-는 바람에: as a result of, due to, because of

🎉 안녕하세요, dear SKAPETOKOREA enthusiasts! 🎉

Welcome back to another fun-filled lesson. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where one thing led to another? Well, today’s Korean lesson is all about that! We’re diving into the wonderful world of “는 바람에.” This phrase is your new go-to when explaining something that happened because of a certain reason or cause. Think of it as the Korean equivalent of “due to” or “because of.”

Imagine this: you missed a bus because you overslept, or perhaps your ice cream melted because of the hot sun. That’s right, “는 바람에” will be your new BFF in telling these tales.

Strap in and prepare to be blown away (pun intended) by the gusts of “는 바람에” knowledge we’re about to drop! 🍃

Conjugation

VERB STEM + -는 바람에

1. Take a verb i.e. 가다
2. Drop “다” i.e. 가
3. Add -는 바람에 i.e. 가 는바람에

• 먹다 –> 먹 + 는바람에 –> 먹는바람에
• 사다 –> 사 + 는바람에 –> 사는바람에
• 주다 –> 주 + 는바람에 –> 주는바람에
• 보다 –> 보 + 는바람에 –> 보는바람에

Understanding 는 바람에

Korean is a language enriched with expressions that encapsulate specific situations and emotions succinctly. One such expression is “는 바람에”, a phrase that might seem a tad perplexing when translated literally, but carries great significance in everyday language.

Literal Translation:

The term “바람” directly translates to “wind” in English. However, when used in this context, it doesn’t refer to the breezy gusts that rustle the leaves. Instead, “바람” in “는 바람에” refers metaphorically to a cause or reason, making the phrase denote the idea of “because of” or “due to”.

Breaking It Down:

“는 바람에” can be broken down into two parts:

1. “는” – a particle that is attached to a noun or a verb stem, marking it as the cause or reason for something.
2. “바람에” – signifies the result or consequence due to that reason.

Together, “는 바람에” means “because of (a particular reason)”, emphasizing the consequence that came about due to that specific cause.

Usage in Sentences:

The expression is used to highlight the cause-and-effect relationship between two events, where an initial event (the cause) results in a subsequent event (the effect). For example, if someone were late to work because they missed the bus, they might use “는 바람에” to emphasize the missed bus as the reason for their tardiness.

Comparison with English:

In English, we often use phrases like “due to” or “because of” to explain the cause of a particular event. “는 바람에” serves a similar purpose in Korean. The distinction, however, lies in the nuanced emotional weight it carries, often used when there’s a sense of lament or regret about the cause and its effect.

Contextual Scenarios

Unforeseen Circumstances

If you missed an important meeting because you overslept, you could say: “늦잠을 자는 바람에 중요한 회의를 놓쳤어요.” (Because I overslept, I missed an important meeting.)

Weather-Related Situations

Given that “바람” means wind, it’s also often used in contexts related to weather, albeit metaphorically. “갑자기 비가 오는 바람에 옷 젖었어요.” (Because it suddenly rained, I got all wet.)

Emotional Contexts

The phrase is also used to describe situations that lead to emotional outcomes. “그의 말을 듣는 바람에 기분이 상했어요.” (Because I heard what he said, my mood was ruined.)

Accidental Scenarios

It’s apt for situations where something happened accidentally or without intention. “책을 너무 빠르게 넘기는 바람에 페이지가 찢어졌다.” (Because I turned the pages too quickly, the pages tore.)

Regrettable Outcomes

It can emphasize the speaker’s regret or lament about a situation. “잊어버리는 바람에 새로운 걸 사야 했어.” (I had to buy a new one because I forgot [the other one].)

Examples

In this section, we’ll explore several examples of sentences using “는 바람에” to better understand its real-world application and the nuances it carries. Let’s dive right in!

비가 오는 바람에 축구 경기가 취소됐어요.

• Translation: Because it rained, the soccer match was canceled.
• Walkthrough:
  • 비가 오다 (to rain) is the reason or cause.
  • 축구 경기가 취소되다 (the soccer match is canceled) is the effect.
  • “는 바람에” connects these two, showing the direct cause-and-effect relationship.

지각하는 바람에 선생님께 혼났어요.

• Translation: Because I was late, the teacher scolded me.
• Walkthrough:
  • 지각하다 (to be late) is the cause.
  • 선생님께 혼나다 (get scolded by the teacher) is the effect.
  • This sentence not only indicates a cause-and-effect but also a regrettable outcome.

잠을 너무 많이 자는 바람에 약속 시간에 늦었어.

• Translation: Because I slept too much, I was late for our appointment.
• Walkthrough:
  • 잠을 너무 많이 자다 (slept too much) indicates the reason for the next event.
  • 약속 시간에 늦다 (being late for the appointment time) is the consequence.
  • Again, there’s an element of regret here.

버스를 놓친 바람에 택시를 타야 했어요.

• Translation: Because I missed the bus, I had to take a taxi.
• Walkthrough:
  • 버스를 놓치다 (miss the bus) is the unintended cause.
  • 택시를 타다 (take a taxi) is the effect, indicating an unplanned action due to the previous event.

소리가 큰 바람에 아기가 깼어요.

• Translation: Because of the loud noise, the baby woke up.
• Walkthrough:
  • 소리가 크다 (the noise is loud) is the direct cause of the next event.
  • 아기가 깨다 (the baby wakes up) shows the unintended effect of the previous action.

Remember, while “는 바람에” often has a negative or unintended connotation, it’s essential to look at the entire context to get the true meaning. These examples give you a glimpse of how diverse and multifaceted the phrase is, setting the stage for various emotions and situations in everyday Korean communication.

Activity 1

Fill in the blanks.

1. 도서관에서 책을 _______________ 벌금을 내야 했어요. – Because I lost the book in the library, I had to pay a fine.
2. 너무 많이 _______________ 속이 아파요. – I ate too much, and now I have a stomachache.
3. 음악을 너무 크게 _______________ 이어폰이 고장났어요. – My earphones broke because I listened to music too loudly.
4. 밤새 컴퓨터를 _______________ 눈이 아파요. – My eyes hurt because I used the computer all night.
5. 잘못된 길을 _______________ 도착이 늦어졌어요. – I was late to arrive because I took the wrong path.

Activity 1 Answers

1. 도서관에서 책을 잃어버린 바람에 벌금을 내야 했어요. – Because I lost the book in the library, I had to pay a fine.
2. 너무 많이 먹는 바람에 속이 아파요. – I ate too much, and now I have a stomach-ache.
3. 음악을 너무 크게 듣는 바람에 이어폰이 고장났어요. – My earphones broke because I listened to music too loudly.
4. 밤새 컴퓨터를 하는 바람에 눈이 아파요. – My eyes hurt because I used the computer all night.
5. 잘못된 길을 가는 바람에 도착이 늦어졌어요. – I was late to arrive because I took the wrong path.

Wrap up

Understanding and using “는 바람에” will enhance your ability to describe causative events in Korean. It’s a great tool to pinpoint reasons and provide explanations for certain outcomes.

With consistent practice and application, this structure will soon become a natural part of your Korean expression. Remember, language learning is an incremental process, and every new structure you master brings you one step closer to fluency.

Keep practicing, stay curious, and continue expanding your Korean language skills. Until next time, 화이팅! (Fighting!)