Advanced (JSON) Estimated read: 3 mins

-는 바

A very formal way to refer to the content, method, or thing just mentioned.

Summary

Equivalent

What one (does/thinks) / As...

Example

From what I know, that company will close soon.

제가 아는 바로는 그 회사는 곧 문을 닫을 것입니다.

Grammar rules

  • It acts like a formal noun meaning 'the thing that...'.
  • Common in news, speeches, and formal writing.
  • Idiomatic forms include '아는 바로는' (from what I know) and '조사한 바에 따르면' (according to what was investigated).
  • It is also used in the idiom '-(으)ㄹ 바를 모르다' meaning 'not knowing what to do'.

    너무 기뻐서 어찌할 바를 몰랐다. (I was so happy I didn't know what to do.)

  • When written without a space as '-는바', it gives background information or a reason, similar to '-는데' or '-(으)므로', usually in formal announcements.

    내일 비가 오는바 우산을 준비하시기 바랍니다. (Since it's raining tomorrow, please prepare an umbrella.)

Patterns

1

V (Verbal Content)

과거/완료 (Past/Complete) · -(으)ㄴ 바

2

V (Verbal Content)

현재 (Present) · -는 바

3

N이다 (Noun-based)

과거 (Past) · 였는/이었던 바

4

N이다 (Noun-based)

현재 (Present) · 인 바

Example sentences

From what I know, that company will close soon.

제가 아는 바로는 그 회사는 곧 문을 닫을 것입니다.

As I mentioned above, this project is very important.

위에서 말씀드린 바와 같이, 이번 프로젝트는 매우 중요합니다.

According to what the police investigated, the cause of the fire was an electrical short.

경찰이 조사한 바에 의하면 화재의 원인은 전기 누전입니다.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct phrase utilizing the formal noun '바'.

제가 아까 말한 것처럼 저는 찬성합니다.

내가 들은 소문에 의하면 두 사람은 사귄대요.