-아/어도 expresses "even if," "even though," or "although." It indicates that the following action or state will occur regardless of the condition mentioned.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -아/어도
Breakdown:
- -아/어: Vowel harmony connector
- 도: Also/even particle
- Combined meaning: "Even if/though"
Literal meaning: "Even if [condition], [result] will happen anyway"
Vowel Harmony Rules
Bright Vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ): -아도
Last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 가다 → 가도 (even if go)
- 오다 → 와도 (even if come)
- 보다 → 봐도 (even if see)
- 좋다 → 좋아도 (even if good)
Dark Vowels: -어도
Last vowel is NOT ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 먹다 → 먹어도 (even if eat)
- 크다 → 커도 (even if big)
- 작다 → 작아도 (even if small)
- 많다 → 많아도 (even if many)
하다 Verbs: -해도
All 하다 verbs:
- 하다 → 해도 (even if do)
- 공부하다 → 공부해도 (even if study)
- 일하다 → 일해도 (even if work)
- 청소하다 → 청소해도 (even if clean)
Core Meaning: Despite Condition
Regardless of Condition
Result happens anyway:
- 비가 와도 갈 거예요 (Even if it rains, I'll go)
- 바빠도 도와줄게요 (Even if I'm busy, I'll help)
- 어려워도 할 거예요 (Even if it's difficult, I'll do it)
- 피곤해도 갈 거예요 (Even if I'm tired, I'll go)
Concession
Admitting something doesn't matter:
- 비싸도 살 거예요 (Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it)
- 멀어도 갈 거예요 (Even if it's far, I'll go)
- 늦어도 괜찮아요 (Even if you're late, it's okay)
- 작아도 충분해요 (Even if it's small, it's enough)
Common Usage Patterns
With Hypothetical Conditions
Imagining possibilities:
- 시간이 없어도 할 거예요 (Even if I don't have time, I'll do it)
- 돈이 없어도 살 거예요 (Even if I don't have money, I'll buy it)
- 힘들어도 계속할 거예요 (Even if it's hard, I'll continue)
Giving Permission
Something is okay even if:
- 늦어도 돼요 (It's okay even if you're late)
- 못해도 괜찮아요 (It's okay even if you can't do it)
- 실수해도 괜찮아요 (It's okay even if you make mistakes)
- 틀려도 돼요 (It's okay even if you're wrong)
Expressing Determination
Won't change mind despite obstacles:
- 반대해도 할 거예요 (Even if you oppose, I'll do it)
- 말려도 갈 거예요 (Even if you try to stop me, I'll go)
- 어려워도 포기 안 할 거예요 (Even if it's difficult, I won't give up)
Tense Conjugations
Present Tense
Stem + -아/어도:
- 가도 (even if go)
- 먹어도 (even if eat)
- 비싸도 (even if expensive)
Past Tense
Stem + -았/었어도:
- 갔어도 (even if went)
- 먹었어도 (even if ate)
- 비쌌어도 (even if was expensive)
Future Tense
Stem + -(으)ᄅ래도:
- 갈래도 (even if will go)
- 먹을래도 (even if will eat)
- 비쌀래도 (even if will be expensive)
Note: Future tense form is less common
Negative Forms
안 -아/어도
Even if not...:
- 안 가도 괜찮아요 (Even if you don't go, it's okay)
- 안 먹어도 돼요 (Even if you don't eat, it's fine)
- 안 비싸도 안 살 거예요 (Even if it's not expensive, I won't buy it)
-지 않아도
Even if not... (formal):
- 가지 않아도 괜찮아요 (Even if you don't go, it's okay)
- 먹지 않아도 돼요 (Even if you don't eat, it's fine)
못 -아/어도
Even if can't...:
- 못 가도 괜찮아요 (Even if you can't go, it's okay)
- 못 먹어도 돼요 (Even if you can't eat, it's fine)
- 못해도 괜찮아요 (Even if you can't do it, it's okay)
Common Expressions
Daily Permissions
- 늦어도 돼요 (It's okay even if you're late)
- 없어도 괜찮아요 (It's okay even if you don't have it)
- 안 와도 돼요 (It's okay even if you don't come)
- 안 해도 돼요 (It's okay even if you don't do it)
Determination Phrases
- 힘들어도 할 거예요 (Even if it's hard, I'll do it)
- 어려워도 포기 안 해요 (Even if it's difficult, I won't give up)
- 바빠도 시간 낼게요 (Even if I'm busy, I'll make time)
Reassurance
- 실패해도 괜찮아요 (Even if you fail, it's okay)
- 틀려도 괜찮아요 (Even if you're wrong, it's okay)
- 못해도 괜찮아요 (Even if you can't do it, it's okay)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 비가 와도 갑니다 (Even if it rains, I go)
- 어려워도 합니다 (Even if it's difficult, I do it)
Polite (해요체)
- 비가 와도 가요 (Even if it rains, I go)
- 어려워도 해요 (Even if it's difficult, I do it)
Casual (반말)
- 비가 와도 가 (Even if it rains, I go)
- 어려워도 해 (Even if it's difficult, I do it)
Special Pattern: -아/어도 되다
Expressing Permission
It's okay to...:
- 먹어도 돼요 (You may eat / It's okay to eat)
- 가도 돼요 (You may go / It's okay to go)
- 앉아도 돼요 (You may sit / It's okay to sit)
- 봐도 돼요 (You may look / It's okay to look)
Asking Permission
May I...?:
- 먹어도 돼요? (May I eat? / Is it okay to eat?)
- 가도 돼요? (May I go? / Is it okay to go?)
- 앉아도 돼요? (May I sit? / Is it okay to sit?)
- 봐도 돼요? (May I look? / Is it okay to look?)
Negative Permission
It's okay not to...:
- 안 먹어도 돼요 (You don't have to eat / It's okay not to eat)
- 안 가도 돼요 (You don't have to go / It's okay not to go)
- 안 해도 돼요 (You don't have to do it / It's okay not to do it)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-아/어도 vs -지만
-아/어도: Even if (condition doesn't affect result)
- 비싸도 살 거예요 (Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it)
-지만: But (simple contrast)
- 비싸지만 살 거예요 (It's expensive, but I'll buy it)
-아/어도 vs -는데
-아/어도: Strong concession, result unaffected
- 비싸도 좋아요 (Even if it's expensive, it's good)
-는데: Soft contrast, providing context
- 비싼데 좋아요 (It's expensive, but it's good)
Question Forms
Asking if Something is Okay
-아/어도 돼요?:
- 가도 돼요? (May I go? / Is it okay to go?)
- 먹어도 돼요? (May I eat? / Is it okay to eat?)
- 물어봐도 돼요? (May I ask? / Is it okay to ask?)
- 사용해도 돼요? (May I use it? / Is it okay to use?)
Asking Confirmation
-아/어도 괜찮아요?:
- 늦어도 괜찮아요? (Is it okay even if I'm late?)
- 작아도 괜찮아요? (Is it okay even if it's small?)
- 안 가도 괜찮아요? (Is it okay even if I don't go?)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋도
Wrong vowel harmony
✅ Correct: 좋아도
Use -아도 with ㅏ/ㅗ vowels
❌ Incorrect: 먹도
Missing vowel connector
✅ Correct: 먹어도
Use -어도 with other vowels
Summary Table
| Verb/Adjective | -아/어도 Form | Meaning | Permission Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 가도 | Even if go | 가도 돼요 |
| 먹다 | 먹어도 | Even if eat | 먹어도 돼요 |
| 비싸다 | 비싸도 | Even if expensive | - |
| 크다 | 커도 | Even if big | - |
| 공부하다 | 공부해도 | Even if study | 공부해도 돼요 |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Concessive meaning: Even if/though condition exists
- ✅ Vowel harmony: -아도/-어도/-해도
- ✅ Result unaffected: Outcome happens regardless
- ✅ Common with 되다: Expressing permission
- ✅ Very practical: Daily use for permissions and determination
- ✅ Works with all tenses: Present, past, future
-아/어도 is essential for expressing concession, giving permission, and showing determination in Korean. The pattern -아/어도 되다 is particularly important for asking and giving permission.