But and Although -지만 in Korean

In Brief

Attach -지만 to the stem of a Korean verb or descriptive verb to connect two contrasting ideas: 비싸지만 좋아요 means “It is expensive, but it is good.” At beginner level, remove -다 from the dictionary form and add -지만. With nouns, use -(이)지만: 학생이지만 “although [someone] is a student.”

Overview

-지만 is a connective ending: an ending that joins one clause (a part of a sentence built around a verb or description) to the next. It can correspond to English but, although, or even though, depending on how the whole sentence is phrased. The first clause gives one fact, and the second presents a fact that contrasts with it or goes against the expectation it creates.

This is a core A2 pattern because it lets you combine short statements naturally. Instead of saying 비싸요. 그래도 좋아요. (“It is expensive. Still, it is good”), you can say 비싸지만 좋아요. (“It is expensive, but it is good.”) Korean frequently puts relationships such as contrast directly onto the verb or descriptive verb rather than inserting a separate word between two complete sentences.

English changes the position of “but” and “although”: “It is expensive, but I bought it” versus “Although it is expensive, I bought it.” Korean -지만 can cover both. What matters most is the relationship between the clauses, not choosing a different Korean form for each English conjunction.

How It Works

Beginner rule: stem + -지만

Find the stem by removing -다 from the dictionary form, then add -지만. A descriptive verb is a Korean word such as 비싸다 “to be expensive” or 피곤하다 “to be tired”; although English usually translates it with “be + adjective,” it takes endings much like an action verb.

Dictionary form	Stem	Form with -지만	Meaning
가다	가-	가지만	goes, but / although [someone] goes
먹다	먹-	먹지만	eats, but / although [someone] eats
알다	알-	알지만	knows, but / although [someone] knows
비싸다	비싸-	비싸지만	is expensive, but / although it is expensive
피곤하다	피곤하-	피곤하지만	is tired, but / although [someone] is tired

Unlike -아/어요, this basic attachment does not depend on the final vowel. It also does not require 으 after a consonant: both 가지만 and 먹지만 simply use -지만.

The clause ending in -지만 is not normally finished with -아/어요 as well. Politeness and sentence type are usually shown on the final predicate (the verb or description that completes the sentence):

• 피곤하지만 일해요. — I am tired, but I work.
• 피곤해요지만 일해요. — incorrect; do not put -해요 before -지만.

The order of the clauses

The clause before -지만 supplies the background or expectation. The final clause usually carries the main point:

• 작지만 편해요. — It is small, but comfortable. The positive assessment is the main point.
• 편하지만 작아요. — It is comfortable, but small. The size is now the main reservation.

This ordering is especially important when English “although” moves a clause around. A natural translation should preserve the intended emphasis rather than copy English word order mechanically.

With nouns: -(이)지만

A noun needs the Korean copula 이다, the element meaning “to be” after a noun. Before -지만, it appears as 이지만 after a consonant and commonly as 지만 after a vowel.

Noun ending	Pattern	Example	Meaning
consonant	noun + 이지만	학생이지만	is a student, but
vowel	noun + 지만	의사지만	is a doctor, but
negative 아니다	아니지만	학생은 아니지만	is not a student, but

In careful analysis, 의사지만 comes from 의사이다 + -지만. For practical use, remember the compact pair 학생이지만 / 의사지만.

Adding past or future meaning

When the contrast belongs to the past, put the past marker -았/었- before -지만. The contracted forms are the same ones you already see in ordinary past-tense forms.

Time or meaning	Formation	Example	Translation
general/present	stem + -지만	먹지만	eats, but
past	stem + -았/었지만	먹었지만	ate, but
past with 하다	했지만	공부했지만	studied, but
intention/prediction	stem + -겠지만	어렵겠지만	it will/probably will be difficult, but

Past noun forms use 이었지만 after a consonant and 였지만 after a vowel: 학생이었지만 “was a student, but” and 의사였지만 “was a doctor, but.”

Do not add a tense marker merely because the final clause is past. Each clause can locate its own event in time:

• 지금은 비싸지만 어제는 더 비쌌어요. — It is expensive now, but it was more expensive yesterday.
• 많이 먹었지만 지금도 배가 고파요. — I ate a lot, but I am still hungry now.

Subjects and omitted information

The two clauses may share one subject, or they may have different subjects:

• 저는 피곤하지만 일해야 해요. — I am tired, but I have to work. (same subject)
• 저는 커피를 좋아하지만 제 친구는 차를 좋아해요. — I like coffee, but my friend likes tea. (different subjects)

Korean often omits a subject when context makes it obvious. English translations may therefore need “I,” “you,” or “it” even when no corresponding pronoun appears in Korean.

Examples in Context

Korean	English	Note
비싸지만 좋아요.	It is expensive, but it is good.	Descriptive verb + -지만
피곤하지만 일해야 해요.	I am tired, but I have to work.	The second clause is the necessary action
알지만 말 못 해요.	I know, but I cannot say.	The understood subject is omitted
한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요.	Korean is difficult, but interesting.	Two contrasting descriptions
이 방은 작지만 깨끗해요.	This room is small, but clean.	A drawback followed by a positive point
저는 커피를 좋아하지만 자주 마시지는 않아요.	I like coffee, but I do not drink it often.	The second clause limits the first statement
많이 먹었지만 배가 고파요.	I ate a lot, but I am hungry.	Past first clause, present result
어제 비가 왔지만 산책했어요.	Although it rained yesterday, I went for a walk.	Both events are in the past
열심히 공부했지만 시험이 어려웠어요.	I studied hard, but the exam was difficult.	Different subjects are possible
학생이지만 회사에서도 일해요.	I am a student, but I also work at a company.	Noun ending in a consonant
의사지만 병원에서 일하지 않아요.	She is a doctor, but she does not work at a hospital.	Noun ending in a vowel; the pronoun comes from context
제 것은 아니지만 사용해도 돼요.	It is not mine, but you may use it.	아니지만 after a noun phrase
시간이 없겠지만 잠깐 이야기해요.	You probably do not have time, but let’s talk briefly.	-겠지만 softens an assumption
부모님은 바쁘시지만 자주 전화하세요.	My parents are busy, but they call often.	Honorific -시- comes before -지만

Common Mistakes

Keeping the dictionary ending -다

• Wrong: 비싸다지만 좋아요.
• Right: 비싸지만 좋아요.
• Why: For the basic pattern, remove -다 first: 비싸다 → 비싸- → 비싸지만. The sequence -다지만 exists in more advanced quoted constructions, but it does not replace ordinary -지만 here.

Adding -아/어요 before -지만

• Wrong: 피곤해요지만 일해야 해요.
• Right: 피곤하지만 일해야 해요.
• Why: -지만 attaches to the stem 피곤하-. The polite -아요/어요 ending belongs at the end of the complete sentence.

Inserting 으 after a consonant

• Wrong: 먹으지만 배가 고파요.
• Right: 먹지만 배가 고파요.
• Why: Some Korean endings alternate between -으- and no -으-, but -지만 does not. Attach it directly to both vowel-ending and consonant-ending stems.

Forgetting 이 with a consonant-ending noun

• Wrong: 학생지만 회사에서 일해요.
• Right: 학생이지만 회사에서 일해요.
• Why: After a consonant-ending noun, use 이지만. After a vowel-ending noun, use 지만, as in 의사지만.

Copying English clause punctuation too rigidly

• Awkward habit: always inserting a comma before the Korean clause boundary because English often has one before “but.”
• Natural: 비싸지만 샀어요.
• Why: A short Korean sentence normally does not need a comma before -지만. A comma may help in a long or complex sentence, but it is not part of the grammar pattern.

Giving both clauses a full final ending

• Wrong: 많이 먹었어요지만 배가 고파요.
• Right: 많이 먹었지만 배가 고파요.
• Why: The first predicate takes the connective ending; only the last predicate normally closes the sentence.

Usage Notes

-지만 itself is neutral and widely used in both conversation and writing. The overall politeness level comes mainly from the final sentence ending. Compare 바쁘지만 가. (“I’m busy, but I’m going,” casual), 바쁘지만 가요. (polite), and 바쁘지만 갑니다. (formal polite). Choose that final ending to suit the listener and situation.

A separate word, 하지만, can begin a new sentence and means “but” or “however”: 비싸요. 하지만 좋아요. This is useful when the ideas are presented as separate statements. 그렇지만 has a similar role, roughly “nevertheless/but.” In compact everyday speech, joining the predicates with -지만 is often smoother: 비싸지만 좋아요.

The English translation is not fixed. If the contrasting clause comes first, either “but” or “although” may sound best:

• 비가 오지만 갈 거예요. — It is raining, but I will go.
• 비가 오지만 갈 거예요. — Although it is raining, I will go.

These translations describe the same Korean structure. Avoid searching for a one-to-one English label; focus on the contrast and on which clause contains the speaker’s main message.

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

You do not need to master these uses at A2, but you will hear and read them often later.

Sentence-final -지만

A speaker can stop after -지만, leaving the contrasting conclusion unstated:

• 좋기는 하지만… — It is good, but…
• 지금은 좀 어렵지만요. — It is a little difficult right now, though.

The listener infers the reservation, refusal, or request from context. This can sound gentler than stating a blunt negative conclusion. Sentence-final -지만요 is especially useful for polite disagreement or correction, but tone and situation matter.

-기는 하지만 for an acknowledged fact

The expanded pattern -기는 하지만 strongly acknowledges the first fact before qualifying it: 좋기는 하지만 너무 비싸요 means “It is good, but it is too expensive.” Compared with plain 좋지만, it can carry the sense “it is true that it is good, but….” The related form -기는 -지만, often repeating the verb, is also possible: 먹기는 먹었지만 많이 먹지는 않았어요 — “I did eat, but I did not eat much.”

Polite concessions with -겠지만

-겠지만 can mark more than literal future time. It often presents an assumption or politely acknowledges the other person’s situation before a request:

• 바쁘시겠지만 확인해 주세요. — I know you must be busy, but please check it.

This is common in courteous workplace messages. The honorific marker -시- respects the subject, -겠- frames the assumption, and -지만 prepares the contrast. Because this wording can become formulaic, use it when the acknowledgment is relevant rather than attaching it to every request.

Contrast with -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)

Later, you will meet -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에), meaning “whereas” or “on the other hand.” Plain -지만 is the broad everyday connector. 반면(에) more explicitly sets two sides, qualities, groups, or trends against each other and is common in comparisons and analytical writing.

• 이 방은 작지만 깨끗해요. — This room is small, but clean.
• 이 방은 작은 반면 거실은 넓어요. — This room is small, whereas the living room is spacious.

Use -지만 first for ordinary contrast; learn 반면(에) when you need a more balanced, explicit comparison.

Practice Tips

1. Build two-column contrasts. Write five pairs such as “expensive / good,” “tired / must work,” and “studied / difficult.” Turn each pair into one Korean sentence with -지만, then reverse the clause order and notice how the main point changes.
2. Transform dictionary forms aloud. Practise short chains: 가다 → 가지만, 먹다 → 먹지만, 피곤하다 → 피곤하지만, 학생이다 → 학생이지만. Add past forms only after the basic attachment feels automatic.
3. Listen for the final clause. When you hear -지만, wait for what follows. Ask yourself what expectation the first clause created and how the final clause changes it. This trains meaning and Korean sentence processing at the same time.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Polite Ending -아/어요 — helps you finish the second clause naturally at the everyday polite level.
• Next step: Contrastive -(으)ㄴ/는 반면 — expresses a more explicit “whereas/on the other hand” comparison.