Talking About Habits (-곤 하다)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -곤 하다 to describe actions you repeat periodically or habits you have developed over time.
- Attach -곤 하다 directly to the verb stem: 운동하곤 해요 (I often exercise).
- It emphasizes that the action happens repeatedly, not just once.
- It can be used in past tense (-곤 했다) to describe past habits that no longer occur.
Overview
-곤 하다 (romanized: -gon hada) is a crucial Korean grammar pattern used to express actions that occur habitually, repeatedly, or as a matter of custom. It conveys the meaning of 'often do,' 'tend to do,' or 'would (often) do' in English. This pattern signifies a recurring event or behavior that is not necessarily constant or rigidly scheduled, but rather a characteristic tendency of the subject over a period.
At its linguistic core, -곤 하다 is a contracted form of -고는 하다 (-고 as a conjunctive ending signifying sequential action, and -는 as a topic particle emphasizing the preceding action). The -는 particle in the longer form adds a subtle emphasis or contrast, highlighting the habitual nature of the action. However, in modern spoken and written Korean, the contracted -곤 하다 is overwhelmingly more common and less formal, maintaining the same core meaning of habitual action without the explicit emphasis.
Understanding -곤 하다 allows you to describe patterns of behavior, personal routines, or recurring events with a nuance that simple present or past tense cannot fully capture. It moves beyond merely stating an action to characterizing a general tendency or a frequent occurrence. This makes your Korean expression significantly more natural and expressive, particularly at the B2 level where discussing complex topics and personal experiences is essential.
How This Grammar Works
책을 읽어요 (I read a book) describes a current action or a general fact. In contrast, 책을 읽곤 해요 (I often read books / I tend to read books) specifically highlights the habitual nature of reading.-곤 해요 or -곤 합니다), it describes habits or tendencies that are currently ongoing. For instance, 주말에는 영화를 보곤 해요 (I often watch movies on weekends) expresses a present habit.-곤 했어요 or -곤 했습니다), -곤 하다 conveys actions that used to occur habitually. This is particularly useful for reminiscing or describing past routines. 학생 때는 매일 도서관에 가곤 했어요 (When I was a student, I used to often go to the library every day) vividly recalls a past routine.Formation Pattern
먹다 - to eat, 가다 - to go, 하다 - to do, 읽다 - to read).
-다: This leaves you with the verb stem (e.g., 먹, 가, 하, 읽).
-곤 하다: Append the grammar pattern to the verb stem (e.g., 먹곤 하다, 가곤 하다, 하곤 하다, 읽곤 하다).
하다 part is conjugated just like any other verb, according to the desired tense and politeness level. Here is a comprehensive conjugation table:
가 (to go) | 가곤 하다 (gagon hada) | To often go / To tend to go |
먹 (to eat) | 먹곤 해요 (meokgon haeyo) | I often eat / I tend to eat |
읽 (to read) | 읽곤 했어요 (ikgon haesseoyo) | I often read (in the past) / I used to read |
하 (to do) | 하곤 합니다 (hagon hamnida) | I often do / I tend to do |
보 (to see) | 보곤 했습니다 (bogon haetseumnida) | I often saw (in the past) / I used to see |
자 (to sleep) | 자곤 해 (jagon hae) | I often sleep / I tend to sleep |
울 (to cry) | 울곤 했어 (ulgon haesseo) | I often cried (in the past) / I used to cry |
When To Use It
- 1Describing Current Habits or Tendencies: This is the most direct application. Use -곤 하다 to speak about actions you frequently perform in your present life, which are part of your routine but may not adhere to a strict, unwavering schedule.
저는 스트레스를 받으면 매운 음식을 먹곤 해요.(When I get stressed, I often eat spicy food.) This highlights a personal coping mechanism that is a recurring habit.새벽에 가끔 산책하곤 해요.(I sometimes take a walk in the early morning.) This shows an occasional but regular tendency, not an everyday occurrence.주말에는 주로 친구들과 만나서 커피를 마시곤 합니다.(On weekends, I usually meet friends and often drink coffee.) This describes a common, recurring social activity.
- 1Recalling Past Habits or Nostalgic Memories: This is a powerful use of -곤 하다, especially in its past tense form (
-곤 했어요). It evokes a sense of 'used to do' or 'would often do,' perfect for sharing anecdotes or discussing routines from a previous period in your life.
어릴 때는 여름마다 바다에 가곤 했어요.(When I was young, I used to often go to the beach every summer.) This conveys a cherished childhood tradition.대학생 때는 밤새워 공부하곤 했지.(When I was a university student, I used to often study all night.) This recalls a common past behavior during student life.그 카페에서 같이 이야기하곤 했습니다.(We used to often talk together at that cafe.) This brings a sense of nostalgia to a shared past experience.
- 1Indicating Sporadic but Regular Occurrences: For actions that don't happen every day but recur with enough frequency to be considered a pattern, -곤 하다 is ideal. This distinguishes it from one-time events.
피곤할 때 낮잠을 자곤 해요.(When I'm tired, I sometimes take a nap.) This isn't an everyday event, but it's a known pattern.날씨가 좋으면 자전거를 타러 나가곤 합니다.(If the weather is good, I often go out to ride my bicycle.) The action depends on a condition but is a regular response to that condition.가끔 주말에 부모님 댁에 방문하곤 해요.(Sometimes on weekends, I visit my parents' house.) This conveys an irregular but consistent pattern of visits.
Common Mistakes
- 1Using -곤 하다 with Adjectives or Descriptive Verbs: This is perhaps the most frequent error. -곤 하다 must only attach to action verbs. It describes the repetition of an action, not a state or quality. You cannot say
날씨가 좋곤 해요(incorrect for 'the weather is often good') because좋다(to be good) is a descriptive verb.
- Correction: To express a recurring state, you must transform the descriptive verb into an action verb using
-아/어지다(to become). So,날씨가 좋아지곤 해요(The weather often becomes good) is correct. Alternatively, you might use patterns like-는 편이다for general tendencies. For instance,그 사람은 좀 예민한 편이에요(That person tends to be a bit sensitive) uses-는 편이다to describe a characteristic.
- 1Applying -곤 하다 to One-Time Events: -곤 하다 inherently implies repetition. Using it for an action that occurred only once or a few isolated times is incorrect and illogical. For example,
작년에 제주도에 가곤 했어요(I went to Jeju Island last year) is incorrect if you only went once.
- Correction: For single past events, use the simple past tense:
작년에 제주도에 갔어요.(I went to Jeju Island last year.) Reserve -곤 하다 for actions with a genuine pattern of recurrence.
- 1Confusing -곤 하다 with
-기만 하다: These two patterns describe entirely different nuances.-기만 하다means 'only do (verb)' and often implies a restriction or exclusivity of action.
공부하곤 해요.(I often study / I tend to study.) This indicates a frequent action.공부하기만 해요.(I only study.) This suggests studying to the exclusion of other activities. The meanings are distinct; choose based on whether you want to convey frequency or exclusivity.
- 1Confusing -곤 하다 with
-는 편이다: While both can express tendencies, their semantic scopes differ. -곤 하다 describes a recurring action.-는 편이다(to be on the side of / to tend to be) describes a general characteristic, quality, or predisposition of a person or situation.
저는 매운 음식을 먹곤 해요.(I often eat spicy food.) - Focus on the repeated action.저는 매운 음식을 잘 먹는 편이에요.(I tend to eat spicy food well / I'm the type who eats spicy food well.) - Focus on the general characteristic or ability.그는 좀 게으른 편이에요.(He tends to be a bit lazy.) - Here,-는 편이다is correct for a characteristic; -곤 하다 would be inappropriate.
- 1Using -곤 하다 for Strict, Absolute Schedules: If an action happens with absolute, unvarying regularity (e.g., 'every day at 7 AM'), the simple present tense often sounds more natural and precise. -곤 하다 implies a slight degree of variability or a 'tendency' rather than a 'rule.'
- Better:
저는 매일 아침 7시에 운동해요.(I exercise every morning at 7 AM.) - For a fixed schedule. - Acceptable but less precise:
저는 매일 아침 7시에 운동하곤 해요.- This would imply 'I tend to exercise every morning at 7 AM' which slightly softens the strictness.
- 1Confusing -곤 하다 with
-아/어 오다:-아/어 오다signifies an action or state that has been continuing from a past point until now. It focuses on continuity over time. -곤 하다 focuses purely on the repetition or habituality of an action, regardless of whether it started in the past and continues to the present or only occurred in a specific past period.
그는 10년 동안 이 회사에서 일해 왔어요.(He has been working at this company for 10 years.) - Continuous action.그는 주말에 혼자 산에 가곤 해요.(He often goes to the mountains alone on weekends.) - Habitual action.
- 1Confusing -곤 하다 with
-기 일쑤다: While both express recurring actions,-기 일쑤다specifically carries a negative connotation, indicating that an undesirable or problematic action happens frequently. -곤 하다 is neutral and can describe good, bad, or indifferent habits.
늦잠을 자서 지각하곤 해요.(I often oversleep and am late.) - Neutral statement of habit.늦잠을 자서 지각하기 일쑤예요.(I am always oversleeping and being late / It's common for me to oversleep and be late.) - Implies a problematic, frequent occurrence.
Real Conversations
-곤 하다 is an indispensable pattern in everyday Korean, adding naturalness to descriptions of daily life, personal tendencies, and nostalgic reflections. Here's how you'll encounter it in various contexts:
1. Casual Chat Among Friends (Social Media Post/Texting):
- User A (texting): 요즘 뭐해? (What are you up to these days?)
- User B (texting): 음… 그냥 집에 있으면 영화 보거나 게임하곤 해. 너는? (Hmm… if I'm just at home, I often watch movies or play games. You?)
- Analysis: Here, 영화 보거나 게임하곤 해 (g-o-n hae) casually describes typical, recurring weekend activities without implying a strict schedule.
2. Professional Setting (Work Discussion/Email):
- Team Lead: 이런 문제가 자주 발생하는데, 어떻게 해결하시겠습니까? (These kinds of problems occur often, how will you resolve them?)
- Team Member: 네, 저도 가끔 이런 오류가 생기곤 합니다. 데이터 백업 후 시스템을 재시작하면 대부분 해결되었습니다. (Yes, I also sometimes encounter these errors. Most of the time, restarting the system after backing up data has resolved it.)
- Analysis: 생기곤 합니다 (saenggigon hamnida) in the formal 합니다체 respectfully acknowledges a recurring issue and 해결되었습니다 (haegyeoldoeeotseumnida) indicates a consistent solution that 'used to' or 'often' work in the past.
3. Remembering Past Experiences (Narrative/Storytelling):
- 고등학교 때는 쉬는 시간에 친구들이랑 매점 가곤 했어. 그때가 참 좋았는데. (In high school, during breaks, I used to often go to the school store with friends. Those times were really good.)
- Analysis: 가곤 했어 (gagon haesseo) perfectly captures the nostalgic recurrence of a past routine, adding warmth to the memory. The casual 해체 makes it personal.
4. Describing Personal Habits/Character:
- 아침에 일어나면 따뜻한 물 한 잔 마시곤 해요. 건강에 좋다고 해서요. (When I wake up in the morning, I often drink a glass of warm water. They say it's good for health.)
- Analysis: 마시곤 해요 (masigon haeyo) describes a regular, self-initiated health habit. The polite 해요체 is appropriate for general conversation.
5. Observational Commentary:
- 저 배우는 드라마에서 항상 비슷한 역할을 하곤 해요. 연기 변신이 필요할 것 같아요. (That actor always tends to play similar roles in dramas. I think they need a change in acting style.)
- Analysis: 하곤 해요 (hagon haeyo) is used to make an observation about a recurring pattern in someone else's behavior or professional choices. It's a mild, polite critique based on repeated evidence.
These examples illustrate the natural and widespread application of -곤 하다 across different social contexts, from intimate casual exchanges to more formal observations.
Quick FAQ
- Q1: Can -곤 하다 be used with stative verbs (descriptive verbs)?
- A: No, -곤 하다 is exclusively for action verbs. If you want to express a recurring state, you generally need to turn the descriptive verb into an action verb using patterns like
-아/어지다(to become). For example,피곤하곤 해요(incorrect) should be피곤해지곤 해요(I often become tired) or피곤한 편이에요(I tend to be tired).
- Q2: Is the longer form -고는 하다 still used?
- A: Yes, it is still grammatically correct, though less common in everyday conversation. It often carries a slightly more formal or emphatic tone than -곤 하다, sometimes highlighting a contrast or providing a reason for the habit. For most situations, -곤 하다 is perfectly sufficient and more natural.
- Q3: Can -곤 하다 be used for future habits?
- A: No, -곤 하다 refers to habits or repetitions that occur in the present or have occurred in the past. It cannot be used to express future habits or planned future repetitions. For future plans or decisions, other grammar patterns like
-기로 하다(to decide to do) or future tense constructions would be appropriate.
- Q4: Is it acceptable in formal writing or academic contexts?
- A: Yes, -곤 하다 is perfectly acceptable in formal writing, including academic essays, when describing recurring phenomena, historical patterns, or general tendencies. Its formal conjugations (
-곤 합니다,-곤 했습니다) are standard in such settings.
- Q5: What if an action happens every single day, without fail?
- A: For strictly regular, unvarying daily routines, the simple present tense (e.g.,
저는 매일 아침 7시에 일어나요- I wake up at 7 AM every morning) is often more direct and natural. -곤 하다 adds a nuance of 'tendency' or 'general habit,' which might imply slight variations, making it less precise for absolute schedules.
- Q6: Can -곤 하다 be used with negative forms?
- A: Yes, you can express negative habits. You can use either the short negative form (
안 + verb stem + -곤 하다) or the long negative form (verb stem + -지 않곤 하다). For example,안 먹곤 해요or먹지 않곤 해요both mean 'I often don't eat' or 'I tend not to eat.'
- Q7: Can I use -곤 하다 to describe others' habits?
- A: Absolutely. You can use it to describe anyone's habitual actions, whether it's a friend's quirk, a celebrity's known routine, or a historical figure's practice. For instance,
그 친구는 늘 지각하곤 했어(That friend always used to be late).
- Q8: How does -곤 하다 differ from simply using adverbs of frequency like
자주(often) or가끔(sometimes)? - A: Adverbs of frequency indicate how often an action occurs. -곤 하다 indicates that the action is a habit or tendency. While often used together (e.g.,
자주 가곤 해요), -곤 하다 adds the grammatical structure that frames the action as habitual, providing a deeper layer of meaning beyond mere frequency. You could say자주 가요(I go often), but가곤 해요inherently implies the 'often' and frames it as a pattern.
Conjugation of -곤 하다
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
Verb Stem + 곤 하다
|
가곤 해요
|
|
Past
|
Verb Stem + 곤 했다
|
가곤 했어요
|
|
Negative
|
Verb Stem + 지 않곤 하다
|
가지 않곤 해요
|
|
Past Negative
|
Verb Stem + 지 않곤 했다
|
가지 않곤 했어요
|
Meanings
Indicates that an action is performed repeatedly or habitually over a period of time.
Present Habit
Actions performed regularly in the present.
“저는 밤에 책을 읽곤 해요.”
“친구들은 카페에서 수다를 떨곤 해요.”
Past Habit
Actions performed regularly in the past, often discontinued.
“어릴 때는 매일 공원에서 놀곤 했어요.”
“예전에는 자주 영화를 보러 가곤 했어요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative Present
|
V-곤 하다
|
운동하곤 해요
|
|
Affirmative Past
|
V-곤 했다
|
운동하곤 했어요
|
|
Negative Present
|
V-지 않곤 하다
|
운동하지 않곤 해요
|
|
Negative Past
|
V-지 않곤 했다
|
운동하지 않곤 했어요
|
|
Interrogative
|
V-곤 하나요?
|
운동하곤 하나요?
|
|
Past Interrogative
|
V-곤 했나요?
|
운동하곤 했나요?
|
Formality Spectrum
저는 책을 읽곤 합니다. (General)
저는 책을 읽곤 해요. (General)
난 책을 읽곤 해. (General)
책 좀 읽곤 하지. (General)
Habitual Actions
Time
- 매일 every day
- 주말마다 every weekend
Actions
- 운동하다 exercise
- 독서하다 read
Examples by Level
저는 매일 운동하곤 해요.
I exercise every day.
우리는 공원에서 놀곤 해요.
We play in the park.
그는 커피를 마시곤 해요.
He drinks coffee.
저는 책을 읽곤 해요.
I read books.
어릴 때 자주 울곤 했어요.
I used to cry often when I was young.
주말마다 등산을 가곤 해요.
I go hiking every weekend.
그녀는 혼자 여행하곤 해요.
She travels alone.
우리는 밤에 산책하곤 했어요.
We used to take walks at night.
예전에는 이 식당에 자주 오곤 했어요.
I used to come to this restaurant often.
그는 화가 나면 말을 안 하곤 해요.
He tends to stop talking when he gets angry.
저는 스트레스를 받으면 노래를 부르곤 해요.
I tend to sing when I'm stressed.
친구들과 카페에서 수다를 떨곤 해요.
I often chat with friends at a cafe.
대학 시절에는 도서관에서 밤을 새우곤 했죠.
I used to pull all-nighters at the library during college.
그는 가끔씩 아무 말 없이 사라지곤 해요.
He sometimes disappears without a word.
요즘은 바빠서 운동을 못 하곤 해요.
I've been too busy to exercise lately.
우리는 매년 여름마다 바다로 여행을 가곤 했어요.
We used to go to the beach every summer.
그는 사색에 잠기면 창밖을 멍하니 바라보곤 했다.
He would often stare blankly out the window when lost in thought.
어릴 적 할머니는 저에게 옛날이야기를 해주시곤 했어요.
My grandmother used to tell me stories when I was young.
그들은 의견이 다를 때마다 격렬하게 토론하곤 했다.
They would often debate fiercely whenever they disagreed.
그녀는 중요한 결정을 앞두고 항상 산책하곤 한다.
She always takes a walk before making important decisions.
그 시절 우리는 미래에 대해 밤새도록 토론하곤 했었다.
In those days, we would discuss the future all night long.
그는 습관적으로 펜 끝을 깨물곤 하는 버릇이 있다.
He has a habit of habitually biting the end of his pen.
우리는 계절이 바뀔 때마다 이곳을 찾곤 했었다.
We used to visit this place every time the seasons changed.
그는 종종 자신의 과거를 회상하며 씁쓸한 미소를 짓곤 했다.
He would often smile bitterly while reflecting on his past.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'habit' with 'currently doing'.
Both imply frequency.
Both are past tense.
Common Mistakes
운동곤 해요
운동하곤 해요
먹다곤 해요
먹곤 해요
가곤 하다요
가곤 해요
자주 가곤 해요
가곤 해요
어제 가곤 했어요
어제 갔어요
공부하곤 하고 있어요
공부하곤 해요
비가 오곤 해요
비가 오곤 해요 (technically okay but rare)
매일 가곤 했다
매일 가곤 한다
그는 가곤 한다
그는 가곤 한다 (correct)
가곤 했어
가곤 했어요
가곤 했었을 것이다
가곤 했을 것이다
가곤 하는 중이다
가곤 한다
가곤 했더라
가곤 했다
Sentence Patterns
저는 주말마다 ___곤 해요.
어릴 때는 매일 ___곤 했어요.
그는 화가 나면 ___곤 해요.
예전에는 자주 ___곤 했죠.
Real World Usage
주말마다 카페 투어 하곤 해요.
오늘도 늦곤 하네.
저는 문제를 해결할 때 분석하곤 합니다.
여기는 사람들이 자주 오곤 해요.
이 집은 자주 시키곤 해요.
오늘도 일기를 쓰곤 했다.
Use for habits only
Don't over-use
Past tense nuance
Sound natural
Smart Tips
Use -곤 하다 instead of just the present tense.
Use -곤 했다 for repeated past actions.
Use -곤 하다 to describe someone's quirks.
Use -곤 했다 for past reflections.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'ㄴ' in 곤 links to the 'ㅎ' in 하다, often causing the 'ㅎ' to become silent or aspirated.
Falling
저는 운동하곤 해요↘
Statement of fact.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Gone' (곤) as 'Gone back to do it again'. You keep going back to the action.
Visual Association
Imagine a person walking in a circle, returning to the same spot repeatedly. That circle is your habit.
Rhyme
Habit is the plan, add 곤 하다 to the stem of the man.
Story
Min-su loves coffee. Every morning, he goes to the cafe. He drinks coffee. He does this every day. So, Min-su는 커피를 마시곤 해요.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your daily habits using -곤 하다.
Cultural Notes
Koreans often use this to talk about their 'lifestyle' or 'hobbies' in a modest way.
Derived from the verb '하다' (to do) and the particle '곤' which indicates repetition.
Conversation Starters
주말에 보통 뭐 하세요?
어릴 때 가장 좋아했던 놀이가 뭐예요?
스트레스를 받으면 어떻게 하세요?
예전에 자주 가던 곳이 있나요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
저는 매일 아침 운동___ 해요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
어제 운동하곤 했어요.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I used to play soccer.
Answer starts with: 축구를...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
가다 (Past Habit)
A: 주말에 뭐 해요? B: ___
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises저는 매일 아침 운동___ 해요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
어제 운동하곤 했어요.
해요 / 읽곤 / 저는 / 책을
I used to play soccer.
Match the habit.
가다 (Past Habit)
A: 주말에 뭐 해요? B: ___
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesreorder: [음악을 / 자기 전에 / 듣곤 해요 / 항상]
사진을 자주 ____.
Match the following:
Choose the most 'habit-like' expression:
아침을 잘 안 ____.
기분이 슬프곤 해요.
우리는 도서관에서 ____.
reorder: [가끔 / 피자를 / 시켜 먹곤 해요]
Which is appropriate for a speech?
시험이 끝나면 친구들과 술을 ____.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Mostly dynamic verbs. Stative verbs are rare.
It can be used in any register.
Present vs Past.
No, it's for present/past habits.
Very common in daily speech.
Yes, -지 않곤 하다.
Yes, it's very natural.
Rarely, it's for human actions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Soler + infinitive
Soler is a verb, -곤 하다 is an ending.
Avoir l'habitude de
Korean is more concise.
Pflegen zu
Korean is more common in daily speech.
～たりする
Korean is more focused on repetition.
经常
Korean uses verb endings.
كان + فعل مضارع
Korean uses a specific suffix.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
No choice but to... (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)
Overview The Korean grammar pattern `-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다` is a powerful expression of inevitability. It conveys that du...
Present Progressive: -ing (고 있다)
Overview Korean, like English, distinguishes between habitual or general actions and actions that are actively in progre...
To the Absolute Max: (-ㄹ/을 대로)
Overview Korean grammar employs `-(ㄹ/을) 대로` to express that a state or action has reached its absolute **utmost limi...
Just/Only: Emphatic Limitation (-ㄹ/을 뿐이다)
Overview At the B2 CEFR level in Korean, you're moving beyond basic sentence construction to express nuanced ideas, subt...
Logically Likely: -ㄹ/을 법하다
Overview `-(으)ㄹ 법하다` is a Korean grammar pattern that expresses a logical likelihood, plausibility, or reasonable e...
