4 · Linking clauses, further
Even if, supposing the worst: -더라도
the hypothetical concession
-더라도 is a stronger, more hypothetical “even if”: supposing the worst, the decision still stands.
The ending goes on the stem and never changes: 가더라도, 먹더라도, 바쁘더라도, 힘들더라도. After a noun it is 이더라도: 가족이더라도. With the past inside, -았/었더라도, it imagines a different past: 알았더라도, “even if I had known”.
Like -아도/어도, it says that the second half holds in spite of the first. What it adds is distance: the condition is a supposition, often an unlikely or unwelcome one, and the speaker is prepared for it. 무슨 일이 있더라도, “whatever happens”, is the pattern at its strongest.
Because it prepares for a possibility, the second half is typically a decision, an obligation or a piece of advice: 갈 거예요, -아야 해요, -지 마세요, -(으)세요. It belongs to careful speech, advice, announcements and writing. In a relaxed chat -아도 does most of the same work.
What it does not do is report a fact that already happened. “Even though it rained yesterday, we played” is 비가 왔는데도 or 비가 왔지만, not 비가 오더라도. English speakers who have learnt -더라도 as “even though” fall into exactly this.
The form
| after a vowel or a consonant | 가더라도, 먹더라도 |
| adjectives | 바쁘더라도, 힘들더라도 |
| after a noun | 가족이더라도 |
| done, or unreal | 알았더라도, 갔더라도 |
| whatever happens | 무슨 일이 있더라도 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
-더라도 goes on the stem and never changes after a vowel or a consonant.
힘들더라도 포기하지 마세요.Even if it gets hard, do not give up.
It supposes something that may well not happen, and says the outcome stands anyway.
혹시 늦더라도 꼭 오세요.Even if you end up being late, please do come.
The second half is often a decision, an obligation or a piece of advice.
무슨 일이 있더라도 약속은 지켜야 해요.Whatever happens, you have to keep a promise.
With the past, -았/었더라도 imagines a different past.
그때 알았더라도 달라지는 건 없었을 거예요.Even if I had known then, nothing would have been different.
A closer look
-아도 or -더라도?
Very often both are correct, and the difference is one of weight. 비가 와도 갈 거예요 is a plain “even if it rains, I will go”. 비가 오더라도 갈 거예요 sounds as if the speaker has considered the rain, does not expect it, and has already decided.
Where they part is with facts. -아도 can describe something that is simply always true (아무리 먹어도 배가 고파요) or that happened (약을 먹어도 안 나았어요). -더라도 stays on the side of suppositions, which is why it suits advice, promises and official announcements so well.
How to spot it
- -더라도
- 아무리
- 혹시
- 무슨 일이 있더라도
Example sentences
아무리 바쁘더라도 밥은 챙겨 드세요.However busy you are, make sure you eat.
실수하더라도 괜찮으니까 말해 보세요.It is fine if you make mistakes, so have a go at speaking.
비가 오더라도 행사는 예정대로 진행합니다.Even if it rains, the event will go ahead as planned.
조금 비싸더라도 좋은 걸 사고 싶어요.Even if it is a bit expensive, I want to buy something good.
시험에 떨어지더라도 다시 도전할 거예요.Even if I fail the exam, I will try again.
어렵더라도 끝까지 해 보세요.Even if it is difficult, see it through to the end.
7 more example sentences
늦게 도착하더라도 연락은 꼭 주세요.Even if you arrive late, be sure to let me know.
그 사람이 사과하더라도 용서하기 어려울 것 같아요.Even if he apologises, I think it will be hard to forgive him.
결과가 안 좋더라도 실망하지 마세요.Even if the result is not good, do not be disappointed.
아무리 가족이더라도 비밀번호는 알려 주지 마세요.Even if it is your own family, do not tell them your password.
당장 필요 없더라도 하나 사 두세요.Even if you do not need one right now, buy one to keep.
회의가 취소되더라도 자료는 미리 준비해 두세요.Even if the meeting is cancelled, prepare the materials in advance.
제가 없더라도 먼저 시작하세요.Even if I am not there, start without me.
Worth knowing (1)
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On notices and in announcements
Notices about building work, delays and closures end with a formula built on this ending: “even if it is inconvenient, please understand”. It is the Korean equivalent of “we apologise for any inconvenience”.
불편하시더라도 양해 부탁드립니다.We apologise for any inconvenience.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-더라도 supposes; it does not report. For something that really happened — “even though it rained yesterday” — use -았/었는데도 or -았/었지만. Keep -더라도 for what might happen, or for a past that did not.
Deorado supposes the worst and keeps the plan: use it for what might happen, not for what did.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.