1 · Linking clauses, first steps
But: -지만
the contrastive connective
-지만 joins two clauses that pull in different directions, like "but" or "although".
The ending -지만 attaches straight to the dictionary stem, with no vowel to choose: 비싸지만, 작지만, 맛있지만. Because it begins with a consonant, irregular stems stay as they are: 맵지만, 듣지만. With a noun, 이다 gives 학생이지만, and after a vowel the short form 친구지만 is just as common.
It means “but”: the second clause goes against what the first leads you to expect, or two opposite facts stand side by side. 한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요, “Korean is difficult but interesting”.
Unlike -아서, the first clause keeps its own tense: 어제는 추웠지만 오늘은 따뜻해요, “yesterday was cold, but today is warm”. When two people or things are contrasted, both usually take 은/는: 저는 커피를 좋아하지만 동생은 차를 좋아해요.
A very common use has little to do with “but”: 죄송하지만, 미안하지만 and 실례지만 open a polite request or question, like “excuse me, but …”. The mistake English speakers make is to build -지만 from the polite form — 매워지만 instead of 맵지만 — when it belongs on the bare stem.
The form
| after a vowel | 비싸다 → 비싸지만 |
| after a consonant | 작다 → 작지만 |
| with a noun and 이다 | 학생이지만, 친구지만 |
| past | 갔지만, 먹었지만 |
| opening a polite request | 죄송하지만 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
-지만 goes onto the dictionary stem without any change.
이 옷은 예쁘지만 너무 비싸요.These clothes are pretty but too expensive.
The first clause keeps its own tense.
어제는 추웠지만 오늘은 따뜻해요.Yesterday was cold, but today is warm.
Two contrasted people or things usually both take 은/는.
저는 커피를 좋아하지만 동생은 차를 좋아해요.I like coffee, but my younger sibling likes tea.
죄송하지만, 미안하지만 and 실례지만 open a polite request.
죄송하지만 조금만 기다려 주세요.I am sorry, but please wait a moment.
A closer look
Between sentences: 하지만, 그렇지만, 그런데
To begin a new sentence with “but”, Korean has 하지만 and 그렇지만, both built from this ending: 이 가방은 비싸요. 하지만 좋아요. In conversation 그런데, shortened to 근데, is at least as common, and it also changes the subject: “by the way”.
Inside a sentence, -지만 marks a clear contrast. The ending -는데 can also connect opposite facts, but it is softer: it lays down background and leaves the listener to feel the contrast, where -지만 states it.
How to spot it
- -지만
- -았지만/었지만
- 하지만
- 그렇지만
Example sentences
한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요.Korean is difficult but interesting.
이 식당은 작지만 음식이 맛있어요.This restaurant is small, but the food is good.
열심히 공부했지만 시험을 잘 못 봤어요.I studied hard, but I did not do well in the exam.
실례지만 화장실이 어디예요?Excuse me, where is the toilet?
언니는 운동을 좋아하지만 저는 싫어해요.My older sister likes sport, but I do not.
친구한테 전화했지만 안 받았어요.I rang my friend, but they did not answer.
8 more example sentences
이 집은 오래됐지만 깨끗해요.This house is old, but it is clean.
비가 왔지만 축구를 했어요.It rained, but we played football.
저는 고기를 먹지만 동생은 안 먹어요.I eat meat, but my younger sibling does not.
수영은 할 줄 모르지만 바다는 좋아해요.I cannot swim, but I like the sea.
미안하지만 오늘은 시간이 없어요.Sorry, but I have no time today.
그 식당은 비싸지만 항상 사람이 많아요.That restaurant is expensive, but it is always busy.
아침에는 흐렸지만 지금은 맑아요.It was cloudy this morning, but now it is clear.
이 책은 두껍지만 쉬워요.This book is thick but easy.
Worth knowing (1)
-
A polite opening, not a contrast
죄송하지만, 미안하지만 and 실례지만 begin a request or a question even when nothing in it contradicts anything. They do the work of “excuse me” and make the sentence after them noticeably softer.
실례지만 성함이 어떻게 되세요?Excuse me, may I ask your name?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-지만 begins with a consonant, so it goes on the dictionary stem: 맵다 gives 맵지만. The change to 매워 only happens before an ending that begins with a vowel, as in 매워요 or 매워서.
Jiman goes on the bare stem, keeps its own tense, and means but.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.