-는지
neun-ji
Carrying a question that has not closed: -는지
The picture Folding up one question that has no answer in it yet, holding it, and walking on into the next clause. -는지 carries a question whose answer slot is still empty; -다고 carries a statement whose slot is already full.
Where the picture shows up in -는지
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folding the question to carry it
언제 오는지 물어볼게요.
eon-je o-neun-ji mu-reo-bol-ge-yo
I'll ask when they're coming.
Folding the note that says 'when are you coming?' into your hand and walking to the phone
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right or wrong, still blank
이게 맞는지 한번 봐 주세요.
i-ge man-neun-ji han-beon bwa ju-se-yo
Please check whether this is correct.
Holding the document out to them with both boxes, right and wrong, still empty
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the answer sits in someone else's head
몇 시에 문을 닫는지 아세요?
myeot si-e mu-neul dan-neun-ji a-se-yo
Do you know what time they close?
Holding up a clock face with no numbers on it and asking them to fill them in
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a question to be written down
약을 언제 먹는지 적어 주세요.
ya-geul eon-je meong-neun-ji jeo-geo ju-se-yo
Please write down when to take the medicine.
A blank line drawn on the medicine bag, waiting for a time to land on it
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turning your eyes to check
비가 오는지 창밖을 봤어요.
bi-ga o-neun-ji chang-ba-kkeul bwa-sseo-yo
I looked out the window to see if it was raining.
Carrying a question with an empty answer and turning your head toward the window
Verbs take -는지; adjectives take -(으)ㄴ지, as in 좋은지, 바쁜지.
All of it in one picture
-는지 is a question held in your hand with the answer still missing. Fold the note and it leads into 물어볼게요; hold it over a document and it becomes 맞는지 봐 주세요; hold up the blank clock face and it becomes 몇 시에 닫는지 아세요. Hold it over a medicine bag and it becomes a request to write it down; carry it to the window and it becomes an eye that checks. You set down the question mark and keep the question.