-기는 하지만 Grammar in Korean: Meaning and How to Use It

What you'll learn

• Attach -기는 하지만 and its short form -긴 하지만 to verbs, adjectives and 이다.
• Put the past tense on the right word.
• Choose between -기는 하지만, -지만 and -(으)ㄴ/는데.
• Avoid the mistake of using it when nothing is conceded.

Prerequisites: the polite ending -아요/어요 and the connector -지만. Time: about 15 minutes.

Key facts

• -기는 하지만 means "it is X, but...". The speaker accepts the first fact and then limits it.
• The form never changes: stem + 기는 하지만. Irregular verbs keep their stems.
• The short spoken form is 긴 하지만.
• The past marker usually goes on 하다: 맛있기는 했지만.
• It is polite in tone because it admits the other side before it disagrees.

Listen to two model sentences.

The next section defines the pattern.

What Does -기는 하지만 Grammar Mean?

-기는 하지만 means "it is X, but...". A connective ending is a word ending that joins one clause to the next. This one tells the listener: "Yes, that is true. But there is something else you should know."

Compare two ways of saying the same thing. 비싸지만 맛있어요 puts two facts side by side. 맛있기는 하지만 비싸요 first says "yes, it is tasty" and then gives the limit. The weight falls on the second part, and the listener hears that the speaker has thought about both sides.

The ending has four parts, and each part has a job.

The nominalizer 기 is explained on the page for the -기 nominalizer. The particle 는 here does not mean "topic". It points to one fact and sets it against another. The same particle appears in the first line of every contrast, such as 형은 크지만 동생은 작아요.

Here are two glossed examples.

The next section shows how to build the form.

How Do You Form -기는 하지만?

The rule is as easy as the rule for -지만. Remove 다 from the dictionary form to get the stem, then add 기는 하지만. The stem is the verb or adjective without its dictionary ending -다. For 먹다 the stem is 먹.

Most connective endings change with the last sound of the stem. They need 아/어 or 으 in some cases. -기는 하지만 does not, because 기 starts with a consonant. The stem is left exactly as it is.

Two sound changes appear. After a final consonant such as ㄱ or ㅂ, the ㄱ of 기 is said as a tense ㄲ, so 먹기는 sounds like [먹끼는] and 어렵기는 like [어렵끼는]. This tensing happens in speech only. Revised Romanization (RR) does not mark tensing that comes from a neighbouring sound, so it writes meokgineun. The second change is aspiration. The ㅎ of 좋 joins the following ㄱ and makes ㅋ, so 좋기는 sounds like [조키는]. RR writes this aspiration in predicates, so it is jokineun.

The short form is spoken constantly. 기는 becomes 긴, and the rest is the same: 맛있긴 하지만, 먹긴 하지만. The short form after a final consonant is [먹낀 하지만], with a tense ㄲ.

Stems Ending in a Vowel

Vowel stems take 기는 하지만 directly: 가기는 하지만, 비싸기는 하지만, 크기는 하지만. No contraction takes place. For verbs made with 하다, add 기는 하지만 to 하: 공부하기는 하지만.

Stems Ending in a Consonant

Consonant stems also take 기는 하지만 directly: 먹기는 하지만, 읽기는 하지만, 좋기는 하지만. There is no 으 to insert.

Irregular Stems and Nouns

Irregular stems do not change before 기는 하지만. An irregular stem is one that changes its shape before an ending that begins with a vowel. 기 begins with a consonant, so the change never happens.

For nouns, use 이다, which means "to be". The form is 이기는 하지만 after both vowels and consonants, and the short form is 이긴 하지만: 학생이기는 하지만, 의사이긴 하지만.

The next section builds a full sentence.

Worked Example: Building 맛있기는 하지만 너무 비싸요

Say that a restaurant is tasty but too expensive. Follow five steps.

1. Write the first fact. "It is tasty" is 맛있어요 in the polite style.
2. Find the stem. The dictionary form is 맛있다, so the stem is 맛있.
3. Add 기는 하지만. 맛있기는 하지만 means "it is tasty, but". Take away the polite ending 어요, because it belongs to the last verb only.
4. Write the limit. "It is too expensive" is 너무 비싸요. The adverb 너무 means "too" here.
5. Join the two parts. 맛있기는 하지만 너무 비싸요.

You'll know it worked when the first part ends in 하지만 with no polite ending, the second part gives a limit, and 요 appears only once, at the end. Try the same steps with "The room is nice, but it is small": 방은 좋긴 하지만 작아요.

The next section covers tense and sentence types.

Which Tenses and Sentence Types Work with -기는 하지만?

Tense in Korean is shown on the verb. In this pattern, the verb that carries tense is 하다. The first verb stays as a bare stem.

Unlike -아/어서, -기는 하지만 allows every sentence type after it. That is because it only marks a concession and does not give a reason.

The past marker usually moves to 하다. 맛있기는 했지만 is the normal way to say that the food was tasty. Put the marker on the first verb only when the two clauses refer to different times, as in 어제는 맛있었기는 하지만 오늘은 별로예요.

Yes/no questions end with a rise: 맛있기는 한데 비싸지 않아요? A wh-question puts the stress on the question word and often ends with a fall or a rise-fall rather than a sharp rise: 좋긴 하지만 왜 안 사요?

The next section compares -기는 하지만 with its neighbours.

How Is -기는 하지만 Different from -지만?

Both can be translated as "but". The difference is how the speaker treats the first fact. -지만 gives two facts. -기는 하지만 first says "yes, true" and then limits it.

Tell the same facts with each ending. The facts are "The room is nice" and "It is small".

• 방이 좋지만 작아요. A plain contrast.
• 방이 좋기는 하지만 작아요. The speaker agrees that the room is nice, then gives the limit. This is typical when you are explaining why you will not take it.
• 방이 좋은데 작아요. The speaker is describing the room, softly.

The key test is whether the first fact is something you accept. In an answer, it often sounds like "yes, but...". If you are just placing two facts next to each other, -지만 is enough. If you are answering a question or an opinion, -기는 하지만 shows that you have listened.

Why Does -기는 하지만 Sound More Careful?

Because it begins by agreeing. In Korean conversation, softening a disagreement is a sign of politeness. Compare a reply to "Is the new cafe good?": 좋기는 하지만 좀 멀어요 ("It is good, but it is a bit far") sounds more considerate than a bare 좋지만 멀어요. Both are correct, but the first is the kind of sentence a friendly neighbour says.

The next section covers related shapes and edge cases.

Variations and Edge Cases of -기는 하지만

-기는 한데

The connector -(으)ㄴ/는데 can replace 지만. 한데 is 하 plus ㄴ데. 맛있기는 한데 좀 짜요 means "It is tasty, but it is a bit salty." This version is gentler and even more common in casual speech. The short form is 맛있긴 한데.

Trailing off with -기는 해요

A speaker can stop after the first clause and leave the "but" unsaid. 맛있기는 해요 means "It is tasty (but...)". The listener hears the doubt. Use it in speech to hint at a reservation without saying it.

Repeating the Verb

Instead of 하다, the speaker may repeat the first verb. 가기는 갔지만 오래 있지 않았어요 means "I did go, but I did not stay long." Tense then goes on the repeated verb: 먹기는 먹었지만 맛을 잘 몰랐어요 ("I did eat, but I could not really taste it"). This pattern is common with action verbs, and it adds emphasis.

그렇기는 하지만 at the Start of a Sentence

그렇기는 하지만 means "that is true, but". It answers a point and then pushes back: 그렇기는 하지만 저는 반대예요 ("That is true, but I disagree"). The short form 그렇긴 하지만 is the same.

-기도 하지만

Replace 는 with 도 and the meaning changes. -기도 하지만 means "it is X, and also...". 비싸기도 하지만 품질도 좋아요 hints that price is only one of several points. The particle 도 is explained on the page for also particle 도.

Before a Request

Like -지만, -기는 하지만 can lead into a polite request: 바쁘시기는 하지만 잠깐만 시간 좀 내 주세요. The speaker names the other person's difficulty first.

The next section lists the mistakes that appear most often.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with -기는 하지만?

Learners make six predictable mistakes. Each has a reason and a fix.

Learners often use -기는 하지만 when nothing is conceded. Actually it needs a first fact that the speaker accepts and then limits. Wrong: 저는 한국어를 좋아하기는 하지만 한국 음식도 좋아해요. Right: 저는 한국어를 좋아하고 한국 음식도 좋아해요. Fix: if "and" fits in English, use -고, not a "but" pattern.

Learners often put the tense on the wrong verb. Wrong: 맛있었기는 하지만 비쌌어요 (when both facts happened at the same time). Right: 맛있기는 했지만 비쌌어요. Fix: the tense normally goes on 하다.

Learners often drop the 하. Wrong: 맛있기지만 비싸요. Right: 맛있기는 하지만 비싸요. Fix: 기는 does not attach straight to 지만. Keep 하 between them.

Learners often add 이다 to an adjective. Wrong: 비싸이기는 하지만. Right: 비싸기는 하지만. Fix: 이다 is only for nouns. Adjectives take the bare stem.

Learners often change the stem. Actually irregular stems stay whole before 기. Wrong: 추우기는 하지만 and 들기는 하지만. Right: 춥기는 하지만 and 듣기는 하지만. Fix: do not apply the -아/어 rules here.

Learners often write 기를 or 가 in place of 기는. Wrong: 맛있기를 하지만. Right: 맛있기는 하지만. Fix: the particle must be 는, which carries the contrast.

The next section gives you practice.

Practice and Answers

Do the four tasks, then compare with the key.

Task 1: join the sentences with -기는 하지만. Write one sentence for each pair.

1. 이 옷은 예뻐요. / 좀 작아요.
2. 이 일은 재미있어요. / 힘들어요.
3. 그 가게에 가 봤어요. / 별로였어요.
4. 지하철은 편해요. / 사람이 많아요.

Task 2: fix the error. Each sentence has one mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

1. 맛있기지만 비싸요.
2. 추우기는 하지만 괜찮아요.
3. 학생기는 하지만 일도 해요.

Task 3: translate. Write in Korean: "I know the answer, but I can't say it." and "It is good, but I do not like it."

Task 4: write your own. Write one sentence about a place you like but that has a problem, and one sentence with the short form -긴 하지만.

Answer key

1. (1) 이 옷은 예쁘기는 하지만 좀 작아요. (2) 이 일은 재미있기는 하지만 힘들어요. (3) 그 가게에 가 보기는 했지만 별로였어요. (4) 지하철은 편하기는 하지만 사람이 많아요.
2. (1) 맛있기는 하지만 비싸요. (2) 춥기는 하지만 괜찮아요. (3) 학생이기는 하지만 일도 해요.
3. 답을 알기는 알지만 말할 수 없어요. 좋기는 하지만 마음에 안 들어요. Other correct versions exist, for example 좋긴 하지만 제 취향은 아니에요.
4. Sample answers: 그 카페는 분위기가 좋기는 하지만 좀 시끄러워요. 한국어는 어렵긴 하지만 재미있어요. Any sentence is correct if the first clause is accepted and the second limits it.

If task 1 was correct, you have the formation rule. If task 2 was hard, check whether you kept 하 and left the stem unchanged. The next section points you to what comes after this lesson.

What Should You Learn after -기는 하지만 Grammar?

After -기는 하지만, learn -(으)ㄴ/는데도 for the surprising "even though", and -아/어도 for "even if". If you want the plain "but" first, go back to -지만, then read -(으)ㄴ/는데.

For a wider view, the parent page Contrast and Concession lists every connector in this group. To plan by level, use Intermediate Grammar.

This lesson covers -기는 하지만 in the polite, casual and formal styles. It does not cover every written variation. 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 Does -기는 하지만 Mean?

-기는 하지만 means "it is X, but...". The speaker admits that the first fact is true and then adds a different or limiting point. 맛있기는 하지만 너무 비싸요 means "It is tasty, but it is too expensive." The shorter form -긴 하지만 means the same and is very common in speech.

How Do I Attach -기는 하지만 to a Verb or Adjective?

Take the stem, which is the dictionary form without 다, and add 기는 하지만: 먹기는 하지만, 비싸기는 하지만. There is no vowel rule and no irregular change, because 기 starts with a consonant. For a noun, use 이다: 학생이기는 하지만. In speech you can shorten 기는 to 긴: 먹긴 하지만.

Can -기는 하지만 Be Used in the past Tense?

Yes. Put the past marker on 하다, not on the first verb: 맛있기는 했지만, 가 보기는 했지만. This says the first fact was true at that time. Putting the marker on the first verb, as in 맛있었기는 하지만, is possible when the two times differ, but it is less common.

Is -기는 하지만 Used in Speech or Only in Writing?

Both. The short form -긴 하지만 is very common in conversation, and -기는 하지만 works in messages, emails and essays. The politeness comes from the last ending of the sentence, so add 요 only to the final verb. It is neutral in register, so it suits friends, colleagues and customers.

What Is the Most Common Mistake with -기는 하지만?

The most common mistake is using it when nothing is conceded. Wrong: 한국어를 좋아하기는 하지만 한국 음식도 좋아해요. The speaker accepts no fact and adds no limit, so use -고 for "and". A second mistake is putting the past marker on the first verb when both facts share one time: say 맛있기는 했지만.

What Is the Difference between -기는 하지만 and -지만?

-지만 simply sets two facts against each other: "A, but B". -기는 하지만 first agrees with A and then limits it: "A is true, but...". 비싸지만 맛있어요 is a plain contrast. 맛있기는 하지만 비싸요 says yes to the taste and then puts weight on the price.

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