Reacting to an Experience (Cause and Reaction): 길래, 기에

A/ V + 길래 shows your reaction (second clause) to an experience/another person’s action. Your reaction is something you decided to do, though it was not necessary/obligatory.

It is common in speech (the literary form is 기에). It sounds most natural when there are two subjects and the first is not you: 

보드게임 가게에 세일을 하길래 게임을 많이 사왔어요.

I bought a lot of games because they were on sale at the board game store.

길을 잃어버린 것 같은 사람이 보이길래 다가가서 도움을 주었어요.

I saw someone who seemed lost, so I approached him and helped him.

친구의 휴대폰이 전화를 거듭 울리길래 제가 전화를 받았어요.

My friend’s cell phone rang repeatedly, so I picked up the phone.

시킨 커피가 차갑길래 환불을 요청했어요.

I asked for a refund because the coffee I ordered was cold.

친구가 혼자서 술집에 가길래 따라와서 같이 술을 마셨어요.

My friend went to the bar alone, so I followed him and drank with him.

가게 밖에 긴 줄이 늘어서 있길래 포기하고 돌아왔어요.

There was a long line outside the store, so I gave up and came back.

많이 먹길래 맛있는 줄 알았어요.

I thought it was delicious because you ate a lot…

고기가 할인하길래 많이 샀어요.

I bought a lot of meat because it was on sale.

아무도 안 하길래 제가 했어요.

I did it because no one was doing it.

아무 말도 안 하길래 이해한 줄 알았는데…

I thought you understood because you didn’t say anything.

In question form, 길래 means “What makes you V…?” 

뭐했길래 이렇게 지쳤어요?

What made you so tired?

어디에 가길래 그렇게 짐을 많이 싸요?

Where are you going why you’re packing so much stuff?

누구를 만나길래 그렇게 화장을 열심히 해요?

Who are you meeting to be putting on so much make-up?

“How true X must be that you would V”: 얼마나 A/V 길래

여자친구가 얼마나 사랑하길래 휴대폰 비밀번호를 알려주나요?

How much must your girlfriend love you to give you her mobile phone password?

돈이 얼마나 많길래 저런 차를 탈까요?

How much money must she have to drive a car like that?

그 노래 얼마나 많이 들었길래 가사를 다 외우는 걸까요?

How many times must you have listened to that song to memorize all the lyrics?

그 사람은 누구길래 저한테 그렇게 말하는 걸까요?

Who does he think he is to speak to me like that?