-아/어 대다
Used to indicate that someone repeatedly does an action to an extreme or annoying degree. Almost always carries a negative or critical nuance.
Summary
Equivalent
Keep doing... / ...excessively / ...like crazy
Example
The people upstairs keep screaming every night so I can't sleep.
밤마다 윗집에서 소리를 질러 대서 잠을 잘 수가 없어요.
Grammar rules
- It implies 'They kept [verb]-ing and [verb]-ing!' Attaches only to verbs.
- Commonly used when the speaker is annoyed, critical, or surprised by how much/often someone does something.
- Equivalent to saying someone 'does [X] like crazy' or 'keeps [X]-ing'.
- Cannot be used in positive situations without feeling strange.
그 친구는 상을 받아 대요. (X - sounds awkward) / 그 친구는 상을 자주 받아요. (O)
Patterns
V (Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -아/어 대다
Example sentences
The people upstairs keep screaming every night so I can't sleep.
밤마다 윗집에서 소리를 질러 대서 잠을 잘 수가 없어요.
The baby must have been hungry — they kept crying and crying so I couldn't calm them down.
아기가 배가 고픈지 계속 울어 대서 달랠 수가 없었어요.
Of course your health suffers when you keep smoking like that.
그렇게 담배를 피워 대니 건강을 해치는 게 당연하죠.
Conversation
A: Are the neighbors causing you a lot of trouble?
옆집 때문에 많이 힘드세요?
B: Yes, they keep blasting music every night and I feel like moving out.
네, 밤마다 음악을 틀어 대서 이사를 가고 싶을 정도예요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct '...keeps doing...' phrase.
아이가 울음을 멈추지 않아요.
자꾸 물어보는 게 귀찮아요.