-(으)ᄂ/는 한 means "as long as," "so long as," or "while." It expresses that something remains true or continues under a certain condition or within a certain scope.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -(으)ᄂ/는 한
Breakdown:
- -(으)ᄂ/는: Modifier ending (present state)
- 한: Limit, extent (bound noun)
- Combined meaning: "Within the limits of..." → "As long as..."
Literal meaning: "Within the extent/limit that..."
Formation Rules
Action Verbs (Present)
Verb stem + -는 한:
- 살다 → 사는 한 (as long as [I] live)
- 있다 → 있는 한 (as long as there is)
- 하다 → 하는 한 (as long as [I] do)
- 노력하다 → 노력하는 한 (as long as [I] try)
Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
No final consonant: -ᄂ 한
- 크다 → 큰 한 (as long as it's big)
- 바쁘다 → 바쁜 한 (as long as [I'm] busy)
With final consonant: -은 한
- 좋다 → 좋은 한 (as long as it's good)
- 있다 → 있는 한 (as long as there is)
- 없다 → 없는 한 (as long as there isn't)
With 이다
Noun + 인 한:
- 학생인 한 (as long as [one is] a student)
- 사람인 한 (as long as [one is] a person)
- 가족인 한 (as long as [we're] family)
Core Meaning: Conditional Limit
As Long As (Condition)
Something continues under this condition:
- 살아 있는 한 노력할 거예요 (As long as I'm alive, I'll try)
- 건강한 한 일할 거예요 (As long as I'm healthy, I'll work)
- 시간이 있는 한 도와줄게요 (As long as I have time, I'll help)
- 돈이 있는 한 지원할게요 (As long as I have money, I'll support)
Within the Scope Of
Limited to a certain extent:
- 아는 한 말씀드릴게요 (I'll tell you as far as I know)
- 기억하는 한 설명할게요 (I'll explain as far as I remember)
- 할 수 있는 한 도와드릴게요 (I'll help as much as I can)
Universal Truth
As long as something is true:
- 사람인 한 실수해요 (As long as you're human, you make mistakes)
- 살아 있는 한 희망이 있어요 (As long as you're alive, there's hope)
Common Usage Patterns
Lifetime Commitment
Promises that last as long as a condition:
- 살아 있는 한 사랑할게요 (As long as I live, I'll love you)
- 숨 쉬는 한 포기하지 않을 거예요 (As long as I breathe, I won't give up)
- 건강한 한 일할 거예요 (As long as I'm healthy, I'll work)
Ability/Capacity
Within one's ability:
- 할 수 있는 한 도와줄게요 (I'll help as much as I can)
- 아는 한 알려드릴게요 (I'll let you know as far as I know)
- 기억하는 한 말할게요 (I'll tell you as far as I remember)
Conditional Situations
Under certain circumstances:
- 시간이 있는 한 갈 거예요 (As long as I have time, I'll go)
- 돈이 있는 한 살 거예요 (As long as I have money, I'll buy it)
- 가능한 한 빨리 할게요 (I'll do it as quickly as possible)
Fixed Expressions
가능한 한
As much as possible:
- 가능한 한 빨리 (as quickly as possible)
- 가능한 한 많이 (as much as possible)
- 가능한 한 자주 (as often as possible)
아는 한
As far as I know:
- 제가 아는 한 (as far as I know)
- 내가 아는 한에서는 (within what I know)
할 수 있는 한
As much as one can:
- 할 수 있는 한 최선을 다할게요 (I'll do my best as much as I can)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 사는 한 노력하겠습니다 (As long as I live, I'll try)
- 있는 한 도와드리겠습니다 (As long as there is, I'll help)
Polite (해요체)
- 사는 한 노력할게요 (As long as I live, I'll try)
- 있는 한 도와드릴게요 (As long as there is, I'll help)
Casual (반말)
- 사는 한 노력할게 (As long as I live, I'll try)
- 있는 한 도와줄게 (As long as there is, I'll help)
Negative Forms
As Long As Not
안 + Verb + -는 한:
- 안 하는 한 (as long as [you] don't do)
- 포기하지 않는 한 (as long as [you] don't give up)
Verb + -지 않는 한:
- 하지 않는 한 (as long as [you] don't do)
- 그만두지 않는 한 (as long as [you] don't quit)
Without Condition
없는 한: as long as there isn't
- 문제가 없는 한 (as long as there's no problem)
- 이유가 없는 한 (as long as there's no reason)
Common Expressions
Commitment Phrases
- 살아 있는 한 (as long as I'm alive)
- 숨 쉬는 한 (as long as I breathe)
- 건강한 한 (as long as I'm healthy)
- 사는 한 (as long as I live)
Ability Expressions
- 할 수 있는 한 (as much as I can)
- 아는 한 (as far as I know)
- 기억하는 한 (as far as I remember)
- 가능한 한 (as much as possible)
Conditional Limits
- 시간이 있는 한 (as long as I have time)
- 돈이 있는 한 (as long as I have money)
- 기회가 있는 한 (as long as there's opportunity)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-(으)ᄂ/는 한 vs -는 동안
-(으)ᄂ/는 한: Conditional, as long as condition holds
- 살아 있는 한 노력해요 (As long as I'm alive, I'll try)
- Emphasizes condition
-는 동안: During, while (time period)
- 살아 있는 동안 노력해요 (While I'm alive, I'll try)
- Emphasizes time period
-(으)ᄂ/는 한 vs -면
-(으)ᄂ/는 한: As long as, emphasizes continuity
- 건강한 한 일할 거예요 (As long as I'm healthy, I'll work)
- Continuous condition
-면: If (simple conditional)
- 건강하면 일할 거예요 (If I'm healthy, I'll work)
- Simple condition
-(으)ᄂ/는 한 vs -(으)ᄅ 때까지
-(으)ᄂ/는 한: As long as (condition-based)
- 있는 한 도와줄게요 (As long as there is, I'll help)
-(으)ᄅ 때까지: Until (time-based)
- 끝날 때까지 도와줄게요 (I'll help until it's finished)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋는 한
Wrong modifier for adjective
✅ Correct: 좋은 한
Use -(으)ᄂ for adjectives
❌ Incorrect: 가한
Missing -는 for action verbs
✅ Correct: 가는 한
Use -는 for action verbs
❌ Incorrect: 학생한
Missing copula connector
✅ Correct: 학생인 한
Use 인 한 with nouns
Summary Table
| Type | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action verb | -는 한 | 사는 한 | As long as [I] live |
| Adjective (vowel) | -ᄂ 한 | 큰 한 | As long as it's big |
| Adjective (cons.) | -은 한 | 좋은 한 | As long as it's good |
| With 이다 | 인 한 | 학생인 한 | As long as [one is] student |
| With 있다 | 있는 한 | 있는 한 | As long as there is |
| Negative | -지 않는 한 | 포기하지 않는 한 | As long as [I] don't give up |
Special Patterns
가능한 한 + Adverb
As [adverb] as possible:
- 가능한 한 빨리 (as quickly as possible)
- 가능한 한 많이 (as much as possible)
- 가능한 한 자주 (as often as possible)
- 가능한 한 적게 (as little as possible)
Usage Context Guide
Use -(으)ᄂ/는 한 when:
- Making lifetime commitments
- Expressing conditional continuation
- Limiting scope of knowledge/ability
- Stating universal conditions
- Emphasizing persistence under condition
Common contexts:
- Promises (사는 한 사랑할게요)
- Commitments (할 수 있는 한 도와줄게요)
- Knowledge limits (아는 한)
- Possibility (가능한 한)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Conditional duration: As long as condition holds
- ✅ Modifier forms: -는/-ᄂ/-은 depending on type
- ✅ Emphasizes continuity: While condition persists
- ✅ Common in promises: Lifetime commitments
- ✅ Ability/knowledge limits: As far as one can/knows
- ✅ Fixed expressions: 가능한 한, 아는 한
-(으)ᄂ/는 한 is essential for expressing conditional continuation and limits in Korean, particularly useful for making commitments and indicating the scope of one's knowledge or ability.