-지만 is used to connect two contrasting statements or ideas. It means "but," "however," or "although" in English.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -지만
Breakdown:
- -지만: Contrastive connective ending
- Attaches directly to verb or adjective stems
- No vowel harmony rules
Literal meaning: "Although/but [statement 1], [statement 2]"
Formation Rules
With Action Verbs
All verb stems:
- 가다 → 가지만 (go, but...)
- 먹다 → 먹지만 (eat, but...)
- 공부하다 → 공부하지만 (study, but...)
- 쉬다 → 쉬지만 (rest, but...)
With Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
All adjective stems:
- 좋다 → 좋지만 (good, but...)
- 크다 → 크지만 (big, but...)
- 작다 → 작지만 (small, but...)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘지만 (pretty, but...)
With 이다/아니다
Copula verbs:
- 학생이다 → 학생이지만 (is a student, but...)
- 의사다 → 의사지만 (is a doctor, but...)
- 아니다 → 아니지만 (is not, but...)
Tense with -지만
Present Tense
Stem + -지만:
- 비싸지만 좋아요 (It's expensive, but it's good)
- 작지만 편해요 (It's small, but comfortable)
- 먹지만 안 배불러요 (I eat, but I'm not full)
Past Tense
Stem + -았/었지만:
- 비쌌지만 샀어요 (It was expensive, but I bought it)
- 작았지만 편했어요 (It was small, but comfortable)
- 먹었지만 안 배불렀어요 (I ate, but wasn't full)
Future Tense
Stem + -(으)ㄹ 거지만:
- 비쌀 거지만 살 거예요 (It will be expensive, but I'll buy it)
- 어려울 거지만 할 거예요 (It will be difficult, but I'll do it)
Core Meaning: Contrast
Simple Contrast
Opposing facts or situations:
- 춥지만 좋아요 (It's cold, but nice)
- 바쁘지만 행복해요 (I'm busy, but happy)
- 비싸지만 좋아요 (It's expensive, but good)
- 작지만 편해요 (It's small, but comfortable)
Unexpected Outcomes
Result different from expectation:
- 공부했지만 시험을 못 봤어요 (I studied, but failed the test)
- 열심히 했지만 안 됐어요 (I tried hard, but it didn't work)
- 비가 오지만 나갈 거예요 (It's raining, but I'll go out)
Concessions
Admitting something while making another point:
- 작지만 충분해요 (It's small, but sufficient)
- 어렵지만 할 수 있어요 (It's difficult, but I can do it)
- 늦었지만 괜찮아요 (I'm late, but it's okay)
Common Usage Patterns
Describing Situations
Balanced descriptions:
- 방이 작지만 깨끗해요 (The room is small but clean)
- 음식이 비싸지만 맛있어요 (The food is expensive but delicious)
- 일이 많지만 재미있어요 (There's a lot of work but it's fun)
Expressing Limitations
Acknowledging constraints:
- 시간이 없지만 도와줄게요 (I don't have time, but I'll help)
- 돈이 없지만 사고 싶어요 (I don't have money, but I want to buy it)
- 피곤하지만 갈 거예요 (I'm tired, but I'll go)
Making Polite Requests
Softening statements:
- 죄송하지만 질문 있어요 (Sorry, but I have a question)
- 미안하지만 못 가요 (Sorry, but I can't go)
- 실례지만 물어봐도 돼요? (Excuse me, but may I ask?)
Formal vs Informal
Formal (합니다체)
- 좋지만 비쌉니다 (It's good but expensive)
- 작지만 편합니다 (It's small but comfortable)
Polite (해요체)
- 좋지만 비싸요 (It's good but expensive)
- 작지만 편해요 (It's small but comfortable)
Casual (반말)
- 좋지만 비싸 (It's good but expensive)
- 작지만 편해 (It's small but comfortable)
Negative Forms
With 안
안 + Verb + -지만:
- 안 좋지만 괜찮아요 (It's not good, but it's okay)
- 안 비싸지만 안 살 거예요 (It's not expensive, but I won't buy it)
With -지 않다
Verb + -지 않지만:
- 좋지 않지만 괜찮아요 (It's not good, but it's okay)
- 비싸지 않지만 안 살 거예요 (It's not expensive, but I won't buy it)
With 못
못 + Verb + -지만:
- 못 가지만 다음에 갈게요 (I can't go, but I'll go next time)
- 못 먹지만 괜찮아요 (I can't eat it, but it's okay)
Common Expressions
Daily Situations
- 작지만 예쁘다 (Small but pretty)
- 바쁘지만 시간 있어요 (I'm busy but have time)
- 어렵지만 재미있어요 (It's difficult but interesting)
- 늦었지만 왔어요 (I'm late but I came)
Polite Phrases
- 죄송하지만... (I'm sorry, but...)
- 실례지만... (Excuse me, but...)
- 미안하지만... (Sorry, but...)
- 괜찮지만... (It's okay, but...)
Comparisons
- 비싸지만 좋아요 (Expensive but good)
- 크지만 가벼워요 (Big but light)
- 멀지만 갈 거예요 (It's far but I'll go)
- 춥지만 좋아요 (Cold but nice)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-지만 vs -는데
-지만: Strong contrast, "but/however"
- 비싸지만 샀어요 (It's expensive, but I bought it)
-는데: Background info, softer contrast
- 비싼데 샀어요 (It's expensive, and I bought it)
-지만 vs -아/어도
-지만: Simple contrast between facts
- 작지만 좋아요 (It's small, but it's good)
-아/어도: "Even if/though", emphasis on despite condition
- 작아도 좋아요 (Even if it's small, it's good)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋지만요
Don't add 요 directly to -지만
✅ Correct: 좋지만 괜찮아요
Complete the sentence after -지만
❌ Incorrect: 좋는지만
Don't use present tense marker with -지만
✅ Correct: 좋지만
Attach directly to stem
Summary Table
| Type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 좋지만 | It's good, but... |
| Past | 좋았지만 | It was good, but... |
| Future | 좋을 거지만 | It will be good, but... |
| Negative | 안 좋지만 | It's not good, but... |
| With 하다 | 공부하지만 | Study, but... |
| With 이다 | 학생이지만 | Is a student, but... |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Simple pattern: Stem + -지만
- ✅ No vowel harmony: Same form for all verbs
- ✅ Strong contrast: Clear opposition between clauses
- ✅ Very common: Essential daily expression
- ✅ Works with all tenses: Present, past, future
- ✅ Versatile: Use with verbs, adjectives, and 이다
-지만 is one of the most fundamental Korean grammar patterns for expressing contrast and is essential for natural conversation.