-지만
-jiman
but; although
Connects two clauses to acknowledge the first while adding a contrasting or different fact in the second—equivalent to 'but/although.'
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
Meanings
- 1
A connective ending used to recognize the truth of the preceding statement and add facts that are the opposite of it or different.
앞에 오는 말을 인정하면서 그와 반대되거나 다른 사실을 덧붙일 때 쓰는 연결 어미.
※ ‘이다’, 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-었-’, ‘-겠-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
Examples
승규는 머리는 좋지만 다소 산만하다.
Seunggyu is smart, but a bit scatterbrained.
내가 나이는 들었지만 아직 마음만은 젊다.
I may have gotten older, but my heart is still young.
남편의 선물은 작은 성의였지만 충분히 감동적이었다.
My husband's gift was a small token, but it was deeply touching.
지수 정말 예쁘지? 걔는 얼굴은 예쁘지만 성격이 좀 별로인 것 같아.
Jisu's really pretty, right? Her face is pretty, but I think her personality isn't great.
지수 정말 예쁘지?
Jisu's really pretty, right?
걔는 얼굴은 예쁘지만 성격이 좀 별로인 것 같아.
Her face is pretty, but I think her personality isn't great.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Don’t confuse with
Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-지만’ mean?
2. Which form means “but; although”?