-는 통에
Used when a chaotic, noisy, or distracting situation causes a negative result.
Summary
Equivalent
Because of (a chaotic situation)... / Amidst the chaos of...
Also: -는 바람에 · -는 탓에
Example
Because the dog next door barked all night, I couldn't sleep a wink.
옆집 개가 밤새 짖는 통에 한숨도 못 잤어요.
Grammar rules
- It attaches only to verbs.
- You use it when things are hectic or out of control (like a baby crying or phones ringing), making you fail or mess something up.
- You cannot use it for positive results or with commands/suggestions ('Let's...').
- Commands (-(으)세요) and suggestions (-자/-(으)ㅂ시다) cannot be used in the following clause.
사람들이 떠드는 통에 조용히 하세요. (Incorrect)
- It is awkward to describe positive situations with this.
운동을 열심히 하는 통에 건강해졌어요. (Incorrect)
- This expression can occasionally attach directly to nouns, but only chaos-related nouns like 전쟁 (war), 장마 (heavy rain season), and 난리 (mess/chaos).
전쟁 통에 가족을 잃어버렸어요. (During the chaos of the war, I lost my family.)
Patterns
V (Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -는 통에
Example sentences
Because the dog next door barked all night, I couldn't sleep a wink.
옆집 개가 밤새 짖는 통에 한숨도 못 잤어요.
I couldn't concentrate on the movie because my sibling kept changing the channels.
동생이 계속 채널을 돌리는 통에 영화에 집중할 수가 없었다.
My clothes got completely soaked because the rain suddenly poured down.
비가 갑자기 쏟아지는 통에 옷이 다 젖어 버렸네.
Conversation
A: Did you finish preparing for the meeting well yesterday?
어제 회의 준비는 잘 끝냈어?
B: No, because the office phones were ringing all day long, I couldn't do anything.
아니, 사무실 전화가 하루 종일 울려 대는 통에 아무것도 못 했어.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct phrase describing the chaotic cause.
식당에서 아이가 울어서 밥을 못 먹었어요.
지하철에 사람이 너무 많아서 지각했어요.