-더라도 is a stronger, more emphatic version of -아/어도 that means "even if" or "even though." It emphasizes that the result will not change regardless of extreme or hypothetical conditions.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -더라도
Breakdown:
- -더라도: Strong concessive ending
- No vowel harmony needed
- More formal and emphatic than -아/어도
Literal meaning: "Even if/though [extreme condition], [result] still occurs"
Formation Rules
With All Verbs
Verb stem + -더라도:
- 가다 → 가더라도 (even if go)
- 먹다 → 먹더라도 (even if eat)
- 공부하다 → 공부하더라도 (even if study)
- 죽다 → 죽더라도 (even if die)
With Adjectives
Adjective stem + -더라도:
- 좋다 → 좋더라도 (even if good)
- 크다 → 크더라도 (even if big)
- 비싸다 → 비싸더라도 (even if expensive)
- 어렵다 → 어렵더라도 (even if difficult)
With 이다
Noun + 이더라도/라도:
With final consonant: 이더라도
- 학생이더라도 (even if is a student)
- 의사이더라도 (even if is a doctor)
No final consonant: 라도
- 선생님이라도 (even if is a teacher)
- 아이라도 (even if is a child)
Core Meaning: Strong Concession
Extreme Conditions
Emphasizing determination despite harsh circumstances:
- 죽더라도 안 할 거예요 (Even if I die, I won't do it)
- 힘들더라도 계속할 거예요 (Even if it's hard, I'll continue)
- 실패하더라도 시도할 거예요 (Even if I fail, I'll try)
- 위험하더라도 갈 거예요 (Even if it's dangerous, I'll go)
Hypothetical Extremes
Imagining worst-case scenarios:
- 비가 많이 오더라도 갈 거예요 (Even if it rains heavily, I'll go)
- 돈이 전혀 없더라도 할 거예요 (Even if I have no money at all, I'll do it)
- 아무도 안 오더라도 시작할 거예요 (Even if nobody comes, I'll start)
Unwavering Decisions
Strong determination or principles:
- 반대하더라도 할 거예요 (Even if you oppose, I'll do it)
- 어렵더라도 포기 안 해요 (Even if it's difficult, I won't give up)
- 실수하더라도 계속할 거예요 (Even if I make mistakes, I'll continue)
Common Usage Patterns
Expressing Strong Will
Unshakeable determination:
- 힘들더라도 끝까지 할 거예요 (Even if it's hard, I'll do it to the end)
- 시간이 걸리더라도 완성할 거예요 (Even if it takes time, I'll complete it)
- 비싸더라도 살 거예요 (Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it)
Making Concessions
Acknowledging potential issues won't change outcome:
- 조금 늦더라도 괜찮아요 (Even if I'm a bit late, it's okay)
- 완벽하지 않더라도 시작하세요 (Even if it's not perfect, start)
- 작더라도 충분해요 (Even if it's small, it's enough)
Setting Principles
Stating firm rules or values:
- 누가 뭐라고 하더라도 제 생각은 안 바꿔요 (Even if anyone says anything, I won't change my mind)
- 어떤 일이 있더라도 약속을 지킬 거예요 (Whatever happens, I'll keep my promise)
Tense Forms
Present Tense
Stem + -더라도:
- 가더라도 (even if go)
- 비싸더라도 (even if expensive)
- 어렵더라도 (even if difficult)
Past Tense
Stem + -았/었더라도:
- 갔더라도 (even if went)
- 비쌌더라도 (even if was expensive)
- 어려웠더라도 (even if was difficult)
Meaning: Even if something had happened (counterfactual)
- 알았더라도 안 갔을 거예요 (Even if I had known, I wouldn't have gone)
- 시간이 있었더라도 못 했을 거예요 (Even if I had had time, I couldn't have done it)
Negative Forms
안 -더라도
Even if not...:
- 안 가더라도 괜찮아요 (Even if you don't go, it's okay)
- 안 비싸더라도 안 살 거예요 (Even if it's not expensive, I won't buy it)
- 안 좋더라도 할 거예요 (Even if it's not good, I'll do it)
-지 않더라도
Even if not... (formal):
- 가지 않더라도 괜찮아요 (Even if you don't go, it's okay)
- 성공하지 않더라도 시도할 거예요 (Even if I don't succeed, I'll try)
못 -더라도
Even if can't...:
- 못 가더라도 이해할 거예요 (Even if you can't go, I'll understand)
- 못 하더라도 괜찮아요 (Even if you can't do it, it's okay)
Common Expressions
Determination Phrases
- 힘들더라도 포기하지 마세요 (Even if it's hard, don't give up)
- 어렵더라도 해야 해요 (Even if it's difficult, you must do it)
- 시간이 걸리더라도 기다릴게요 (Even if it takes time, I'll wait)
Concession Statements
- 완벽하지 않더라도 괜찮아요 (Even if it's not perfect, it's okay)
- 작더라도 시작하는 게 중요해요 (Even if small, starting is important)
- 실패하더라도 배울 수 있어요 (Even if you fail, you can learn)
Extreme Scenarios
- 세상이 끝나더라도 (Even if the world ends)
- 누가 뭐라고 하더라도 (Even if anyone says anything)
- 어떤 일이 있더라도 (No matter what happens)
Comparison with -아/어도
-더라도 (Stronger, More Emphatic)
Extreme or hypothetical conditions:
- 죽더라도 안 해요 (Even if I die, I won't do it)
- 힘들더라도 계속할 거예요 (Even if it's hard, I'll continue)
- More formal and literary
- Emphasizes strong determination
-아/어도 (Softer, More Common)
Regular conditions:
- 죽어도 안 해요 (Even if I die, I won't do it)
- 힘들어도 계속할 거예요 (Even if it's hard, I'll continue)
- More casual and common
- Normal everyday concession
Note: Both can often be used interchangeably, but -더라도 sounds more formal and emphatic.
Formal Register
Written/Formal Contexts
-더라도 is preferred in:
- Formal writing
- Speeches
- News reports
- Academic writing
- Official statements
Examples:
- 비용이 많이 들더라도 진행할 것입니다 (Even if it costs a lot, we will proceed)
- 시간이 오래 걸리더라도 완성하겠습니다 (Even if it takes a long time, I will complete it)
Special Pattern: 아무리 -더라도
No Matter How...
아무리 + Verb/Adjective + -더라도:
- 아무리 힘들더라도 (No matter how hard it is)
- 아무리 바쁘더라도 (No matter how busy you are)
- 아무리 비싸더라도 (No matter how expensive it is)
- 아무리 어렵더라도 (No matter how difficult it is)
Complete sentences:
- 아무리 힘들더라도 포기하지 마세요 (No matter how hard it is, don't give up)
- 아무리 바쁘더라도 연락하세요 (No matter how busy you are, contact me)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋아더라도
Don't apply vowel harmony
✅ Correct: 좋더라도
Use -더라도 directly on stem
❌ Incorrect: 학생더라도
Missing copula connector
✅ Correct: 학생이더라도
Use 이더라도/라도 with nouns
Summary Table
| Type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 가더라도 | Even if go |
| Past | 갔더라도 | Even if went |
| Adjective | 좋더라도 | Even if good |
| With 이다 | 학생이더라도 | Even if is a student |
| Negative | 안 가더라도 | Even if don't go |
| With 아무리 | 아무리 힘들더라도 | No matter how hard |
Usage Context Guide
Use -더라도 when:
- Making formal statements
- Emphasizing strong determination
- Discussing extreme or hypothetical scenarios
- Writing formal documents
- Making important declarations
Use -아/어도 instead when:
- Speaking casually
- Discussing everyday situations
- Having informal conversations
- Normal conditions (not extreme)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Stronger than -아/어도: More emphatic concession
- ✅ No vowel harmony: Same form for all verbs
- ✅ More formal: Preferred in written/formal contexts
- ✅ Extreme emphasis: Strong determination or hypotheticals
- ✅ Works with all tenses: Present and past
- ✅ Common with 아무리: "No matter how" expressions
-더라도 adds weight and formality to concessive statements, making it essential for formal communication and expressing unwavering determination in Korean.