A2 conjunction 2 min read

~지만/~지만

A word used to connect two sentences to show a contrast, like 'but'.

~jiman/~jiman
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use ~지만 to say 'but'. If you want to say 'I like apples, but I don't like bananas', you use this. It is very easy! Just take your verb, remove the '다', and add '지만'. You can use it for everything.

At this level, you start using ~지만 to connect longer sentences. You can describe people or places. For example: 'My house is small, but it is very clean.' It helps you sound more natural when you speak with Koreans.

Now you can use ~지만 with past tense markers. 'I studied hard, but I failed the test.' This shows you understand how to sequence events and contrast them effectively. It is a staple of intermediate writing and speaking.

You will use ~지만 to create nuanced arguments. It allows for concession: 'The price is high, but the quality justifies it.' You will notice native speakers use it to soften their tone before a disagreement.

In advanced contexts, ~지만 is used to structure complex logical flow. It acts as a bridge between conflicting data points in academic or professional reports. Mastery here means knowing exactly when to use it versus more formal alternatives like '으나'.

At the mastery level, you appreciate the subtle rhythm ~지만 adds to literary prose. It is used to create tension in narratives. You understand the historical weight of the particle and how it functions as a pillar of Korean syntax, connecting the past to the present in a single, fluid sentence.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • ~지만 means 'but' or 'although'.
  • Attach it to the verb/adjective stem.
  • It is neutral and polite.
  • Use it to show contrast between two ideas.

Hey there! ~지만 is your best friend when you need to express a contrast in Korean. Think of it as the direct equivalent to the English word 'but' or 'although'.

You attach this ending directly to the stem of a verb or adjective. It allows you to link two ideas where the second one contradicts or contrasts with the first. For example, you might say, 'The weather is nice, but I am busy.' It is incredibly versatile and used in almost every daily conversation.

The suffix ~지만 has deep roots in Middle Korean. It originated from the combination of the verb '지다' (to be) and the particle '만' (only/just). Over centuries of linguistic evolution, it solidified into a standard conjunctive ending.

Historically, it was used to balance opposing thoughts in classical literature. It reflects the Korean cultural tendency to soften statements by acknowledging a counterpoint before finishing a thought. It is a classic example of agglutinative grammar where meaning is built by stacking pieces onto a word stem.

You use ~지만 by removing the '다' from a dictionary form verb or adjective and adding '지만' to the remaining stem. It works with both past and present tense stems seamlessly.

It is considered neutral in register, meaning you can use it with friends, colleagues, or in semi-formal settings. When you want to be extremely formal, you might use '으나' instead, but '지만' remains the go-to for 95% of situations. It pairs perfectly with adjectives to describe objects or people with mixed traits.

While ~지만 is a grammatical tool, it appears in set phrases. 1. 그렇지만 (Even so/However). 2. 알지만 (I know, but...). 3. 좋지만 (It's good, but...). 4. 가고 싶지만 (I want to go, but...). 5. 비싸지만 (It's expensive, but...). These are essential for natural flow.

Pronunciation is straightforward: ji-man. The 'j' is soft like in 'jump'. Ensure you don't over-aspirate the 'm'.

Grammatically, it is a connective ending. It does not change based on the final consonant of the stem, which makes it very easy to learn! You can use it with past tense markers like '었/았' before the '지만' (e.g., '먹었지만' - I ate, but...).

Fun Fact

It evolved from the combination of '지다' and '만'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dʒiːmæn/

Sounds like 'gee-man'.

US /dʒiːmæn/

Sounds like 'gee-man'.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing 'j' as 'sh'
  • Over-emphasizing the 'man'
  • Ignoring the soft 'j'

Rhymes With

man pan can fan ran

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to read.

Writing 1/5

Simple structure.

Speaking 1/5

Easy to pronounce.

Listening 1/5

Clear sound.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

다 이다 가다

Learn Next

는데 으니까 어서

Advanced

으나 반면에

Grammar to Know

Contrastive Conjunctions

먹지만, 먹으나

Verb Stem Conjugation

가다 -> 가지만

Past Tense Markers

먹었다 -> 먹었지만

Examples by Level

1

사과는 맛있지만 배는 싫어요.

Apple-is tasty-but pear-is dislike.

Basic contrast.

2

춥지만 갈 거예요.

Cold-but go-will.

Adjective + but.

3

비싸지만 샀어요.

Expensive-but bought.

Past tense contrast.

4

작지만 예뻐요.

Small-but pretty.

Descriptive contrast.

5

한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요.

Korean-is hard-but fun.

Connecting two adjectives.

6

배고프지만 참아요.

Hungry-but endure.

Verb contrast.

7

많지만 조금만 먹어요.

Many-but a little-only eat.

Quantifier contrast.

8

가깝지만 안 가요.

Close-but not go.

Location contrast.

1

오늘 날씨가 좋지만 바람이 불어요.

2

어제 공부했지만 기억이 안 나요.

3

그 사람은 친절하지만 화를 잘 내요.

4

이 식당은 유명하지만 맛은 보통이에요.

5

시간이 없지만 잠깐 만나요.

6

영화를 봤지만 재미없었어요.

7

집은 멀지만 매일 걸어가요.

8

한국 노래를 좋아하지만 가사는 몰라요.

1

열심히 노력했지만 결과는 좋지 않았습니다.

2

그 제안은 합리적이지만 실행하기 어렵습니다.

3

그는 부자이지만 행복해 보이지 않습니다.

4

약속을 했지만 사정이 생겨서 못 갔어요.

5

책을 많이 읽었지만 이해하기 힘든 내용이었어요.

6

비가 많이 오지만 우산을 쓰고 나갈 거예요.

7

그녀는 똑똑하지만 겸손합니다.

8

가격은 비싸지만 품질은 최고입니다.

1

상황이 어렵지만 우리는 포기하지 않을 것입니다.

2

그의 의견은 일리가 있지만 모두가 동의하지는 않습니다.

3

과거에는 가난했지만 지금은 성공했습니다.

4

이 계획은 완벽해 보이지만 숨겨진 위험이 있습니다.

5

그는 실수를 했지만 솔직하게 사과했습니다.

6

다양한 경험을 했지만 아직 부족함을 느낍니다.

7

기술은 발전했지만 인간의 감정은 그대로입니다.

8

이론적으로는 가능하지만 실제로는 어렵습니다.

1

그의 논리는 타당하지만 윤리적인 측면에서 논란이 있습니다.

2

정부의 정책은 효율적이지만 사회적 불평등을 심화시킵니다.

3

예술은 형식에 얽매이지 않지만 기본기는 중요합니다.

4

그 사건은 우연처럼 보이지만 필연적인 결과였습니다.

5

데이터는 명확하지만 해석에는 주의가 필요합니다.

6

전통을 계승하는 것은 중요하지만 변화도 필요합니다.

7

그는 권력을 가졌지만 내면은 공허했습니다.

8

이 방법은 효과적이지만 비용이 많이 듭니다.

1

그의 문체는 간결하지만 깊은 철학적 사유를 담고 있습니다.

2

역사는 반복되지만 결코 같은 방식으로 나타나지 않습니다.

3

그의 침묵은 동의를 의미하지만 거부의 뜻도 내포합니다.

4

자유는 소중하지만 책임이 따르는 법입니다.

5

그의 삶은 비극적이지만 아름다운 서사를 가지고 있습니다.

6

지식은 방대하지만 지혜는 그보다 더 깊습니다.

7

우리는 진실을 추구하지만 때로는 진실이 고통을 줍니다.

8

그의 결단은 냉혹하지만 공동체를 위한 최선이었습니다.

Common Collocations

알지만
좋지만
가고 싶지만
많지만
했지만
예쁘지만
작지만
비싸지만
멀지만
어렵지만

Idioms & Expressions

"알지만 모르는 척"

Knowing but pretending not to know.

알지만 모르는 척하지 마.

casual

"좋지만 싫은"

Love-hate relationship.

그건 좋지만 싫은 느낌이야.

casual

"말은 쉽지만"

Easier said than done.

말은 쉽지만 행동은 어려워.

neutral

"가고 싶지만 못 가"

Want to go but can't.

가고 싶지만 못 가, 미안해.

casual

"많지만 부족해"

Plenty but still not enough.

돈은 많지만 부족해.

neutral

"어렵지만 할 수 있어"

Hard but doable.

어렵지만 할 수 있어, 힘내!

encouraging

Easily Confused

~지만/~지만 vs 는데

Both connect sentences.

'는데' is background, '지만' is contrast.

밥을 먹는데 전화가 왔다 (Background) vs 밥을 먹지만 배가 고프다 (Contrast).

~지만/~지만 vs 고

Both connect sentences.

'고' is for listing, '지만' is for contrast.

사과를 먹고 배를 먹었다 (Listing) vs 사과를 먹지만 배는 안 먹는다 (Contrast).

~지만/~지만 vs 으나

Both mean 'but'.

'으나' is formal, '지만' is neutral.

그는 갔으나 나는 남았다 (Formal) vs 그는 갔지만 나는 남았다 (Neutral).

~지만/~지만 vs 그래도

Both mean 'but/even so'.

'그래도' starts a new sentence.

비가 와요. 그래도 갈 거예요.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Adjective + 지만 + Adjective

작지만 예뻐요.

A2

Verb + 지만 + Verb

먹고 싶지만 참아요.

B1

Past Verb + 지만 + Verb

공부했지만 잊었어요.

B1

Noun + 이지만 + Noun

학생이지만 열심히 해요.

B2

Adverb + Verb + 지만 + Verb

빨리 가지만 늦을 것 같아요.

Word Family

Related

하지만 Sentence-initial form of this suffix

How to Use It

frequency

10/10

Formality Scale

~으나 (Formal) ~지만 (Neutral) 근데 (Casual)

Common Mistakes

Adding '다' before '지만' → 먹지만
You must remove the '다' from the verb stem.
Using it as a sentence starter → 하지만/그렇지만
It is a suffix, not a standalone word.
Adding it to nouns without '이다' → 학생이지만
Nouns need '이다' before '지만'.
Confusing with '는데' → Context dependent
'는데' provides background, '지만' provides contrast.
Double conjugation → 먹었지만
Don't add '지만' twice.

Tips

💡

The Seesaw Trick

Visualize a seesaw to remember contrast.

💡

Daily Flow

Use it to soften your opinions.

🌍

Polite Contrast

Koreans use it to be polite.

💡

Stem Rule

Always remove '다' first.

💡

Soft J

Don't make it sound like 'sh'.

💡

Not a Sentence Starter

Don't start a sentence with '지만'.

💡

K-Drama Essential

You'll hear it in every episode.

💡

Sentence Building

Combine two simple sentences.

💡

Past Tense

You can combine it with '었/았'.

💡

Nuance

Use it to show you heard the other person.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine 'Gee, man!' (Gee-man) when you are surprised by a contrast.

Visual Association

A seesaw (teeter-totter) with two different items on each side.

Word Web

Contrast Conjunction Korean Grammar Sentence linking

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using 'but'.

Word Origin

Korean

Original meaning: To be + only

Cultural Context

None, it is a standard grammatical particle.

Directly maps to the English 'but'.

Used in almost every K-drama dialogue.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a restaurant

  • 맛있지만 비싸요
  • 많지만 다 먹을 수 있어요
  • 주문했지만 아직 안 나왔어요

At school

  • 어렵지만 재미있어요
  • 공부했지만 틀렸어요
  • 숙제는 많지만 할게요

Travel

  • 가깝지만 길이 복잡해요
  • 예쁘지만 사람이 많아요
  • 비싸지만 예약했어요

Work

  • 바쁘지만 도와드릴게요
  • 계획했지만 변경됐어요
  • 중요하지만 시간이 없어요

Conversation Starters

"오늘 날씨가 좋지만 기분은 어때요?"

"한국어가 어렵지만 왜 공부해요?"

"가고 싶은 곳이 있지만 어디예요?"

"먹고 싶은 음식이 있지만 무엇인가요?"

"하고 싶은 일이 있지만 무엇을 하고 싶어요?"

Journal Prompts

Describe your day using 'but' sentences.

Write about a goal you have but find difficult.

Contrast your personality with a friend's.

Talk about a movie you saw but didn't like.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

Yes, add '이다' first (e.g., 학생이지만).

It is neutral and polite.

No, it stays '지만' regardless of tense.

No, use '하지만' instead.

'는데' is for background, '지만' is for contrast.

No, it is one of the easiest grammar points.

Yes, always attach to the stem.

Very few, it is very regular.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

날씨가 ___ 비가 와요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 좋지만

Contrast requires '지만'.

multiple choice A2

Which means 'It is expensive but good'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 비싸지만 좋아요

'지만' is the contrast marker.

true false B1

Can you use '지만' with past tense?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

Yes, '먹었지만' is correct.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Matches adjective stems to meaning.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Correct structure for contrast.

fill blank B2

그는 ___ (smart) 똑똑하지만 게을러요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 똑똑하지만

Adjective stem + 지만.

true false C1

Is '지만' interchangeable with '으나' in all contexts?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

'으나' is much more formal.

match pairs C1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Verb stem conjugation.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Complex sentence structure.

multiple choice C2

Which is the most formal?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: ~으나

'으나' is the formal written form.

Score: /10

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