-기는 하다
It Is True That, Although
-기는 하다 is used to agree with or acknowledge a point, right before you introduce a contrasting idea or reservation. It's like saying, "It's true that..., but...".
How It Works
-기는 하다 is a useful expression for showing partial agreement or acknowledging a fact with some reservations. It's a softer way to introduce a contrasting idea than simply using -지만 (but).
1. Acknowledging and Contrasting
The most common use is to admit something is true, and then immediately follow it with a contrasting statement, often using conjunctions like -지만 or -(으)ㄴ/는데.
- 이 식당 음식이 맛있기는 한데 너무 비싸요. (The food at this restaurant is indeed tasty, but it's too expensive.)
2. Spoken Form: -긴 하다
In everyday conversation, -기는 하다 is almost always shortened to -긴 하다.
- 영화를 보긴 했는데 내용이 기억 안 나요. (I did see the movie, but I don't remember the plot.)
3. Tense
The tense is expressed in the final 하다 verb.
- Past: -기는 했다 (e.g., 가기는 했다 - I did go, but...)
- Present: -기는 하다 (e.g., 가기는 한다 - I do go, but...)
- Future/Conjecture: -기는 하겠다 (e.g., 좋기는 하겠다 - It would be good, but...)
4. With Nouns
For nouns, you attach it to the copula 이다, resulting in -이기는 하다 (or -이긴 하다).
- 학생이기는 하지만, 아르바이트도 해요. (It's true I'm a student, but I also work part-time.)
Examples (5)
- 이 옷이 예쁘기는 한데 저한테는 좀 작아요.
This dress is pretty, but it's a bit small for me.
Word by Word: This dress pretty is true but for me a little is small.
The speaker acknowledges the dress is pretty (-예쁘기는 한데) before stating the contrasting problem (it's too small).
- 한국어를 공부하기는 했지만 아직 말하기는 어려워요.
It's true that I've studied Korean, but speaking is still difficult.
Word by Word: Korean language studying did but still speaking is difficult.
This acknowledges the past action of studying but contrasts it with a current difficulty. The past tense is shown in '했다'.
- 그 영화가 재미있긴 한데 너무 길었어요.
The movie was indeed fun, but it was too long.
Word by Word: That movie fun is true but too was long.
This example uses the common spoken contraction '재미있긴 한데' instead of '재미있기는 한데'.
- A: 피곤해 보여요. (You look tired.)
B: 네, 피곤하기는 하죠. 어제 밤을 샜거든요.
A: You look tired. B: Yes, I am indeed tired. I stayed up all night yesterday.
Here, -기는 하다 is used to emphatically agree with what the other person said before providing the reason. The contrast is implied: 'You're right to think I'm tired, and here's why.'
- 친한 친구이기는 하지만 돈을 빌려주기는 싫어요.
He is a close friend, but I don't want to lend him money.
Word by Word: Close friend is true but money lend-giving is disliked.
This shows the pattern used with a noun (친구) + 이다, becoming '친구이기는 하지만'.
Common Mistakes
Using -기는 하다 without a following contrasting clause or implied contrast.
Different Meaning이 음식이 맛있기는 해요.Better이 음식이 맛있기는 한데, 좀 짜요.The pattern -기는 하다 sets up the expectation of a 'but...'. Using it alone, as in the incorrect example, makes the sentence feel incomplete, as if the speaker stopped mid-thought. You should always provide the contrasting information, like in the correct example ('...but it's a bit salty').
Learn This First
To acknowledge 'it is true that', you need nominalization and 하다.
Related Patterns
- -지만But
Both are used for contrast. However,
-기는 하다+-지만is a softer and more nuanced way to contrast. It first acknowledges the validity of the first clause before presenting the opposing idea with-지만. - -ㄴ/는데Background Info, But
Similar to
-지만,-ㄴ/는데is very frequently used after-기는 하다(e.g.,-기는 한데) to provide the contrasting background or situation. It's one of the most common combinations with this pattern. - -기도 하다Sometimes, Even
Be careful not to confuse these.
-기는 하다acknowledges and contrasts.-기도 하다means 'to also do' or 'to sometimes do'. For example, '주말에는 영화를 보기도 해요' means 'On weekends, I sometimes watch movies, too'. - -기는No Way, Not at All
This is a different usage of
-기는that expresses strong denial, often followed by -요. For example, A: '비싸죠?' (It's expensive, right?) B: '비싸기는요. 아주 싸요.' (Expensive? Not at all. It's very cheap.) This contrasts with-기는 하다, which acknowledges something as true.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.