-기는 하지만
Although, But
-기는 하지만 is used to acknowledge the truth of the first clause, but then introduce a contrasting or more important piece of information in the second clause. It translates to 'It's true that... but...' or 'Although...'
How It Works
-기는 하지만 is a powerful structure for expressing nuanced contrast. It goes beyond a simple 'but' by first explicitly acknowledging the validity of the statement in the first clause. This act of concession makes the following contrast more impactful.
Structure:
It attaches to the stem of verbs and adjectives.
- Verb/Adjective Stem +
-기는 하지만 - Past Tense: Verb/Adjective Stem +
-기는 했지만
Nuance and Comparison:
While similar to -지만 and -ㄴ/는데, -기는 하지만 carries a specific nuance of concession.
- -지만: A neutral, direct contrast. 'A but B.' (e.g., 이 옷은 예쁘지만 비싸요. - This clothing is pretty but expensive.)
- -ㄴ/는데: Provides background information which often leads to a contrast. 'A, and/but B.' (e.g., 이 옷은 예쁜데 너무 비싸요. - This clothing is pretty, but it's too expensive.)
- -기는 하지만: Acknowledges the first fact before contrasting. 'It's true that A, but B.' (e.g., 이 옷이 예쁘기는 하지만 너무 비싸요. - It's true these clothes are pretty, but they're too expensive.) This form is often used in polite disagreements or when you want to soften a negative opinion by first acknowledging a positive aspect.
Spoken Form:
In conversation, -기는 하지만 is very frequently shortened to -긴 하지만.
Example: 가기는 하지만 → 가긴 하지만.
Examples (4)
- 이 가방이 예쁘기는 하지만 너무 무거워요.
It's true that this bag is pretty, but it's too heavy.
Word by Word: This bag pretty is true but too heavy.
- 시험공부를 하기는 했지만 아직 자신이 없어요.
Although I did study for the test, I'm still not confident.
Word by Word: Test study did do but still confidence don't have.
This example uses the past tense form
-기는 했지만to acknowledge the action of studying before expressing the current feeling of a lack of confidence. - 그 사람을 알기는 하지만 친하지는 않아요.
I do know that person, but we're not close.
Word by Word: That person know is true but close are not.
- 한국 음식이 맛있긴 하지만 매일 먹기는 힘들어요.
Korean food is delicious, but it's difficult to eat it every day.
Word by Word: Korean food delicious is true but every day eating is difficult.
This example uses the common spoken contraction
맛있긴 하지만instead of맛있기는 하지만.
Common Mistakes
Using the past tense marker on the main verb instead of on 하다.
Not Quite어제 그 책을 읽었기는 하지만 다 못 읽었어요.Better어제 그 책을 읽기는 했지만 다 못 읽었어요.The past tense marker -았/었- is applied to the
하다part of the pattern, not the main verb. The correct structure isVerb Stem + -기는 했지만.Using -기는 하지만 for a simple contrast where -지만 is more natural.
Different Meaning저는 한국 사람이기는 하지만 김치를 못 먹어요.Better저는 한국 사람이지만 김치를 못 먹어요.While the incorrect example is grammatically possible, it sounds a bit unnatural because it strongly emphasizes the acknowledgement of being Korean. For a simple statement of fact and contrast, -지만 is more common and flows better.
Learn This First
To concede while contrasting, you need nominalization and contrast patterns.
Related Patterns
- -ㄴ/는데Background Info, But
Both can show contrast. -ㄴ/는데 provides background information that leads to a contrast, while
-기는 하지만explicitly acknowledges the first clause's truth before making a contrasting point. - -더라도Even if, Although
Both express concession.
-기는 하지만concedes a present fact ('It's true it's raining, but...').-더라도concedes a hypothetical situation ('Even if it rains, ...'). - -기Nominalizer
The structure of
-기는 하지만is built on the nominalizer -기, which turns the preceding verb or adjective into a noun phrase that can be marked by particles like -는.