3 · Further patterns
Yes, but: -기는 하지만
conceding a point
-기는 하지만 grants that something is true and then limits it: it is …, but.
-기는 하지만 admits a fact before adding a reservation: 이 옷은 예쁘기는 하지만 너무 비싸요, “this outfit is pretty, yes, but it is far too expensive”. The ending -기 turns the verb or adjective into a noun, 는 sets it up as the point being granted, and 하다 carries the rest of the sentence. It attaches to any stem without change: 좋기는, 먹기는, 학생이기는.
Tense normally goes on the final 하다, not on the first verb: 하기는 했지만, “I did do it, but”. In speech -기는 is often shortened to -긴: 비싸긴 하지만. After the pattern comes -지만, the softer -는데, or a full stop and a new sentence beginning with 그런데.
There is a stronger variant that repeats the verb instead of using 하다: 맛있기는 맛있어요, “it IS tasty”, 가기는 갔어요, “I did go”. The repetition puts weight on the concession, and the listener expects the “but” that follows.
English signals this with stress or with “yes, … but”, and learners tend to jump straight to -지만. That is grammatical, but it presents both halves as equally important. -기는 하지만 tells the listener which half the speaker really cares about: the second one.
The form
| adjective | 비싸다 → 비싸기는 하지만 |
| verb, past | 하다 → 하기는 했지만 |
| noun | 학생이기는 하지만 |
| short form | 비싸긴 하지만 |
| repeating the verb | 맛있기는 맛있어요 |
| softer link | 좋기는 한데 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
-기는 attaches to any stem without change, and 하다 follows after a space.
한국어가 어렵기는 하지만 재미있어요.Korean is hard, but it's fun.
Tense goes on the final 하다.
숙제를 하기는 했지만 다 못 했어요.I did do my homework, but I didn't finish it all.
Repeating the verb instead of 하다 makes the concession stronger.
그 식당은 맛있기는 맛있어요. 그런데 너무 멀어요.That restaurant is good, it really is. But it's too far away.
In speech -기는 shortens to -긴.
운동을 하긴 하는데 자주 못 해요.I do exercise, but I can't do it often.
A closer look
Why a noun in the middle
-기 makes the verb a noun, and 는 is the topic and contrast particle you know from 저는. So 예쁘기는 하지만 is literally “as for being pretty, it does that, but”. The contrastive 는 is what creates the expectation of a “but”: it singles out one point as granted, and leaves room for another that is not.
That is also why a sentence can stop right after the concession: 맛있기는 해요… with a falling voice is a complete, slightly reluctant answer, and the listener hears the unspoken “but”.
How to spot it
- -기는 하지만
- -긴 하지만
- -기는 한데
- -기는 …지만
- 그런데
Example sentences
이 옷은 예쁘기는 하지만 너무 비싸요.This outfit is pretty, but it's far too expensive.
그 영화를 보기는 봤어요. 그런데 기억이 잘 안 나요.I did see that film. But I can't really remember it.
집이 넓기는 하지만 역에서 멀어요.The flat is spacious, but it's a long way from the station.
피곤하기는 하지만 기분은 좋아요.I'm tired, but I feel good.
그 사람을 알기는 하지만 친하지는 않아요.I know him, but we're not close.
바쁘기는 하지만 시간을 내 볼게요.I am busy, but I'll try to make time.
8 more example sentences
약속 장소에 도착하기는 했지만 친구가 벌써 가 버렸어요.I did get to the meeting place, but my friend had already gone.
김치를 먹기는 먹는데 매운 건 잘 못 먹어요.I do eat kimchi, but I can't handle very spicy food.
비싸긴 하지만 품질이 좋아요.It is expensive, but the quality is good.
그 사람은 학생이기는 하지만 회사도 다녀요.He is a student, but he also works for a company.
운전을 할 줄 알기는 하지만 잘 못 해요.I can drive, but not well.
그 이야기를 듣기는 했지만 믿지 않았어요.I did hear that story, but I didn't believe it.
방이 작기는 하지만 깨끗해요.The room is small, but it's clean.
가기는 갔는데 금방 돌아왔어요.I did go, but I came back straight away.
Worth knowing (1)
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A modest no
On its own, -기는요 turns a compliment aside: someone says you speak Korean well, and you answer 잘하기는요, “me, good at it? Hardly”. It is the polite form of refusing praise.
"한국어를 정말 잘하시네요." "잘하기는요. 아직 멀었어요."“You speak Korean really well.” “Not at all. I still have a long way to go.”
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English puts the past on the verb it concedes: “I did do it”. Korean marks it once, on the final 하다, and the verb before -기는 stays bare. Marking it twice sounds clumsy.
Gineun hajiman: grant the first half so that the second half counts.
Your turn
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