Contrast -지만 / -는데
Use '-지만' and '-는데' to show contrast or give background information.
-지만: But
'-지만' works like 'but' to join opposite ideas and attaches directly to the stem.
한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요.
hangugeoneun eoryeopjiman jaemiisseoyo.
Korean is hard but fun.
비가 오지만 우산이 없어요.
biga ojiman usani eopseoyo.
It's raining but I don't have an umbrella.
-는데: Background / Contrast
'-는데' gives background or soft contrast; verbs take '-는데' and adjectives take '-(으)ㄴ데'.
| Base | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 (verb) | 먹는데 | eat, and/but |
| 좋다 (adj) | 좋은데 | good, and/but |
| 바쁘다 (adj) | 바쁜데 | busy, and/but |
| 가다 (verb) | 가는데 | go, and/but |
지금 공부하는데 너무 졸려요.
jigeum gongbuhaneunde neomu jollyeoyo.
I'm studying now, but I'm very sleepy.
이 식당은 싼데 맛있어요.
i sikdangeun ssande masisseoyo.
This restaurant is cheap but delicious.
어제는 추웠는데 오늘은 따뜻해요.
eojeneun chuwonneunde oneureun ttatteuthaeyo.
It was cold yesterday, but today it's warm.
운동을 많이 하지만 살이 안 빠져요.
undongeul mani hajiman sari an ppajyeoyo.
I exercise a lot, but I don't lose weight.
Noun and Past Forms
After a noun use '인데', and in the past both verbs and adjectives use '-았/었는데', as in 학생인데, 갔는데, and 좋았는데.
저는 학생인데 시간이 별로 없어요.
jeoneun haksaenginde sigani byeollo eopseoyo.
I'm a student, and I don't really have time.
| Type | Present | Past |
|---|---|---|
| verb | 가는데 | 갔는데 |
| adjective | 좋은데 | 좋았는데 |
| noun | 학생인데 | 학생이었는데 |
💡 Tip: Adjectives take '-(으)ㄴ데', not '-는데': '좋는데' is wrong, '좋은데' is correct.
💡 Tip: '-는데' is often used to set up a request or suggestion, as in '시간 있는데 같이 갈래요?'