Used: Activities, Events, and Concrete Content
The real distinction between the two is not as simple as saying that one is abstract and the other concrete. A more practical approach is to ask whether the sentence is naming an activity, evaluating a complete event, or referring back to some actual content from the preceding context.
「-기」 Usage｜Turning an Action into an Activity, Skill, or Task
「-기」 works especially well for turning an action into a concise activity name. It is common in hobbies, skill categories, course titles, goals, and to-do lists.
In these sentences, the specific instance of performing the action is usually not important. The focus is the activity itself. Forms such as 「말하기」「듣기」「읽기」「쓰기」 are even used directly as the names of the four language skills in Korean education.
- Example: 한국어 말하기가 아직 어려워요.
Romanization: han-gu-geo mal-ha-gi-ga a-jik eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Translation: Speaking Korean is still difficult for me.
「말하기」 treats speaking Korean as a skill or activity, much like the categories of listening, reading, and writing. - Example: 아침에 일찍 일어나기가 어려워요.
Romanization: a-chim-e il-jjik i-reo-na-gi-ga eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Translation: Getting up early in the morning is difficult.
The sentence evaluates the difficulty of the behavior “getting up early,” without referring to a particular instance of waking up. - Example: 오늘 할 일은 이메일 확인하기와 보고서 읽기예요.
Romanization: o-neul hal i-reun i-me-il hwak-in-ha-gi-wa bo-go-seo il-gi-ye-yo.
Translation: Today’s tasks are checking email and reading the report.
To-do items need short, clear task names, so 「확인하기」 and 「읽기」 feel more like list entries than the fuller 「확인하는 것」 and 「읽는 것」.
「-는 것」 Usage｜Treating a Complete Action as Something to Evaluate or Discuss
「-는 것」 can preserve the objects, locations, adverbs, and other information that precede it, making it well suited to turning an entire action into a subject or object.
That does not mean 「-기」 cannot take an object or modifiers. 「주말에 친구들과 수영하기」 is completely possible. The difference is more about how the sentence presents the material: 「-기」 tends to compress the whole phrase into the name of an activity, while 「-는 것」 more clearly preserves the feel of a clause.
- Example: 혼자 카페에서 책을 읽는 것을 좋아해요.
Romanization: hon-ja ka-pe-e-seo chae-geul ing-neun geo-seul jo-a-hae-yo.
Translation: I like reading books alone in cafés.
The location, object, and action all remain inside 「카페에서 책을 읽는 것」, so the sentence talks about a complete everyday habit. - Example: 사람들 앞에서 발표하는 것이 아직 어려워요.
Romanization: sa-ram-deul a-pe-seo bal-pyo-ha-neun geo-si a-jik eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Translation: Presenting in front of people is still difficult.
What is difficult is not the abstract idea of “presentation skills,” but the whole situation of “presenting in front of people.” - Example: 매일 같은 시간에 자는 것이 중요해요.
Romanization: mae-il ga-teun si-ga-ne ja-neun geo-si jung-yo-hae-yo.
Translation: Going to bed at the same time every day is important.
「자는 것」 treats the general sleeping habit as something to be evaluated.
「것」 Usage｜Referring to “Something Done,” “Something to Do,” or Previous Content
There is another major difference between 「것」 and simple nominalization: 「것」 itself can function as a dependent noun referring to an object, matter, or fact whose name is not stated directly. Examples such as 「먹을 것」「입을 것」「볼 것」 in the Basic Korean Dictionary belong to this type.
This means 「어제 산 것」 is likely to mean “the thing I bought yesterday,” not “the act of buying yesterday.” This function cannot be replaced by 「-기」.
- Example: 어제 산 것은 이 가방이에요.
Romanization: eo-je san geo-seun i ga-bang-i-e-yo.
Translation: What I bought yesterday was this bag.
「산 것」 stands in for the product that has not been named again, and the sentence later reveals that it was a bag. - Example: 냉장고에 먹을 것이 별로 없어요.
Romanization: naeng-jang-go-e meo-geul geo-si byeol-lo eop-seo-yo.
Translation: There isn’t much to eat in the refrigerator.
「먹을 것」 does not mean “the act of eating.” It refers to food that can be eaten. - Example: 회의에서 들은 것을 정리해 봤어요.
Romanization: hoe-ui-e-seo deu-reun geo-seul jeong-ni-hae bwa-sseo-yo.
Translation: I organized what I heard in the meeting.
「들은 것」 refers to information or content heard during the meeting, with the exact referent determined by context.
What Is the Difference Between Korean 「-기」 and 「-는 것」? A Complete Comparison of Nuance and Usage
The biggest difficulty with 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 is that both forms can work in many sentences, so simply asking “which grammar is correct?” is often not enough. You also need to consider which form is preferred in a particular construction, the time reference of the event, and whether 「것」 is standing in for an actual thing or content.
| Comparison Point | 「-기」 | 「-는 것」 Series |
| Grammar structure | Predicate stem＋기 | Adnominal ending＋dependent noun 「것」 |
| Basic function | Turns the preceding action or state into content that can occupy a noun position | Uses an adnominal clause to modify 「것」, then places the whole unit in a noun position |
| Typical nuance | More likely to package an action as an activity, skill, task, or behavior label | More likely to preserve the preceding action or situation as a whole and discuss it |
| Common Chinese translation | doing something, an activity, an action | doing something, an event, some content, a thing |
| Can it take an object? | Yes: 한국어를 공부하기 | Yes: 한국어를 공부하는 것 |
| Can it include a location? | Yes: 카페에서 책 읽기 | Yes: 카페에서 책을 읽는 것 |
| Can it include time or adverbs? | Yes: 아침에 일찍 일어나기 | Yes: 아침에 일찍 일어나는 것 |
| Activity name / skill name | Very common: 말하기、듣기、읽기、쓰기 | Possible, but less like a concise skill label |
| To-do list / task name | Very common: 환전하기、숙소 확인하기 | Can form a noun clause grammatically, but the full 「-는 것」 is not normally used as a to-do item |
| Talking about a general behavior | Possible: 매일 운동하기가 어려워요 | Possible: 매일 운동하는 것이 어려워요 |
| Talking about a complete situation | Can include plenty of information, but the whole phrase is still easily understood as an activity | Well suited to keeping information about location, object, manner, and so on |
| Present / general action | 「-기」 itself does not form a present-tense contrast through its ending | V＋는 것: 먹는 것、읽는 것 |
| Completed action | 「-기」 itself has no completed form directly corresponding to 「-(으)ㄴ 것」 | V＋(으)ㄴ 것: 먹은 것、산 것 |
| Not-yet-occurred / planned action | 「-기」 itself has no future/planned form directly corresponding to 「-(으)ㄹ 것」 | V＋(으)ㄹ 것: 먹을 것、입을 것 |
| Can it follow 「-었-／-겠-」? | It can in certain structures, so it is inaccurate to say 「-기」 can never express past or future meaning | Mainly distinguishes event time through the preceding adnominal ending |
| Can it refer to a concrete object? | Usually no | Yes: 「어제 산 것」 = the thing bought yesterday |
| Can it stand in for unspoken nouns such as food or clothes? | Usually no | Yes: 「먹을 것」 = something to eat, 「입을 것」 = something to wear |
| Can it refer back to previous content? | 「-기」 is usually not used for this type of reference | Yes: 「들은 것」 can refer to what was heard |
| With 「좋아하다」 | 여행하기를 좋아해요, possible | 여행하는 것을 좋아해요, possible |
| With 「쉽다／어렵다」 | -기가 쉽다／어렵다 is very common | -는 것이 쉽다／어렵다 is also possible |
| Common fixed patterns | -기로 하다、-기 전에、-기 시작하다、-기 쉽다／어렵다、-기를 바라다 | -는 것이 좋다、-는 것을 좋아하다、-는 것을 보다、-(으)ㄴ 것 같다, etc. |
| Can they always be substituted for each other? | No. Fixed patterns in particular cannot simply be replaced because the Chinese translation is similar | No. Time reference, referring functions, and fixed constructions can all prevent substitution |
| Spoken contractions | No corresponding 「거／게／걸／건」 series | Very common: 것→거、것이→게、것을→걸、것은→건 |
| Most typical examples | 한국어 말하기、사진 찍기、운동하기 | 책을 읽는 것、어제 산 것、내일 입을 것 |
| Simple rule of thumb | More like “doing this activity” | More like “the thing/event/content described before” |
▌When Both 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 Work, the Difference Is Usually Less Absolute Than It Seems
For example, “I like traveling” can be expressed as:
✅ 여행하기를 좋아해요.
I like traveling.
✅ 여행하는 것을 좋아해요.
I like traveling.
Both are natural. The first treats “traveling” as an activity that the speaker likes and is slightly more compressed, while the second retains more of the feel of a full verbal clause.
When more situational information is added, a sentence with 「것」 often feels more naturally expanded.
- Example: 혼자 여행하기를 좋아해요.
Romanization: hon-ja yeo-haeng-ha-gi-reul jo-a-hae-yo.
Translation: I like traveling alone.
「혼자 여행하기」 can still be understood as one activity. 「-기」 does not require the preceding material to consist of nothing more than a bare verb. - Example: 여행지에서 현지 사람들과 이야기하는 것을 좋아해요.
Romanization: yeo-haeng-ji-e-seo hyeon-ji sa-ram-deul-gwa i-ya-gi-ha-neun geo-seul jo-a-hae-yo.
Translation: I like talking with local people when I travel.
The location, people involved, and action together form a fuller scene, so 「-는 것」 reads naturally. - Example: 아침마다 커피를 마시는 게 좋아요.
Romanization: a-chim-ma-da keo-pi-reul ma-si-neun ge jo-a-yo.
Translation: I like drinking coffee every morning.
In speech, 「마시는 것이」 becomes 「마시는 게」, making the sentence sound more conversational than the full 「것이」 form.
▌Fixed Constructions Cannot Be Freely Replaced Just Because Chinese Calls Both “Nominalization”
Some expressions are fixed with 「-기」, for example:
- 기로 하다: decide to…
- 기 전에: before doing…
- 기 시작하다: start doing…
- 기 쉽다／어렵다: be easy／difficult to…
- 기를 바라다: hope that…
- Example: 다음 달부터 운동하기로 했어요.
Translation: I decided to start exercising next month.
「-기로 하다」 is a fixed construction, so you cannot simply replace it with 「운동하는 것으로 하다」 just because Chinese can express both using something like “the matter of exercising” and expect the meaning to remain identical.
Likewise, 「것」 appears in many fixed constructions such as 「-(으)ㄴ 것 같다」「-는 것이 좋다」「-는 것을 보다」. These also need to be learned as complete patterns.
▌How Does the Nuance Change If You Switch 「-기／-는 것」 in the Same Situation?
There are sentences where switching between 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 barely changes the Chinese translation, and both versions are perfectly acceptable Korean. For example, when talking about what you normally enjoy doing, 「혼자 카페에서 책 읽기」 and 「혼자 카페에서 책을 읽는 것」 can both refer to reading books alone in a café. The difference is that 「-기」 more readily treats this as one habitual activity, while 「-는 것」 keeps the whole description “reading a book alone in a café” intact before discussing it.
- Example: 혼자 카페에서 책 읽기를 좋아해요.
Romanization: hon-ja ka-pe-e-seo chaek il-gi-reul jo-a-hae-yo.
Translation: I like reading books alone in cafés.
「책 읽기」 packages reading as an activity. Even with 「혼자」 and 「카페에서」 added before it, the whole phrase still has the feel of “something I regularly like to do,” much like using 「-기」 with traveling, taking photos, or exercising. - Example: 혼자 카페에서 책을 읽는 것을 좋아해요.
Romanization: hon-ja ka-pe-e-seo chae-geul ing-neun geo-seul jo-a-hae-yo.
Translation: I like reading books alone in cafés.
「책을 읽는 것」 keeps the location, object, and action together, so the sentence feels more like it is referring to “the act of reading books alone in a café” itself. In actual conversation, 「읽는 것을」 is also frequently shortened to 「읽는 걸」.
Neither sentence is more correct than the other, and changing the form does not cause a dramatic difference in meaning. 「-기」 tends to turn what comes before it into an activity, while 「-는 것」 tends to preserve the original action as a clause. When both work, it is usually enough to ask whether the sentence is talking about “an activity you do” or “the event/content described before.”
Why Does Korean 「-는 것」 Often Become 「거／게／걸／건」 in Conversation?
In everyday Korean, speakers rarely pronounce 「것이」「것을」「것은」 in full every time. The Basic Korean Dictionary lists 「거」 as a colloquial dependent noun related to 「것」, and the National Institute of Korean Language also explains 「걸」 as a combination of the dependent noun 「거」 and the object particle.
This means you do not need to learn the following as four entirely separate grammar points:
- 는 게: similar in function to 「-는 것이」
- 는 걸: similar in function to 「-는 것을」
- 는 건: similar in function to 「-는 것은」
- 는 거: the conversational form of 「-는 것」
▌「-는 게」｜Common in Subject Position
- Example: 매일 조금씩 연습하는 게 좋아요.
Romanization: mae-il jo-geum-ssik yeon-seup-ha-neun ge jo-a-yo.
Translation: It’s good to practice a little every day.
The full form can be understood as 「연습하는 것이」, and 「게」 is extremely common in speech.
▌「-는 걸」｜Common in Object Position
- Example: 저는 영화 보는 걸 좋아해요.
Romanization: jeo-neun yeong-hwa bo-neun geol jo-a-hae-yo.
Translation: I like watching movies.
「보는 걸」 is the object of 「좋아하다」 in the sentence and corresponds to the fuller 「보는 것을」.
▌「-는 건」｜Making the Whole Event the Topic
- Example: 혼자 여행하는 건 처음이에요.
Romanization: hon-ja yeo-haeng-ha-neun geon cheo-eum-i-e-yo.
Translation: It’s my first time traveling alone.
「여행하는 건」 sets traveling alone as the topic of the conversation and can be understood as the full form 「여행하는 것은」.
Everyday Examples of Korean 「-기／-는 것」: Before a Trip, at a Café, and Packing
「-기」 is especially easy to spot in lists, course names, practice categories, and interface text. 「-는 것」 appears frequently in actual conversation, particularly when expressing preferences, evaluations, reminders, or referring back to something mentioned earlier.
▌Situation ①｜Organizing a Pre-Trip To-Do List
A：여행 전에 꼭 해야 할 일이 뭐예요?
yeo-haeng jeo-ne kkok hae-ya hal i-ri mwo-ye-yo?
What do you absolutely need to do before a trip?
B：환전하기, 숙소 예약 확인하기, 유심 준비하기예요.
hwan-jeon-ha-gi, suk-so ye-yak hwak-in-ha-gi, yu-sim jun-bi-ha-gi-ye-yo.
Exchanging money, checking the accommodation reservation, and preparing a SIM card.
📌 Grammar Point: 「환전하기」「확인하기」「준비하기」 are all task names. A to-do list does not need to expand every action into a complete event, so 「-기」 is the most concise form.
▌Situation ②｜Talking About Reading Habits at a Café
A：카페에서 책 읽는 걸 좋아해요?
ka-pe-e-seo chaek ing-neun geol jo-a-hae-yo?
Do you like reading books in cafés?
B：네. 조용한 곳에서 혼자 읽는 게 좋아요.
ne. jo-yong-han go-se-seo hon-ja ing-neun ge jo-a-yo.
Yes. I like reading alone somewhere quiet.
📌 Grammar Point: 「읽는 걸」 and 「읽는 게」 are both colloquial forms in the 「것」 series. The location and manner remain inside the expression, so the sentence feels like it is talking about a complete everyday habit.
▌Situation ③｜Checking What to Bring Tomorrow
A：내일 가져갈 건 다 준비했어요?
nae-il ga-jyeo-gal geon da jun-bi-hae-sseo-yo?
Have you prepared everything you need to bring tomorrow?
B：네. 아까 산 것도 가방에 넣었어요.
ne. a-kka san geot-do ga-bang-e neo-eo-sseo-yo.
Yes. I also put what I bought earlier into my bag.
📌 Grammar Point: 「가져갈 건」 refers to things that will be brought tomorrow, while 「산 것」 refers to something that has already been bought. Here, 「것」 directly refers to an object rather than merely nominalizing an action.
Cultural Notes:
- Korean course names, test skill categories, and study lists frequently use 「-기」. 「말하기」「듣기」「읽기」「쓰기」 are the most familiar examples and already function much like activity names.
- 「것」 does not correspond to one fixed Chinese word meaning “matter” or “thing.” It can refer to a fact, but it can also directly stand in for food, clothing, photos, and other objects whose names are not repeated. When you see 「산 것」 or 「먹을 것」, first check whether the sentence is actually referring to a concrete object.
- 「게」「걸」「건」 are extremely common in actual conversation. When you encounter them in listening practice, first mentally relate them back to 「것」, then check whether the original grammatical position is subject, object, or topic.
How Korean 「-기／-는 것」 Compares with Japanese 「〜こと／〜の」
Korean 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 can both nominalize an action or event, and Japanese 「〜こと」 and 「〜の」 have similar functions. However, there is no fixed one-to-one relationship between the two languages, so they should not be understood as simply “-기 = こと” and “-는 것 = の.”
Japanese 「〜こと」 is often used for abstract activities, general matters, and fixed constructions, while 「〜の」 frequently appears in conversation, sensory expressions, and descriptions of concrete events. Korean 「-기」 likewise tends to package an action as an activity or task, while 「-는 것」 can preserve more of the complete event. In addition, Korean 「것」 can refer to a concrete object, in which case Japanese generally uses 「もの」 rather than nominalizing 「こと／の」.
◆ Similar Grammar ①: Japanese 「〜こと」
Japanese 「〜こと」 can turn an action into an abstract activity, general matter, or topic of discussion, and therefore overlaps considerably with Korean 「-기」. It also appears in fixed constructions such as 「〜ことにする」 and 「〜ことができる」, so when translating into Korean, the corresponding construction must be adjusted as a whole.
- Example: 韓国語を勉強することは楽しいです。
Kana: かんこくごをべんきょうすることはたのしいです。
Translation: Studying Korean is fun. - The corresponding Korean is 「한국어 공부하기가 재미있어요」. Japanese 「勉強すること」 and Korean 「공부하기」 both treat studying Korean as a general activity and then evaluate that activity.
- Example: 新しい言語を学ぶことは簡単ではありません。
Kana: あたらしいげんごをまなぶことはかんたんではありません。
Translation: Learning a new language is not easy.
The corresponding Korean is 「새로운 언어를 배우기가 쉽지 않아요」. Japanese uses 「〜こと」 to present the general act of learning, while Korean uses 「-기」 to make “learning a new language” the target of a difficulty evaluation. - Example: 毎朝早く起きることにしました。
Kana: まいあさはやくおきることにしました。
Translation: I decided to get up early every morning.
The corresponding Korean is 「매일 아침 일찍 일어나기로 했어요」. Japanese 「〜ことにする」 expresses a decision, while Korean uses the fixed construction 「-기로 하다」. Their functions are similar, but you cannot simply translate 「こと」 by itself as 「-기」.
◆ Similar Grammar ②: Japanese 「〜の」
The Japanese nominalizer 「〜の」 is common in everyday speech and also frequently appears before sensory and perception expressions such as 「見る」「聞く」「気づく」. These sentences often refer to more concrete actions or events that are actually occurring, making their use fairly similar to Korean 「-는 것」.
- Example: カフェで本を読むのが好きです。
Kana: カフェでほんをよむのがすきです。
Translation: I like reading books in cafés.
The corresponding Korean is 「카페에서 책을 읽는 걸 좋아해요」. Both 「読むの」 and 「읽는 것」 place the full situation, including the location and action, in the position of what is liked. - Example: 子どもたちが公園で遊んでいるのを見ました。
Kana: こどもたちがこうえんであそんでいるのをみました。
Translation: I saw the children playing in the park.
The corresponding Korean is 「아이들이 공원에서 놀고 있는 것을 봤어요」. Japanese 「〜のを見ました」 and Korean 「-는 것을 봤어요」 both place the observed event in object position before “see.” - Example: 隣の部屋で誰かが話しているのが聞こえます。
Kana: となりのへやでだれかがはなしているのがきこえます。
Translation: I can hear someone talking in the next room.
The corresponding Korean is 「옆방에서 누군가 이야기하는 것이 들려요」. Japanese uses 「〜のが聞こえる」 to describe something actually being heard, and Korean likewise uses 「-는 것이 들리다」 while preserving the ongoing speaking event.
◆ Additional Expression: Japanese 「もの」
Korean 「것」 does more than nominalize events. It can also stand in for a concrete object whose name is not explicitly stated. In this case, Japanese normally uses 「もの」 rather than the abstract nominalizer 「こと」. Korean also changes among 「-는 것」「-(으)ㄴ 것」「-(으)ㄹ 것」 depending on the time reference of the action.
- Example: 昨日買ったものはまだ使っていません。
Kana: きのうかったものはまだつかっていません。
Translation: I still haven’t used what I bought yesterday.
The corresponding Korean is 「어제 산 것은 아직 쓰지 않았어요」. Korean 「산 것」 and Japanese 「買ったもの」 both refer to a concrete object that has already been bought, not to “the act of buying.” - Example: 旅行に持っていくものを準備しました。
Kana: りょこうにもっていくものをじゅんびしました。
Translation: I prepared the things I’m taking on the trip.
The corresponding Korean is 「여행에 가져갈 것을 준비했어요」. Korean uses 「-(으)ㄹ 것」 for a future or planned action, while Japanese 「持っていくもの」 refers to the items intended to be taken on the trip. - Example: 冷蔵庫にあるものだけで料理しました。
Kana: れいぞうこにあるものだけでりょうりしました。
Translation: I cooked using only what was in the refrigerator.
The corresponding Korean is 「냉장고에 있는 것만으로 요리했어요」. Japanese 「あるもの」 and Korean 「있는 것」 both stand in for specific ingredients or objects inside the refrigerator.
◆ Core Differences from Korean 「-기／-는 것」:
Korean 「-기」 tends to treat an action as an activity, task, or target of evaluation and also appears in fixed constructions such as 「-기로 하다」「-기 쉽다」「-기 어렵다」. Japanese 「〜こと」 is likewise common with abstract activities and general matters, but fixed constructions must be compared as complete units rather than by swapping out the nominalizer alone. Korean 「-는 것」 is more likely to preserve a complete event and overlaps considerably with Japanese 「〜の」 in conversation and sensory expressions. However, Japanese 「こと」 and 「の」 can sometimes substitute for each other, while each also has fixed combinations where substitution is impossible. For example, 「〜ことができる」 and 「〜ことにする」 normally cannot be changed to 「〜の」.
When you see 「-기」 and 「-는 것」, there is no need to rush to treat them as completely separate grammar points. 「여행하기를 좋아해요」 and 「여행하는 것을 좋아해요」 are both valid; they simply view “traveling” slightly differently. The cases that deserve more attention are the ones where substitution does not work: 「-기로 하다」 and 「-기 전에」 are fixed expressions, while 「것」 in 「어제 산 것」 and 「먹을 것」 is already referring to an actual object, so it is doing something different from 「-기」. As for the frequently heard conversational forms 「거／게／걸／건」, they can be understood together as forms related to 「것」 rather than memorized as four entirely new grammar points. When you encounter Korean 「-기」 and 「-는 것」 again, looking at what comes before and after them and what the sentence as a whole is discussing will usually be more useful than relying only on the Chinese translation.
FAQs
Both can give the preceding content a noun-like function, but their grammatical structures are different. 「-기」 is a nominalizing ending, while 「-는 것」 consists of the adnominal ending 「-는」 plus the dependent noun 「것」. The National Institute of Korean Language also notes that the two do not always have the same meaning or usage.
No. Some general activities allow both, such as 「여행하기를 좋아하다」 and 「여행하는 것을 좋아하다」. However, fixed patterns such as 「-기로 하다」「-기 전에」 cannot be freely replaced with 「것」, and expressions such as 「어제 산 것」 that refer to concrete objects cannot be changed to 「사기」.
This should not be treated as an absolute rule. 「-기」 does often compress behavior into an activity, skill, or task, while 「-는 것」 often preserves a fuller clause. However, both can take objects, locations, and other modifiers. It is better to treat “abstract vs concrete” as a tendency in nuance rather than a grammatical restriction.
With verbs, 「-는 것」 usually describes present, habitual, or general actions; 「-(으)ㄴ 것」 commonly refers to completed actions; and 「-(으)ㄹ 것」 can refer to actions that have not yet happened, are planned, or are expected. Actual time reference still depends on context, so these should not be treated as a purely mechanical present/past/future system.
That is not accurate. 「-기」 itself does not form the same clear present/completed/planned contrast as the 「것」 series through adnominal endings, but the National Institute of Korean Language explains that 「-기」 can also follow forms such as 「-었-」 and 「-겠-」.
Because 「산 것」 here means “the thing bought yesterday.” 「것」 is standing in for an actual object. 「사기」 means the activity of buying and cannot directly refer to the purchased item. The two structures are performing different functions.
No. The Korean Basic Dictionary explains that 「것」 can refer to an unspecified object or fact. Therefore, 「먹을 것」 can mean food, 「입을 것」 can mean clothes, and 「어제 산 것」 can refer to any item bought yesterday.
They are common conversational forms related to 「것／거」. 「-는 게」 commonly appears in subject position, 「-는 걸」 in object position, and 「-는 건」 often sets the whole clause as the topic. The National Institute of Korean Language also analyzes 「걸」 as a form combining the dependent noun 「거」 with an object particle. (Korean Language Society)
Both are possible. 「영화 보기를 좋아해요」 more readily treats watching movies as a hobby activity, while 「영화 보는 걸 좋아해요」 is also extremely natural in everyday conversation and retains more of the feel of a full action clause. Neither should be labeled incorrect.
Because a to-do list needs concise task names. 「환전하기」「이메일 확인하기」「보고서 읽기」 can each function directly as an item without expanding the action into a complete event, making them more concise than 「환전하는 것」「이메일을 확인하는 것」.
Grammatically, yes. The National Institute of Korean Language and the Korean Basic Dictionary both classify 「-기」 as a nominalizing ending that can attach to predicates including verbs and adjectives. Actual usage still depends on the following construction and collocation, so adjectives cannot simply be turned into ordinary nouns mechanically by adding 「-기」.
Both nominalization structures are highly frequent and relatively basic in Korean. The more advanced difficulty lies not in attaching the forms themselves but in fixed constructions, the referential function of 「것」, adnominal tense, and conversational forms such as 「게／걸／건」. These forms appear extensively in TOPIK reading and listening, so familiarity with real sentences is more important than memorizing one specific level.