-기도 하다

Sometimes, Even

Level 3Sounds Like gido hada

A pattern used to say that something 'sometimes' happens or that something 'also' has a certain quality.

How It Works

This pattern has two main nuances:

1. Sometimes / From time to time
This is the most common usage. It indicates that an action or state happens occasionally, but not always.

피곤할 때는 커피를 마시기도 해요. (When I'm tired, I sometimes drink coffee.)
주말에는 집에서 쉬기도 하고 친구를 만나기도 해요. (On weekends, I sometimes rest at home and sometimes meet friends.)

2. Also / In addition
It can also be used to add another fact or quality to what is already known or stated. It's similar to adding -도 ('also').

그 배우는 연기를 잘하기도 하고 노래도 잘해요. (That actor is good at acting and is also good at singing.)
이 음식은 맵기도 하지만 맛있어요. (This food is spicy, but it's also delicious.)

The 하다 part of the pattern conjugates according to tense and politeness level.

주말에는 영화를 보기도 해요.
On weekends, I sometimes watch movies.
Word by Word: On weekends, movies watch-also-do.
이 식당은 비싸기도 하지만 정말 맛있어요.
This restaurant is expensive, but it's also really delicious.
Here, -기도 하다 adds the quality of being 'delicious' in addition to being 'expensive'.
어렸을 때는 혼자 울기도 했어요.
When I was young, I sometimes cried alone.
Word by Word: When young, alone cry-also-did.
한국어 공부는 어렵기도 하고 재미있기도 해요.
Studying Korean is difficult and also fun.
This common structure, A-기도 하고 B-기도 하다, lists two co-existing qualities or actions.

Confusing -기도 하다 (sometimes) with -곤 하다 (often/used to).
Different Meaning저는 자기 전에 책을 읽기도 해요. (Intending to say 'I often read before bed')
Better저는 자기 전에 책을 읽곤 해요.
-기도 하다 implies an occasional, irregular action. For a regular habit or something you do often, -곤 하다 is more appropriate.
Using it for something that is always true or a constant fact.
Different Meaning물은 100도에서 끓기도 해요.
Better여름에는 태풍이 오기도 해요.
You cannot use -기도 하다 for universal truths like 'water boils at 100 degrees'. It must be used for things that are possible or happen only some of the time, like 'typhoons sometimes coming in the summer'.

To express 'sometimes, even', you need conjugation, nominalizer, 도, and 하다 knowledge.

-곤 하다Used to, Often Do
Contrast: -기도 하다 means 'sometimes' or 'occasionally'. -곤 하다 describes a more regular habit, meaning 'often' or 'used to do'.
-는 편이다Tend to, Rather
Contrast: -는 편이다 describes a general tendency ('tend to...'), whereas -기도 하다 describes a specific action that happens on occasion ('sometimes...').
-거나Or
Alternative Choice: -거나 lists choices ('A or B'). -기도 하다 can imply an alternative action that happens sometimes, but it doesn't present a direct 'or' choice between two equal options.

하다하다-기도