Korean Even Though Grammar: Patterns, Rules and Examples

Key facts

• This group has 14 patterns, from level A2 to C1 (an editorial estimate).
• There are three families: "even if" for imagined cases, "even though" for real facts, and "rather than" for preferences.
• -아/어도 is the only A2 pattern. Start there.
• Most B2 and C1 patterns are written or formal.
• Every pattern attaches to the verb or adjective stem. Patterns that start with 아/어 or 으 trigger the usual irregular changes, as in 더워도 and 들을지라도.

Listen to the sentence that shows the simplest "even if".

The next section defines the topic and its three families.

What Are the Korean Even Though Grammar Patterns?

A concession is an idea you admit before you say the main point. In English, the words "even if", "even though", "although" and "rather than" mark concessions. Korean marks them with connective endings, which attach to a verb stem and join two clauses. The stem is the dictionary form without 다.

Korean has three families, and each answers a different need.

"Even if" patterns imagine a case and say that the result will not change. -아/어도 is the neutral one. -더라도 is firmer. -(으)ㄹ지라도, -(으)ㄹ망정, -(으)ㄴ들 and -아/어 봤자 are more formal, more literary or more negative.

"Even though" patterns state a real fact and then give a result that surprises. -(ㄴ/는)데도 is the everyday form. -건만, -(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고 and -(으)면서도 are more formal or more specific.

"Rather than" and "on the other hand" patterns compare two choices or two sides. -느니 and -(으)ㄹ 바에는 say "I would rather do Y than X". -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) says "whereas". -기는 하지만 admits a point before saying "but".

The wider area is described in Korean connectors, and the parent of that page is Korean grammar. The next section gives a route through the patterns.

Which Pattern Should You Learn First?

Start with -아/어도, then -더라도 and -(ㄴ/는)데도. These three cover most everyday needs. The rest build on them. The level strip below shows how the 14 patterns are spread.

The levels are an editorial estimate, mapped loosely to TOPIK I and II. They are not an official list. Use them to plan, not to measure yourself.

Who can skip ahead? A learner who already uses -아/어도 and 아무리 ... -아/어도 can start at the B1 patterns. A learner who reads news or novels can go straight to the C1 group, because those patterns are common in writing. The next section describes each pattern.

The Patterns, Grouped by Meaning and Level

Each pattern below has a short description and one example sentence with Revised Romanization (RR, the official Latin spelling, shown only as an aid) and audio.

Beginner and Lower-Intermediate Patterns (A2 to B1)

These four patterns cover everyday speech.

-아/어도 (even if, even though)

The neutral "even if". It admits a fact or an assumption and says the result stays the same. It is also the base of -아/어도 되다, "may". Read the lesson on -아/어도. Example: 비가 와도 갈 거예요. (biga wado gal geoyeyo.) "Even if it rains, I will go."

-더라도 (even if)

A stronger, firmer "even if". It imagines a case and sounds determined, so it is common in advice and promises. Read the lesson on -더라도. Example: 힘들더라도 포기하지 마세요. (himdeuldeorado pogihaji maseyo.) "Even if it is hard, don't give up."

-(ㄴ/는)데도 (even though)

The everyday "even though". Both facts are real, and the result is a surprise. Read the lesson on -(ㄴ/는)데도. Example: 비싼데도 사람이 많아요. (bissandedo sarami manayo.) "Although it is expensive, there are many people."

-기는 하지만 (it is X, but...)

A polite "yes, but". It first agrees that something is true and then adds the problem. Read the lesson on -기는 하지만. Example: 맛있기는 하지만 너무 비싸요. (masitgineun hajiman neomu bissayo.) "It is tasty, but it is too expensive."

Intermediate Patterns (B2)

These five patterns add comparison, preference and a negative view.

-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) (whereas, on the other hand)

Sets two sides against each other, as in a pros and cons list. Read the lesson on -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에). Example: 이 식당은 비싼 반면에 음식이 맛있어요. (i sikdangeun bissan banmyeone eumsigi masisseoyo.) "This restaurant is expensive, but on the other hand the food is delicious."

-느니 (차라리) (rather than X, I'd Y)

Says that X is worse, so Y is better. The word 차라리 ("rather") often comes with it. Read the lesson on -느니. Example: 이렇게 기다리느니 차라리 걸어가겠어요. (ireoke gidarineuni charari georeogagesseoyo.) "Rather than wait like this, I'd walk."

-(으)ㄹ 바에는 (if I have to ... I'd rather)

A close partner of -느니. It says that if X is the only way, then Y is better. Read the lesson on -(으)ㄹ 바에는. Example: 그렇게 할 바에는 안 하는 게 나아요. (geureoke hal baeneun an haneun ge naayo.) "If I have to do it like that, it's better not to do it."

-아/어 봤자 (even if)

A negative "even if". It says that the action will be useless. Read the lesson on -아/어 봤자. Example: 지금 가 봤자 소용없어요. (jigeum ga bwatja soyongeopseoyo.) "Even if you go now, it's no use."

-(으)면서도 (even while, yet)

Joins two facts about the same subject that seem to clash. Read the lesson on -(으)면서도. Example: 알면서도 모르는 척했어요. (almyeonseodo moreuneun cheokaesseoyo.) "Even though he knew, he pretended not to know."

Advanced Patterns (C1)

These five patterns are formal, literary or very emphatic. They are common in news, speeches and novels.

-(으)ㄹ지라도 (even if)

A formal, strong "even if", often with a vow. Read the lesson on -(으)ㄹ지라도. Example: 실패할지라도 끝까지 해 볼 거예요. (silpaehaljirado kkeutkkaji hae bol geoyeyo.) "Even if I fail, I will try to the end."

-(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고 (in spite of, despite)

A formal "despite", used in news and reports. Read the lesson on -(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고. Example: 비가 옴에도 불구하고 사람들이 많이 왔어요. (biga omedo bulguhago saramdeuri mani wasseoyo.) "Despite the rain, many people came."

-(으)ㄹ망정 (even if)

A literary "even if", with a firm choice of the lesser evil. Read the lesson on -(으)ㄹ망정. Example: 굶을망정 거짓말은 하지 않을 거예요. (gulmeulmangjeong geojitmareun haji aneul geoyeyo.) "Even if I go hungry, I will not lie."

-(으)ㄴ들 (even if, what good would X do)

A rhetorical "even if", often saying that the action would be pointless. Read the lesson on -(으)ㄴ들. Example: 지금 후회한들 소용없어요. (jigeum huhoehandeul soyongeopseoyo.) "Even if you regret it now, it's no use."

-건만 (although)

A literary "although", usually with a regret or a disappointed expectation. Read the lesson on -건만. Example: 열심히 노력했건만 결과가 좋지 않았어요. (yeolsimhi noryeokaetgeonman gyeolgwaga jochi anasseoyo.) "Although I tried hard, the result was not good."

The next section helps you choose between look-alike patterns.

How Do You Choose between Look-Alike Patterns?

Use the quick chooser to start from the meaning you want. Then read the lesson for the pattern it names.

Three pairs cause the most confusion.

• -아/어도 and -더라도. Both mean "even if". -아/어도 is neutral, and with 되다 it also gives permission (-아/어도 되다). -더라도 sounds firm and is for imagined cases. See -아/어도 vs -더라도.
• -(ㄴ/는)데도 and -지만. Both can be translated as "although". -(ㄴ/는)데도 stresses a surprising result, and -지만 is a plain "but". See -(ㄴ/는)데도 vs -지만.
• -느니 and -(으)ㄹ 바에는. Both mean "rather than". -느니 sets two options side by side. -(으)ㄹ 바에는 starts from "if I have to do X anyway".

A look-alike outside this group is the "if" family. For plain conditions such as "if it rains", use Conditions (If) and start with -(으)면. The next section shows how to practise.

Where Can You Practise?

Each lesson in this group ends with practice tasks, an answer key and a short quiz. Work through them in the order of the level strip: do the A2 and B1 lessons first, then B2, then C1. Say each example sentence aloud after the audio, and then write one of your own.

To plan by level, use the lists of Beginner Grammar and Intermediate Grammar. They show where this group sits next to the other grammar you are learning.

The next section states what this group does not cover.

What Does This Section Not Cover?

This group covers connectors of contrast and concession. Other groups are described elsewhere on the site. For "and" and "but" with -고 and -지만, see And / But Connectors. For plain "if" patterns, see Conditions (If). For the tense endings that go before these connectors, see Korean tenses. For the particles that join nouns, see Korean particles. For polite, casual and formal speech, see Korean speech levels.

This page lists the patterns and points to the lessons. The lessons themselves explain the forms, the sentence types and the typical mistakes. About this page. Last updated 2026-10-09. Revised Romanization follows the national rules and is shown only as a learning aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Korean Even Though Grammar Patterns?

They are connective endings and phrases that admit one idea and then say the result is the same or opposite. This page lists 14. Some mean "even if", such as -아/어도 and -더라도. Some mean "even though", such as -(ㄴ/는)데도. Two mean "rather than": -느니 and -(으)ㄹ 바에는.

Which Pattern Should I Learn First?

Start with -아/어도. It is the only A2 pattern in the list, and it is also the base of the permission frame -아/어도 되다. Then learn -더라도 for firm "even if" cases and -(ㄴ/는)데도 for real facts with surprising results. Leave the B2 and C1 patterns for later, since most are formal or written.

How Do I Know Which Pattern Fits My Sentence?

Ask three questions. Is the first clause a real fact or an imagined case? Is the speaker formal or casual? Is the result a surprise, a promise or a preference? A real fact points to -(ㄴ/는)데도, an imagined case to -아/어도 or -더라도, and a preference to -느니. The chooser table on this page gives six common starting points.

Are These Patterns on the TOPIK Exam?

Many of them appear in TOPIK reading and grammar items, but the levels shown here are an editorial estimate, not an official list. The A2 and B1 patterns fit the beginner and lower-intermediate range. The B2 and C1 patterns are more common in TOPIK II reading and writing. Check the official TOPIK materials when you plan a study schedule.

Where Are the Comparison Pages?

Comparison pages sit in the grammar comparisons section. Useful ones for this group are -아/어도 vs -더라도 and -(ㄴ/는)데도 vs -지만. They show the same facts told both ways, with a rule for choosing. Each lesson in this group also ends with a short section on its closest look-alike, with a link to the comparison page when one exists.