Example Sentences#

1. 남겨진 마음은 어디로 가는 걸까?¹
   Where does a heart left behind go?

   • 걸까 is a contraction of 것일까, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, 이다 is the copula meaning ‘to be’, and -ㄹ까 is a question ending expressing uncertainty, curiosity, or wonder, often used when the speaker is asking themselves a question.
   • -는 걸까 is used to express self-questioning or speculation about a situation, action, or state.

2. 네가 내게 다가오는 걸까?²
   Could it be you, coming closer to me?

   • 걸까 is a contraction of 것일까, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, 이다 is the copula meaning ‘to be’, and -ㄹ까 is a question ending expressing uncertainty, curiosity, or wonder, often used when the speaker is asking themselves a question.
   • -는 걸까 indicates a rhetorical or speculative question, translating roughly as ‘Could it be that…’.