-지만
But
-지만 is a connective ending used to contrast two clauses. It's like saying 'Clause A, but Clause B'.
How It Works
-지만 is one of the most common ways to express contrast in Korean, similar to 'but' or 'although' in English. It connects two clauses where the second clause presents information that contrasts with the first.
How to Use:
Find the verb or adjective stem and attach -지만 directly to it.
- Verb Stem + 지만
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹지만 (eats, but...)
- 가다 (to go) → 가지만 (goes, but...) - Adjective Stem + 지만
- 작다 (to be small) → 작지만 (is small, but...)
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘지만 (is pretty, but...) - Noun + 이다/아니다
For nouns, you attach -지만 to 이다 (to be) or 아니다 (to not be).
- 학생이다 (to be a student) → 학생이지만 (is a student, but...)
- 의사가 아니다 (to not be a doctor) → 의사가 아니지만 (is not a doctor, but...) - Past Tense
To use it in the past tense, add the past tense marker -았/었- to the stem before -지만.
- 먹었다 (ate) → 먹었지만 (ate, but...)
- 좋았다 (was good) → 좋았지만 (was good, but...)
This pattern is very versatile and can be used in both formal and informal speech.
Examples (5)
- 한국어는 재미있지만 어려워요.
Korean is fun, but it's difficult.
Word by Word: Korean is fun but is difficult.
- 저는 김치를 먹지만, 제 동생은 못 먹어요.
I eat kimchi, but my younger sibling can't eat it.
Word by Word: I kimchi eat but, my younger sibling cannot eat.
- 이 가방은 예쁘지만 너무 비싸요.
This bag is pretty, but it's too expensive.
Word by Word: This bag is pretty but too is expensive.
- 어제 영화를 봤지만, 재미없었어요.
I watched a movie yesterday, but it wasn't fun.
Word by Word: Yesterday movie watched but, was not fun.
- 그는 학생이지만, 회사에서 일해요.
He is a student, but he works at a company.
Word by Word: He is a student but, at a company works.
Common Mistakes
Using -지만 to start a new sentence.
Not Quite한국어는 재미있어요. 지만 어려워요.Better한국어는 재미있지만 어려워요.-지만 is a connective ending that must be attached to the verb/adjective of the first clause. It cannot stand alone or start a new sentence. To start a new sentence with 'but', you would use a different word like 그러나 or 그런데.
Learn This First
To express 'but', you need to understand how it connects with verbs.
Related Patterns
- -는데But, And
-는데 can also mean 'but' and is often used to provide background information before a contrasting statement. While -지만 simply states a direct contrast, -는데 often sets a scene or context first.
- -고And, And Then
-고 means 'and' or 'and then', connecting two related or sequential clauses. It shows addition or sequence, whereas -지만 shows contrast.
- -아/어서Because of, Therefore
-아/어서 means 'so' or 'because', showing a cause-and-effect relationship between two clauses. This is functionally the opposite of -지만, which shows a contrasting relationship.
- Verb stems
-지만 attaches directly to verb and adjective stems. Understanding how to find the stem is essential for using this pattern correctly.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.