-은들
-eundeul
even if; no matter how much
Attaches to verb/adjective stems to assume a certain situation and say that the result would still turn out differently from expected — a literary 'even if X, it wouldn't matter/help'.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
- Other shapes
- -ㄴ들 · 인들
Meanings
- 1
A connective ending used when a result is different from what was anticipated, even if that situation was a presumable outcome.
어떤 상황을 가정한다고 하여도 그 결과가 예상과 다른 내용임을 나타내는 연결 어미.
※ 주로 뒤에 부정적인 내용이 오고, ‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사와 형용사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
Examples
남의 집이 아무리 좋은들 내 집만 하겠어요?
No matter how nice someone else's house is, could it compare to my own?
돈과 명예를 얻은들 건강을 잃으면 무슨 소용이 있겠어요?
Even if you gain money and fame, what good is it if you lose your health?
아무리 맛있는 음식을 먹은들 혼자 먹으면 즐겁지 않잖아요.
No matter how delicious the food is, it's not enjoyable to eat alone, is it?
승규는 수업 시간에 노트 필기를 정말 열심히 하더라. 열심히 적은들 뭐하냐? 다시 펼쳐 보지도 않는데.
Seunggyu really takes thorough notes in class. What's the use of taking such thorough notes if he never opens them again?
이미 지나간 일인데 후회해 본들 무슨 소용이 있겠니.
It's already in the past, so what good would it do to regret it now?
집에 간들 반길 사람도 없으니 집에 가고 싶지가 않다.
Even if I go home, there's no one there to welcome me, so I don't feel like going.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-은들’ mean?
2. Which form means “even if; no matter how much”?