-지만 (jiman) - But/However

The connective ending -지만 (jiman) connects two clauses to show contrast or opposition, similar to "but" or "however" in English. It indicates that the second clause contrasts with or contradicts the first.

Basic Function

-지만 expresses contrast, opposition, or unexpected results between two clauses.

Translation: but, however, although, even though

Usage: Connecting contrasting statements or situations

Formation

Pattern: [Stem]지만

Remove -다 and add -지만 to any verb or adjective stem:

• 먹다 → 먹지만 (eat but)
• 가다 → 가지만 (go but)
• 크다 → 크지만 (is big but)
• 좋다 → 좋지만 (is good but)
• 예쁘다 → 예쁘지만 (is pretty but)

Always -지만

Unlike some endings, -지만 doesn't change based on vowel harmony or final consonant. Always use -지만.

Basic Contrast Patterns

Pattern: [Statement A]지만 [Statement B]

First clause sets up expectation, second clause contrasts:

• 비싸지만 좋아요. (It's expensive, but it's good.)

• 어렵지만 재미있어요. (It's difficult, but it's fun.)

• 작지만 예뻐요. (It's small, but it's pretty.)

• 공부했지만 시험이 어려웠어요. (I studied, but the exam was difficult.)

Expressing Disappointment or Surprise

Unexpected Results

When the result contrasts with expectations:

• 열심히 했지만 실패했어요. (I worked hard, but I failed.)

• 기다렸지만 안 왔어요. (I waited, but they didn't come.)

• 비쌌지만 맛없어요. (It was expensive, but not tasty.)

• 쉬워 보이지만 어려워요. (It looks easy, but it's difficult.)

Concession (Although/Even though)

Pattern: [Concession]지만 [Main Statement]

Acknowledging one fact while stating another:

• 피곤하지만 일해요. (Although I'm tired, I work.)

• 시간이 없지만 도와줄게요. (Even though I don't have time, I'll help.)

• 배가 고프지만 참아요. (Even though I'm hungry, I endure.)

• 비가 오지만 갈 거예요. (Even though it's raining, I'll go.)

Contradicting Expectations

Pattern: [Expected]지만 [Actual Reality]

• 학생이지만 열심히 안 해요. (They're a student, but they don't study hard.)

• 작지만 비싸요. (It's small, but it's expensive.)

• 의사지만 건강하지 않아요. (They're a doctor, but not healthy.)

With Action Verbs

Daily Activities

• 아침을 먹었지만 배가 고파요. (I ate breakfast, but I'm hungry.)

• 청소했지만 더러워요. (I cleaned, but it's dirty.)

• 전화했지만 안 받았어요. (I called, but they didn't answer.)

Actions and Results

• 연습했지만 못해요. (I practiced, but I can't do it.)

• 샀지만 안 써요. (I bought it, but I don't use it.)

• 갔지만 못 봤어요. (I went, but didn't see it.)

With Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)

Physical Descriptions

• 키가 작지만 잘해요. (They're short, but they're good at it.)

• 얼굴이 예쁘지만 성격이 나빠요. (Their face is pretty, but their personality is bad.)

Quality Descriptions

• 맛있지만 비싸요. (It's delicious, but expensive.)

• 좋지만 필요 없어요. (It's good, but I don't need it.)

• 새롭지만 오래된 것 같아요. (It's new, but seems old.)

Tense with -지만

Present Tense

• 좋지만 비싸요. (It's good, but expensive.) - both present

• 공부하지만 성적이 안 좋아요. (I study, but my grades aren't good.)

Past Tense

• 먹었지만 맛없었어요. (I ate, but it wasn't tasty.) - both past

• 비쌌지만 샀어요. (It was expensive, but I bought it.)

Mixed Tenses

• 비쌌지만 좋아요. (It was expensive, but it's good.) - past/present

• 공부했지만 아직 어려워요. (I studied, but it's still difficult.)

With Different Subjects

Same Subject

• 저는 바쁘지만 도와줄게요. (I'm busy, but I'll help.)

• 그는 작지만 강해요. (He's small, but strong.)

Different Subjects

• 형은 키가 크지만 저는 작아요. (My brother is tall, but I'm short.)

• 날씨는 좋지만 바람이 세요. (The weather is good, but the wind is strong.)

Negative Forms

Pattern: Negative지만 Positive

• 안 좋지만 괜찮아요. (It's not good, but it's okay.)

• 못 갔지만 문제없어요. (I couldn't go, but there's no problem.)

• 없지만 살 거예요. (I don't have it, but I'll buy it.)

Pattern: Positive지만 Negative

• 좋지만 안 살 거예요. (It's good, but I won't buy it.)

• 갔지만 못 봤어요. (I went, but didn't see it.)

Softening Statements

Polite Disagreement

-지만 softens contradictions or objections:

• 좋지만 다른 것도 보고 싶어요. (It's good, but I'd like to see others too.)

• 이해하지만 동의하지 않아요. (I understand, but I don't agree.)

Apologetic Refusal

• 가고 싶지만 시간이 없어요. (I want to go, but I don't have time.)

• 도와주고 싶지만 바빠요. (I want to help, but I'm busy.)

Irregular Verbs with -지만

ㅂ Irregular

ㅂ stays before -지만 (consonant):

• 춥다 → 춥지만 (is cold but)
• 덥다 → 덥지만 (is hot but)
• 아름답다 → 아름답지만 (is beautiful but)

ㅎ Irregular

ㅎ stays before -지만:

• 빨갛다 → 빨갛지만 (is red but)
• 하얗다 → 하얗지만 (is white but)
• 그렇다 → 그렇지만 (is so but)

으 Irregular

으 stays before -지만:

• 크다 → 크지만 (is big but)
• 예쁘다 → 예쁘지만 (is pretty but)
• 바쁘다 → 바쁘지만 (is busy but)

ㄹ Irregular

ㄹ stays before -지만:

• 멀다 → 멀지만 (is far but)
• 길다 → 길지만 (is long but)

ㄷ Irregular

ㄷ stays before -지만:

• 듣다 → 듣지만 (listen but)
• 걷다 → 걷지만 (walk but)

Comparing Two Things

Pattern: A는 [Adj1]지만, B는 [Adj2]

• 이것은 크지만, 저것은 작아요. (This is big, but that is small.)

• 여기는 비싸지만, 저기는 싸요. (Here is expensive, but there is cheap.)

• 형은 키가 크지만, 동생은 작아요. (My older brother is tall, but my younger sibling is short.)

Multiple Contrasts

Chaining -지만

Can use multiple -지만 in one sentence:

• 작지만 예쁘지만 비싸요. (It's small and pretty, but expensive.)

However, this is less common. Usually limit to one or two.

Common Expressions

그렇지만 (but/however)

As a standalone conjunction:

• 좋아요. 그렇지만 비싸요. (It's good. But it's expensive.)

This comes from 그렇다 (to be so) + -지만.

하지만 (but/however)

More formal standalone conjunction:

• 열심히 했어요. 하지만 실패했어요. (I worked hard. However, I failed.)

This comes from 하다 (to do) + -지만.

In Formal Speech

Formal Endings

The final clause takes formal endings:

• 비싸지만 좋습니다. (It's expensive, but it's good.) - formal

• 어렵지만 할 수 있습니다. (It's difficult, but I can do it.) - formal

In Presentations

• 문제가 있지만 해결할 수 있습니다. (There's a problem, but we can solve it.)

• 시간이 걸리지만 가능합니다. (It takes time, but it's possible.)

Sentence Position

Mid-Sentence

-지만 typically appears mid-sentence:

• 좋지만 비싸요. (Good but expensive.)

Can Start Second Sentence

In writing, can split into two sentences:

• 좋아요. 하지만 비싸요. (It's good. But it's expensive.)

Common Contrasts

Price vs Quality

• 싸지만 좋아요. (Cheap but good.)
• 비싸지만 좋지 않아요. (Expensive but not good.)

Effort vs Result

• 열심히 했지만 실패했어요. (Worked hard but failed.)

• 안 했지만 잘했어요. (Didn't do it but did well.)

Appearance vs Reality

• 쉬워 보이지만 어려워요. (Looks easy but is difficult.)

• 나빠 보이지만 좋아요. (Looks bad but is good.)

Want vs Can't

• 가고 싶지만 못 가요. (Want to go but can't.)

• 먹고 싶지만 배불러요. (Want to eat but am full.)

Emphasis Patterns

비록 -지만 (even though)

비록 (birok) emphasizes the concession:

• 비록 어렵지만 할 거예요. (Even though it's difficult, I'll do it.)

아무리 -지만 (no matter how)

아무리 (amuri) emphasizes the degree:

• 아무리 비싸지만 살 거예요. (No matter how expensive, I'll buy it.)

Contrast with Other Connectives

-지만 (but/contrast)

• 좋지만 비싸요. (It's good, but expensive.) - simple contrast

-는데 (background/mild contrast)

• 좋은데 비싸요. (It's good, but expensive.) - softer, provides context

-아/어도 (even if)

• 좋아도 안 살 거예요. (Even if it's good, I won't buy it.) - hypothetical

In Questions

Pattern: -지만 [Question]?

Rarely used in questions, but possible:

• 좋지만 살 거예요? (It's good, but will you buy it?)

More natural to separate:

• 좋아요. 하지만 살 거예요? (It's good. But will you buy it?)