Contrast (~지만, ~(으)ㄴ/는데, 그런데)

대조 표현

Learning Objectives

Expressing Contrast in Korean

Korean has several ways to say "but" or "however," each with its own nuance and usage. Understanding the differences will make your Korean sound natural and contextually appropriate.

1. V-지만 (But -- Direct Contrast)

-지만 is the most straightforward "but" in Korean. It directly contrasts two ideas, similar to English "but."

Formation

Attach -지만 directly to the verb or adjective stem. No changes needed.

Verb/Adjective Stem + 지만
비싸다 (expensive) 비싸 비싸지만
맛있다 (delicious) 맛있 맛있지만
어렵다 (difficult) 어렵 어렵지만
가다 (to go) 가 가지만
먹다 (to eat) 먹 먹지만

Example Sentences

Korean Translation
비싸지만 맛있어요. It's expensive but delicious.
한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요. Korean is difficult but fun.
작지만 편해요. It's small but comfortable.
많이 먹었지만 아직 배가 고파요. I ate a lot but I'm still hungry.
열심히 공부했지만 시험을 못 봤어요. I studied hard but did poorly on the exam.

Tense with -지만

Unlike -아/어서, you can mark tense before -지만:

Present Past
먹지만 먹었지만
가지만 갔지만
좋지만 좋았지만
Korean Translation
어제 갔지만 문이 닫혀 있었어요. I went yesterday but the door was closed.
많이 잤지만 아직 피곤해요. I slept a lot but I'm still tired.

2. V-(으)ㄴ/는데 (Background/Soft Contrast)

-(으)ㄴ/는데 is one of the most versatile connectors in Korean. It can express: - Soft contrast (but, although) - Background information (setting the scene) - Leading into a request or question

Formation

The form changes based on whether the word is an action verb, descriptive verb, or 이다:

Type Present Past
Action verb -는데 -았/었는데
Descriptive verb (vowel stem) -ㄴ데 -았/었는데
Descriptive verb (consonant stem) -은데 -았/었는데
이다 (to be) -인데 -이었는데/였는데
있다/없다 -는데 -었는데

Detailed Conjugation

Word Type Present -(으)ㄴ/는데
가다 (go) Action 가는데
먹다 (eat) Action 먹는데
크다 (big) Descriptive 큰데
작다 (small) Descriptive 작은데
좋다 (good) Descriptive 좋은데
피곤하다 (tired) Descriptive 피곤한데
비싸다 (expensive) Descriptive 비싼데
학생이다 (is a student) 이다 학생인데

Usage 1: Soft Contrast

Korean Translation
피곤한데 잠이 안 와요. I'm tired but I can't sleep.
비가 오는데 우산이 없어요. It's raining but I don't have an umbrella.
많이 먹었는데 배가 안 불러요. I ate a lot but I'm not full.

Usage 2: Background Information

Korean Translation
내일 시험인데 공부 안 했어요. I have an exam tomorrow but I haven't studied.
한국 사람인데 김치를 못 먹어요. I'm Korean but I can't eat kimchi.
지금 바쁜데 나중에 전화할게요. I'm busy now so I'll call later.

Usage 3: Leading into Requests

-(으)ㄴ/는데 is very natural before making requests or asking questions:

Korean Translation
죄송한데 잠깐만요. Sorry, but just a moment.
실례인데 화장실이 어디예요? Excuse me, but where is the bathroom?
배가 고픈데 뭐 먹을까요? I'm hungry -- shall we eat something?

3. 그런데 / 근데 (However / By the Way)

그런데 is a sentence connector that starts a new sentence. It means "however," "but," or "by the way."

Usage 1: Contrast Between Sentences

Korean Translation
어제 많이 공부했어요. 그런데 시험이 어려웠어요. I studied a lot yesterday. However, the exam was difficult.
한국어를 3년 배웠어요. 그런데 아직 잘 못해요. I've studied Korean for 3 years. But I still can't do it well.

Usage 2: Topic Shift (By the Way)

Korean Translation
그런데 오늘 뭐 해요? By the way, what are you doing today?
그런데 왜 왔어요? By the way, why did you come?
근데 그 사람 이름이 뭐예요? By the way, what's that person's name?

Comparison Table

Feature -지만 -(으)ㄴ/는데 그런데
Position Between clauses Between clauses Start of new sentence
Strength Strong contrast Soft contrast / background Contrast or topic shift
With requests Less natural Very natural Natural
Formality All levels All levels All levels (근데 = casual)
Tense first clause O O N/A (separate sentence)

Choosing the Right "But"

Situation Best Choice Example
Direct opposition -지만 비싸지만 좋아요. (Expensive but good.)
Setting background before a point -(으)ㄴ/는데 바쁜데 좀 도와줄 수 있어요? (I'm busy but can you help?)
Before requests -(으)ㄴ/는데 죄송한데 다시 말해 주세요. (Sorry, but please say it again.)
Between separate sentences 그런데 ...그런데 왜요? (...But why?)
Changing the topic 그런데/근데 근데 오늘 뭐 해? (By the way, what are you doing today?)
Korean Meaning Example
하지만 But / However (more formal than 지만) 어렵습니다. 하지만 포기하지 않겠습니다.
그래도 Even so / Still 어려워요. 그래도 계속 공부해요.
그렇지만 But / Nevertheless 비가 와요. 그렇지만 갈 거예요.

Practice

Choose the appropriate contrast pattern:

  1. It's cold but I want to go outside. → 춥지만 밖에 나가고 싶어요.
  2. I'm a student but I also work. → 학생인데 일도 해요.
  3. I ate lunch. By the way, did you eat? → 점심 먹었어요. 근데 먹었어요?
  4. Excuse me, where is the station? → 실례인데 역이 어디예요?

Vocabulary

Word Romanization Meaning
비싸다 bissada to be expensive
맛있다 masitda to be delicious
어렵다 eoryeopda to be difficult
재미있다 jaemiitda to be interesting / fun
작다 jakda to be small
편하다 pyeonhada to be comfortable
그런데 geureonde however / but / by the way
근데 geunde but (casual contraction of 그런데)
피곤하다 pigonhada to be tired
잠 jam sleep

Examples

비싸지만 맛있어요.

bissajiman masisseoyo.

It's expensive but delicious.

한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요.

hangugeoneun eoryeopjiman jaemiisseoyo.

Korean is difficult but fun.

피곤한데 잠이 안 와요.

pigonhande jami an wayo.

I'm tired but I can't sleep.

비가 오는데 우산이 없어요.

biga oneunde usani eopseoyo.

It's raining but I don't have an umbrella.

그런데 왜 왔어요?

geureonde wae wasseoyo?

By the way, why did you come?

Quiz

5 questions

1. How do you say 'It's small but comfortable' in Korean?

2. What is the casual spoken form of 그런데?

3. 한국어는 어렵___ 재미있어요. (Korean is difficult but fun.)

4. Which pattern is best for providing background context before making a request?

5. 비가 오___ 우산이 없어요. (It's raining but I don't have an umbrella.)

Key Takeaways