Advanced Estimated read: 3 mins

-(느)ㄴ다고 치다

Used when acknowledging someone's claim, or setting up a hypothetical situation, usually to introduce a problem or rebuttal in the second clause.

Summary

Equivalent

Let's assume that... / Granted that...

Also: -는 셈 치다

Example

Let's assume you're going to do all that work alone. Then how are you going to make time for it?

네가 그 일을 다 혼자 한다고 치자. 그럼 시간은 언제 낼 건데?

Grammar rules

  • It implies 'Even if I grant your point/assume it is true, we still have [Y problem].' It is often used in the forms '-(느)ㄴ다고 치자(칩시다)' (Let's assume that...) or '-(느)ㄴ다고 쳐도' (Even if we assume that...).
  • Can attach to verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
  • Can be combined with past facts to mean 'Even acknowledging that past fact, why are you doing this now?'

    어제는 바빴다고 치자, 오늘은 왜 늦었어? (Let's assume you were busy yesterday, but why are you late today?)

Patterns

1

A (Adjectives)

현재 (Present) · -다고 치다

2

V (Verbs)

현재 (Present) · -(느)ㄴ다고 치다

3

A/V (Adjectives/Verbs)

과거/완료 (Past/Complete) · -았다고/었다고 치다

4

A/V (Adjectives/Verbs)

미래/추측 (Future/Supposition) · -(으)ㄹ 거라고 치다

5

N이다 (Noun-based)

현재 (Present) · (이)라고 치다

6

N이다 (Noun-based)

과거/완료 (Past/Complete) · 였다고/이었다고 치다

7

N이다 (Noun-based)

미래/추측 (Future/Supposition) · 일 거라고 치다

Example sentences

A (Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -다고 치다

Let's assume you're going to do all that work alone. Then how are you going to make time for it?

네가 그 일을 다 혼자 한다고 치자. 그럼 시간은 언제 낼 건데?

A (Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -다고 치다

Even if we assume you did it by mistake, shouldn't you apologize?

실수로 그랬다고 쳐도, 사과는 해야 하는 거 아니야?

A (Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -다고 치다

Even if we assume we leave right now, I think it will be hard to arrive on time.

지금 출발한다고 쳐도 제시간에 도착하기는 어려울 것 같아요.

Conversation

A: There's so much material for the exam tomorrow that I think I might give up.

내일 시험 범위가 너무 많아서 포기할까 봐요.

B: Even if we assume you stay up all night and memorize it all, you'll be too tired tomorrow to take the test, so what should we do?

오늘 밤을 새워서 다 외운다고 쳐도 내일 피곤해서 시험을 못 볼 텐데 어쩌죠?

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct phrase indicating an assumption.

그가 바쁘다고 이해해 주자.

내가 참을게. 다음부턴 그러지 마.