TL;DR
- -곤 하다 expresses repeated actions or habits from the past, similar to "used to" or "would often" in English 🔄
- Attach -곤 하다 directly to verb stems to describe nostalgic or recurring past behaviors 🕰️
- This pattern emphasizes the repetitive nature of the action more than simple past tense 💫
What does -곤 하다 mean? 🤔
-곤 하다 is used to talk about things you used to do repeatedly in the past. It carries a nostalgic, reflective feeling—like looking back on old habits or routines that don't happen anymore (or happen less now) 🌙
Think of it as: "I would often..." or "I used to..." ✨
How to use it 🛠️
The formula is super simple! Just attach -곤 하다 to the verb stem:
Verb stem + -곤 하다
→ 어릴 때 그 공원에 자주 가곤 했어요.
I used to go to that park often when I was young. 🌳
→ 할머니는 옛날 이야기를 들려주곤 하셨어요.
Grandma would often tell us old stories. 👵
→ 대학생 때 밤새 공부하곤 했어요.
When I was in college, I would often study all night. 📚
The nostalgic vibe 💭
-곤 하다 isn't just about past habits—it carries a warm, reminiscent feeling 🥺 You're not just stating facts; you're reflecting on memories!
→ 친구랑 그 카페에서 수다 떨곤 했는데...
My friend and I would chat at that café... ☕
→ 여름마다 바다에 가곤 했어요.
Every summer, we would go to the ocean. 🌊
Present tense? 🤷
While -곤 하다 typically describes the past, you can use it in present tense to describe current recurring actions—though it's less common! 🎯
→ 요즘도 가끔 그 식당에 가곤 해요.
Even these days, I occasionally go to that restaurant. 🍜
But honestly? For current habits, Koreans usually prefer -곤 해요 less and use patterns like 자주 -아/어요 or -는 편이에요 instead! 💡
Exceptions ⚠️
There are no major grammatical exceptions for -곤 하다! 🎉
Just remember: this pattern works with action verbs only—not descriptive verbs (adjectives) 🚫
❌ 예쁘곤 했어요 (doesn't work!)
✅ 예쁘게 꾸미곤 했어요 (I used to dress up prettily) 💄
Quick examples to wrap up 🎁
→ 주말마다 영화를 보곤 했어요.
I would watch movies every weekend. 🎬
→ 점심 먹고 산책하곤 했어요.
I would take walks after lunch. 🚶
→ 그때는 매일 일기를 쓰곤 했는데 이제는 안 써요.
Back then I would write in my diary every day, but I don't anymore. 📖
You've got this! 화이팅! 💪✨
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -곤 하다/-곤 했다 to express habitual or repeated actions. 📝
- 어렸을 때 할머니 댁에 자주 _.
Answer
가곤 했어요
- 대학생일 때 친구들과 밤새 이야기_.
Answer
하곤 했어요
- 요즘 주말마다 카페에서 책을 _.
Answer
읽곤 해요
- 예전에는 매일 아침 운동을 _.
Answer
하곤 했어요
- 스트레스 받을 때마다 음악을 _.
Answer
듣곤 해요
- 중학생 때 일기를 매일 _.
Answer
쓰곤 했어요
- 바쁠 때는 아침을 거르_.
Answer
곤 해요
- 그 사람은 화나면 말없이 나가_.
Answer
곤 했어요
- 시험 기간에는 밤을 새우_.
Answer
곤 했어요
- 날씨가 좋으면 산책을 _.
Answer
하곤 해요
Vocabulary
어렸을 때 - when (I) was young
할머니 댁 - grandmother's house
대학생 - university student
밤새 - all night
요즘 - these days
주말 - weekend
예전 - the past, before
매일 - every day
운동 - exercise
스트레스 받다 - to be stressed
중학생 - middle school student
일기 - diary
바쁘다 - to be busy
거르다 - to skip (a meal)
화나다 - to be angry
말없이 - without saying anything
시험 기간 - exam period
밤을 새우다 - to pull an all-nighter
날씨 - weather
산책 - a walk
Common mistakes
- ⚠️ Don't forget to use the past tense form -곤 했다 when talking about habits in the past (not -곤 하다)
- 🔄 Remember that -곤 하다 emphasizes repetition or tendency — it's not for one-time events
- ✏️ The verb stem comes before -곤, not the entire verb form (e.g., 가곤, not 가요곤)
- 🎯 -곤 하다 is slightly more literary/reflective than -고 하다, so it's often used when reminiscing about the past