B1 conjunction 2 min read

불구하고

It means 'despite' or 'in spite of' something.

Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use this word to say 'even though'. If it rains, but you go to the park, you use this word. It helps you tell a story about doing things even when it is hard.

When you want to connect two ideas that seem opposite, use 불구하고. It is like saying 'I am tired, but I will study.' In Korean, you say 'Tiredness, despite, I will study.'

This is a formal conjunction. You will find it in newspapers and books. It is very useful for writing reports where you need to show that a result happened despite a problem.

At this level, you should use it to add nuance to your arguments. It shows that you understand how to contrast a concessive clause with a main clause effectively in professional settings.

Mastering this word allows you to write sophisticated academic prose. It is often used in research papers to discuss results that occurred despite null hypotheses or unexpected variables.

In high-level literature, it can be used to emphasize the protagonist's struggle against fate. It carries a sense of gravity and persistence that simpler words like '그렇지만' lack.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used for contrast
  • Formal tone
  • Requires noun form
  • Means despite

Think of 불구하고 as your go-to word when you want to show resilience. It connects two ideas where the first part is an obstacle that doesn't stop the second part from happening.

You will almost always see it paired as ~에도 불구하고. It is a very useful way to express determination or surprising outcomes in your sentences!

The word comes from the Hanja 不 (not) and 拘 (to restrain/bind). Literally, it means 'not being restrained by'.

Historically, it evolved from classical Chinese structures used in Korean literature to express contrast. Over time, it became the standard way to express 'despite' in both formal writing and daily speech.

Use this when you want to sound formal or professional. It is perfect for essays, business reports, or serious news.

Commonly, you attach it to nouns or noun-clauses. For example: 비에도 불구하고 (despite the rain) or 어려움에도 불구하고 (despite the difficulties).

While it is a grammatical structure, it appears in set phrases: 1. 그럼에도 불구하고 (Nevertheless), 2. 나이에도 불구하고 (Despite the age), 3. 반대에도 불구하고 (Despite the opposition), 4. 위험에도 불구하고 (Despite the danger), 5. 부족함에도 불구하고 (Despite the shortcomings).

This is a connective particle phrase. It requires a noun or a noun-form verb before it (usually ending in -음 or -기).

Pronunciation tip: The 'g' sounds are soft. It rhymes loosely with 'go' in English, but keep the rhythm steady: bul-gu-ha-go.

Fun Fact

The character 拘 means to arrest or bind.

Pronunciation Guide

UK N/A

Korean pronunciation

US N/A

Korean pronunciation

Common Errors

  • Misplacing the particle
  • Incorrect vowel length
  • Skipping the 'h' sound

Rhymes With

하고 타고 가고 나고 사고

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Moderate

Writing 3/5

High

Speaking 2/5

Moderate

Listening 2/5

Moderate

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

에도 비

Learn Next

그럼에도 불구하고 반면에

Advanced

상관없이

Grammar to Know

Noun particles

에

Examples by Level

1

비에도 불구하고 나갔어요.

Rain + despite + went out.

Noun + 에도 불구하고

2

Example 2

3

Example 3

4

Example 4

5

Example 5

6

Example 6

7

Example 7

8

Example 8

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Common Collocations

어려움에도 불구하고
반대에도 불구하고
노력에도 불구하고
위험에도 불구하고
나이에도 불구하고
부족함에도 불구하고
실수에도 불구하고
비판에도 불구하고
악조건에도 불구하고
약속에도 불구하고

Idioms & Expressions

"그럼에도 불구하고"

Nevertheless

그럼에도 불구하고 우리는 계속했다.

formal

""

""

""

""

""

Easily Confused

불구하고 vs 그렇지만

Both contrast

그렇지만 is a conjunction, 불구하고 is a particle phrase.

Contrast usage.

불구하고 vs

불구하고 vs

불구하고 vs

Sentence Patterns

A1

Noun + 에도 불구하고 + Clause

비에도 불구하고 갔다.

Word Family

Nouns

불구 Disability/Imperfection

Verbs

불구하다 To not be restrained

Related

에도 Essential particle

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

Academic/Formal Professional Neutral N/A

Common Mistakes

Using with verbs directly → Noun form + 에도 불구하고
Must be a noun or noun-form.
Mistake 2
Mistake 3
Mistake 4
Mistake 5

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

See the word as a bridge.

💡

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💡

💡

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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Bul (not) + Gu (bind) + Ha-go (doing) = Not being bound by doing.

Visual Association

A person walking through a storm without stopping.

Word Web

Contrast Persistence Obstacle

Challenge

Write 3 sentences using this word today.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Not being restricted

Cultural Context

None.

Directly translates to 'despite' or 'in spite of'.

Used in many K-drama political speeches.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Academic Writing

  • 연구 결과에도 불구하고
  • 데이터에도 불구하고
  • 한계에도 불구하고

Conversation Starters

"Tell me about a time you succeeded despite obstacles."

Journal Prompts

Write about a goal you achieved despite challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

Yes, very.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

비 ___ 불구하고 나갔다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 에도

Requires the particle '에도'.

multiple choice A2

What does it mean?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Despite

It shows contrast.

true false B1

Can I use it with a simple verb?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

Needs noun form.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Match nouns.

sentence order B2

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

Correct structure.

Score: /5

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

～にもかかわらず Japanese
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