Formal Reciprocal: -기도 하고 (Both... And...)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -기도 하다 to express that something is both X and Y, or that a subject does both actions.
- Attach -기도 하다 to the verb or adjective stem.
- Use it to list two characteristics of the same subject.
- It can also emphasize that an action happens occasionally.
Overview
As you progress in Korean, you encounter grammar structures that allow for more nuanced and sophisticated expression than simple conjunctions. The pattern -기도 하고 -기도 하다 (romanized: -gi-do ha-go -gi-do ha-da) is one such essential structure at the B2 level. It enables you to convey that a subject possesses multiple characteristics simultaneously, or that different actions or states occur alternately or intermittently.
It’s a powerful way to express "both A and B," or "sometimes A, sometimes B," adding emphasis that a plain "and" cannot achieve.
Unlike merely listing items with ~고, -기도 하고 -기도 하다 highlights each listed attribute or action as an additional significant point. Think of it as placing an individual spotlight on two (or sometimes more) distinct aspects, suggesting that both are noteworthy and contribute to a fuller picture. This structure is crucial for describing complex situations, personalities, or routines in a natural, native-like manner.
How This Grammar Works
기, the additive particle 도, the conjunctive 고, and the light verb 하다.먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹기 (the act of eating), and 예쁘다 (to be pretty) becomes 예쁘기 (the state of being pretty).도 attaches to.V/A-기, it means "(the act/state of) V/A is also (true/happening)." This particle is key to the emphatic and additive nature of the overall structure. It signals that the characteristic or action it marks is an additional, important piece of information.V/A-기도 하다 literally translates to something like "the act/state of V/A also exists/happens." This forms a complete clause stating an additional characteristic or action.V/A-기도 하다 clauses with 고, you get V/A-기도 하고 V/A-기도 하다, creating the full "both A and B" or "sometimes A, sometimes B" meaning. The repetition of 도 on both clauses reinforces that each element is being separately highlighted as an additional truth.재미있다(to be interesting) becomes재미있기(the state of being interesting).재미있기도 하다means "it is also interesting."어렵다(to be difficult) becomes어렵기(the state of being difficult).어렵기도 하다means "it is also difficult."- Connected by
~고, the sentence means "This book is both interesting and difficult." The speaker emphasizes both aspects.
Formation Pattern
다) and directly attach -기도 하고 to the first clause, and -기도 하다 to the second. There are no distinctions based on whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
-기도 하고) | Second Clause (-기도 하다) | Example |
기 forms, but since 기 starts with a consonant, many common irregularities (like ㅂ irregulars) do not apply to the stem itself before 기 but rather to the final 하다 verb. However, for consistency, be aware of standard stem changes.
-기도 하고) | Second Clause (-기도 하다) | Example |
이 is inserted if the noun ends in a consonant (has a final batchim), and omitted if it ends in a vowel.
-(이)기도 하고) | Second Clause (-(이)기도 하다) | Example |
하다 in the second clause is conjugated to reflect the tense, politeness level, or mood of the sentence. The 하다 in the first clause (-기도 하고) remains in its base form.
When To Use It
도) of each characteristic.- Describing People/Personalities: When a person exhibits diverse traits.
- Describing Objects/Places: To convey multifaceted aspects of things.
- Describing Experiences/Situations: When an event or experience has dual natures.
- Daily Routines/Habits: When you engage in various activities.
- Weather/Environmental Conditions: For fluctuating natural phenomena.
- Emotional States: To express variable feelings.
- 그 식당 음식은 비싸기도 하고 맛이 없기도 해요. (Geu sik-dang eum-sik-eun bi-ssa-gi-do ha-go mas-i eop-gi-do hae-yo.)
Common Mistakes
- 1Conjugating the First Verb/Adjective: A very common mistake is to attempt to conjugate the verb or adjective in the first
-기도 하고clause for tense. Remember, only the final하다in the second clause dictates the overall tense and politeness level of the sentence. The기nominalizer essentially 'freezes' the preceding verb/adjective stem.
- Incorrect: 어제 갔기도 하고 먹기도 했어요. (
갔기도- gat-gi-do implies past tense on the first verb) - Correct: 어제 가기도 하고 먹기도 했어요. (
가기도- ga-gi-do uses the stem, past tense on final했어요)
- 1Omitting the Second
-기도 하다: WhileV/A-기도 하다can exist as a standalone phrase (meaning "it is also V/A" or "indeed V/A"), for the "both A and B" or "sometimes A, sometimes B" meaning, you must include both parts of the structure. Omitting the second part changes the nuance significantly, making it sound incomplete or merely emphasizing a single point.
- Incorrect (if intending "both A and B"): 이 영화는 슬프기도 해요. (This movie is also sad.)
- Correct: 이 영화는 슬프기도 하고 감동적이기도 해요. (This movie is both sad and touching.)
- 1Confusing with Simple
~고: Many learners interchange -기도 하고 -기도 하다 with~고(the simple conjunctive "and"). While~고lists actions or states, it lacks the emphasis and additive nuance of도.~고is neutral; -기도 하고 -기도 하다 highlights each element as an additional, significant point. Think of~고as a comma in a list, and -기도 하고 -기도 하다 as putting an exclamation mark after each item.
- Simple list (less emphasis): 저는 영화를 보고 책을 읽었어요. (I watched a movie and read a book.)
- Emphatic list (both were noteworthy): 저는 영화를 보기도 하고 책을 읽기도 했어요. (I both watched a movie and read a book.)
- 1Misplacing
도with Nouns: Remember the이particle for nouns ending in a consonant. Failing to include it or including it when unnecessary is a common error.
- Incorrect: 그분은 학생기도 하고 회사원이기도 해요. (
학생ends in consonantㅇ) - Correct: 그분은 학생이기도 하고 회사원이기도 해요. (Geu-bun-eun hak-saeng-i-gi-do ha-go hoe-sa-won-i-gi-do hae-yo.)
- 1Overuse in Simple Enumerations: If you simply need to list several things without particular emphasis on each being an "additional" item, a simple
~고or a comma-separated list is more natural and concise. -기도 하고 -기도 하다 is best reserved for situations where you genuinely want to highlight the duality or alternation.
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 (Not only... but also):-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 is much stronger and explicitly sets up a contrast or an unexpected second characteristic. It suggests that the second point is even more significant than the first, or adds to its impact. -기도 하고 -기도 하다 is more balanced; it simply states that both aspects are true without necessarily implying one is more important than the other, though the repetition itself does add weight.- -기도 하고 -기도 하다: 이 커피는 쓰기도 하고 달콤하기도 해요. (This coffee is both bitter and sweet.) - Simple description of coexisting traits.
- -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라: 이 커피는 쓸 뿐만 아니라 가격도 비싸요. (Not only is this coffee bitter, but it’s also expensive.) - Stronger, implying the expense is an additional, perhaps negative, factor beyond the bitterness.
Real Conversations
-기도 하고 -기도 하다 is frequently used in everyday Korean to describe complex realities, express personal experiences, and provide nuanced opinions. You’ll hear and see it in both formal and casual settings.
1. Casual Dialogue (해체 - hae-che):
In informal conversations, this pattern allows for fluid descriptions of people, places, and situations.
- A: 요즘 주말에 뭐 해요? (Yo-jeum ju-mal-e mwo hae-yo?) (What do you do on weekends these days?)
B
(Hmm... I sometimes watch dramas at home and sometimes go to a cafe with friends.)
Here, B describes alternating activities without implying one is more important.*
- A: 저 사람이 네 남자친구야? (Jeo sa-ram-i ne nam-ja-chin-gu-ya?) (Is that person your boyfriend?)
B
(Yeah, but that guy is both affectionate and a bit blunt.)
B provides a balanced description of dual personality traits.*
2. Formal Settings (합니다체 - ham-ni-da-che):
In more formal contexts, such as presentations, interviews, or news reports, the pattern maintains its function of presenting multiple facets comprehensively.
- 이 정책은 긍정적인 효과를 주기도 하고 부정적인 영향을 미치기도 합니다. (I jeong-chaek-eun geung-jeong-jeok-in hyo-gwa-reul ju-gi-do ha-go bu-jeong-jeok-in yeong-hyang-eul mi-chi-gi-do ham-ni-da.)
(This policy both yields positive effects and exerts negative influences.)
Used to offer a balanced assessment of a policy's impact.*
- 저희 회사는 신제품을 개발하기도 하고 기존 제품을 개선하기도 합니다. (Jeo-hui hoe-sa-neun sin-je-pum-eul gae-bal-ha-gi-do ha-go gi-jon je-pum-eul gae-seon-ha-gi-do ham-ni-da.)
(Our company both develops new products and improves existing ones.)
Describes two main areas of the company's work.*
3. Written Contexts (Social Media, Reviews):
This structure is prevalent in online reviews or social media posts where people share their opinions on experiences, products, or services.
- Restaurant Review: "이 식당은 분위기가 좋기도 하고 음식이 맛있기도 해요. 하지만 가끔 시끄럽기도 해서 호불호가 갈릴 수 있습니다." (I sik-dang-eun bun-wi-gi-ga jok-gi-do ha-go eum-sik-i mas-it-gi-do hae-yo. Ha-ji-man ga-kkeum si-kkeu-reop-gi-do hae-seo ho-bul-ho-ga gal-lil su it-seup-ni-da.)
(This restaurant's atmosphere is both good and the food is delicious. However, sometimes it’s also noisy, so opinions might vary.)
- Book Review: "이 소설은 내용이 흥미롭기도 하고 생각할 거리를 주기도 해서 추천합니다." (I so-seol-eun nae-yong-i heung-mi-rop-gi-do ha-go saeng-gak-hal geo-ri-reul ju-gi-do hae-seo chu-cheon-ham-ni-da.)
(This novel's content is both interesting and provides food for thought, so I recommend it.)
Culturally, Koreans appreciate well-rounded and nuanced descriptions. The ability to articulate multiple facets of a situation or characteristic, rather than presenting a one-dimensional view, is a mark of sophisticated communication. This grammar pattern allows you to do just that, reflecting a common aspect of Korean communication style.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can I use this with nouns?
Yes, absolutely. For nouns, you use the form -(이)기도 하고 for the first noun and -(이)기도 하다 for the second. Remember to use 이기도 if the noun ends in a consonant and 기도 if it ends in a vowel. For example, "He is both a teacher and a student" would be 그는 선생님이기도 하고 학생이기도 해요 (Geu-neun seon-saeng-nim-i-gi-do ha-go hak-saeng-i-gi-do hae-yo).
- Q: Can I list more than two things?
While technically possible, listing more than two items with this pattern can become quite verbose and clunky. The primary strength of -기도 하고 -기도 하다 lies in highlighting the duality or alternation of two specific points. For lists of three or more, it’s often more natural to use ~고 for the initial items and reserve ~기도 하고 -기도 하다 for the most significant two, or use other listing patterns entirely. For instance, 저는 밥을 먹기도 하고, 책을 읽기도 하고, 음악을 듣기도 해요 is grammatically correct but 저는 밥을 먹고, 책을 읽고, 음악을 듣기도 해요 or 저는 밥을 먹고, 책을 읽고, 음악을 들어요 might be preferred depending on the desired emphasis.
- Q: Do the two verbs/adjectives have to be related?
Not necessarily. They can be related, contrasting, or simply different activities that you do. The core idea is that both actions or characteristics apply to the subject or situation. For example, 그는 웃기도 하고 울기도 해요 (He both laughs and cries) expresses contrasting actions, while 저는 요리하기도 하고 청소하기도 해요 (I both cook and clean) lists complementary household tasks.
- Q: What if I only want to say "it's also A" or "indeed A"?
If you want to emphasize a single characteristic or action as an additional point, or confirm something, you can use just V/A-기도 하다 without the preceding -기도 하고. For example, 이 식당은 맛집인데, 가격이 비싸기도 해요. (I sik-dang-eun mat-jip-in-de, ga-gyeok-i bi-ssa-gi-do hae-yo.) (This restaurant is a famous eatery, but it's also expensive.) Here, 비싸기도 해요 adds the additional, somewhat negative, piece of information about its price.
- Q: Is it always
하다at the end?
For the -기도 하고 -기도 하다 pattern that expresses "both...and" or "sometimes...sometimes," the final verb is almost exclusively 하다. This is because the 기 nominalizes the preceding verb/adjective, and 하다 then functions as a light verb indicating the existence or performance of that nominalized state/action. While there might be very advanced or idiomatic constructions that deviate, for B2 learners, consistently using 하다 is the correct approach for this specific grammar point.
Formation Table
| Base | Stem | Add -기도 | Full Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
가다
|
가
|
가기도
|
가기도 하다
|
|
먹다
|
먹
|
먹기도
|
먹기도 하다
|
|
예쁘다
|
예쁘
|
예쁘기도
|
예쁘기도 하다
|
|
공부하다
|
공부하
|
공부하기도
|
공부하기도 하다
|
|
춥다
|
춥
|
춥기도
|
춥기도 하다
|
|
작다
|
작
|
작기도
|
작기도 하다
|
Meanings
This grammar structure indicates that a subject possesses two qualities or performs two actions simultaneously or sequentially. It adds a layer of 'also' to the predicate.
Dual Characteristics
Describing two traits of a subject.
“이 식당은 맛있기도 하고 싸기도 해요.”
“날씨가 춥기도 하고 바람도 불어요.”
Occasional Action
Indicating an action happens sometimes.
“가끔 혼자 여행을 가기도 해요.”
“주말에 집에서 쉬기도 합니다.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + 기도 하다
|
예쁘기도 해요
|
|
Negative
|
안 + Stem + 기도 하다
|
안 예쁘기도 해요
|
|
Past
|
Stem + 기도 했다
|
예쁘기도 했어요
|
|
Future
|
Stem + 기도 할 것이다
|
예쁘기도 할 거예요
|
|
Question
|
Stem + 기도 하나요?
|
예쁘기도 하나요?
|
|
Adjective
|
Adj + 기도 하다
|
좋기도 해요
|
|
Verb
|
Verb + 기도 하다
|
가기도 해요
|
Formality Spectrum
그는 똑똑하기도 하고 친절하기도 합니다. (Describing a person)
그는 똑똑하기도 하고 친절하기도 해요. (Describing a person)
그는 똑똑하기도 하고 친절하기도 해. (Describing a person)
걔는 똑똑하고 착해. (Describing a person)
The -기도 하다 Concept
Trait A
- 똑똑하다 smart
Trait B
- 친절하다 kind
Examples by Level
사과가 맛있기도 해요.
The apple is tasty (and also something else).
그는 키가 크기도 해요.
He is also tall.
날씨가 덥기도 해요.
The weather is also hot.
책이 재미있기도 해요.
The book is also fun.
저는 한국어를 공부하기도 해요.
I also study Korean.
이 도시는 조용하기도 하고 아름답기도 해요.
This city is quiet and also beautiful.
가끔 영화를 보기도 해요.
I sometimes watch movies.
그 사람은 친절하기도 해요.
That person is also kind.
그 영화는 슬프기도 하고 감동적이기도 해요.
The movie is sad and also moving.
주말에는 등산을 가기도 합니다.
I sometimes go hiking on weekends.
그녀는 똑똑하기도 하고 부지런하기도 해요.
She is smart and also diligent.
이 제품은 비싸기도 하고 품질이 좋기도 해요.
This product is expensive and also high quality.
그는 가끔 화를 내기도 하지만 대체로 착해요.
He sometimes gets angry, but he is generally kind.
이 정책은 효과적이기도 하지만 비용이 많이 들기도 해요.
This policy is effective but also costly.
때로는 혼자 있고 싶기도 해요.
Sometimes I want to be alone.
그는 작가이기도 하고 교수이기도 합니다.
He is a writer and also a professor.
그의 연설은 설득력이 있기도 하고 감동을 주기도 했다.
His speech was persuasive and also moving.
이 현상은 자연스럽기도 하지만 인위적이기도 하다.
This phenomenon is natural but also artificial.
그는 예술가이기도 하면서 사업가이기도 하다.
He is an artist while also being a businessman.
상황이 어렵기도 하고 기회가 되기도 한다.
The situation is difficult but also an opportunity.
그는 비판의 대상이기도 하고 칭송의 대상이기도 하다.
He is both a target of criticism and a target of praise.
이 법안은 진보적이기도 하고 보수적이기도 한 측면이 있다.
This bill has both progressive and conservative aspects.
그의 작품은 난해하기도 하고 명료하기도 한 이중성을 띤다.
His work carries a duality of being both obscure and clear.
때로는 침묵이 대답이기도 하다.
Sometimes silence is also an answer.
Easily Confused
Both connect verbs.
Common Mistakes
먹어요기도 하다
먹기도 하다
가다기도 하다
가기도 하다
예쁘기도 하고 예쁘기도 해요
예쁘기도 하고 착하기도 해요
공부하기도 하고 공부했다
공부하기도 하고 일하기도 했다
Sentence Patterns
이것은 ___기도 하고 ___기도 해요.
Real World Usage
이 집은 맛있기도 하고 서비스도 좋아요.
Use with 가끔
Smart Tips
Use -기도 하다 to show you have a balanced view.
Pronunciation
Linking
The '기도' part is pronounced clearly.
Rising
똑똑하기도 하고↗
Indicates there is more to come.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '기도' as 'G-Do' (G-et, Do). You get one trait and do another!
Visual Association
Imagine a person holding two balloons, one labeled 'Smart' and one labeled 'Kind'. They are holding both at the same time.
Rhyme
When you want to list two, add -기도 to the view.
Story
Min-su is a busy guy. He studies Korean. He also works at a cafe. He says: '저는 공부하기도 하고 일하기도 해요.' (I study and also work.)
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about yourself using -기도 하다 in the next 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Used to show humility or balance in descriptions.
Derived from the particle -도 (also) and the verb 하다 (to do).
Conversation Starters
주말에 보통 뭐 해요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
그는 똑똑___ 하고 친절하기도 해요.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises그는 똑똑___ 하고 친절하기도 해요.
Score: /1
Practice Bank
14 exercises한국어 공부는 어렵기도 하고 ___ 해요. (재미있다 - fun)
제 친구는 착하기도 하고 ___.
비가 오기도 하고 바람이 불어요.
맵기도 / 하고 / 떡볶이는 / 달기도 / 해요
Match the phrases.
주말에 요리___ 하고 설거지___ 해요.
What does '웃기도 하고 울기도 했어요' imply?
It is hot and also humid. (hot: 덥다, humid: 습하다)
Which sentence structure is WRONG?
어제는 ___ 하고 놀기도 했어요. (일하다 - to work)
해요 / 친구이기도 / 가족이기도 / 하고 / 그는
When would you say '무섭기도 하고 신나기도 해요'?
Match the contrasting pairs often used with this grammar.
가수기도 하고 배우기도 해요.
Score: /14
FAQ (1)
No, it attaches to verb/adjective stems.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
〜たり〜たり
Japanese -tari is strictly for actions, while -기도 하다 works for states too.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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