How to Say "But" in Korean: ~지만 Explained

You've learned how to connect sentences with "because" (~아/어서, ~(으)니까) and "and then" (~아/어서). Now it's time for contrast:

~지만 - the Korean equivalent of "but," "however," and "although."

It's one of the most natural and frequently used connectors in Korean — and unlike some grammar patterns, it's beautifully simple to form.

What Does ~지만 Mean?

~지만 connects two clauses that contrast with each other - where the second clause is unexpected, opposite, or different from the first.

한국어가 어렵지만 재미있어요. Korean is difficult, but it's interesting.

비가 오지만 나가고 싶어요. It's raining, but I want to go out.

How to Form ~지만

This is one of the easiest connectors to form - just add 지만 to any verb or adjective stem. No vowel rules, no consonant checks.

💡 Just like ~고 있어요, ~지만 is the same regardless of whether the stem ends in a consonant or vowel. This makes it one of the most learner-friendly patterns in Korean.

Conjugation Table

~지만 With Tense

~지만 can take past or future tense in the first clause - no restrictions:

💡 To use past tense, add -었/았 before 지만: 먹다 → 먹었지만 / 가다 → 갔지만 / 좋다 → 좋았지만

~지만 in Real Sentences

🗣️ Opinions & Feelings

한국어가 어렵지만 재미있어요.

• Literal: Korean difficult-but interesting
• Natural: Korean is difficult, but it's interesting.

이 영화는 길지만 정말 좋아요.

• Natural: This movie is long, but it's really good.

음식이 매웠지만 맛있었어요.

• Natural: The food was spicy, but it was delicious.

비싸지만 살 거예요.

• Natural: It's expensive, but I'll buy it.

작지만 아늑한 카페예요.

• Natural: It's a small but cozy café.

🙏 Polite Contrasts

~지만 is very natural in polite, indirect Korean - softening a refusal or contrast:

죄송하지만 도와드릴 수 없어요.

• Natural: I'm sorry, but I can't help you.

실례지만 성함이 어떻게 되세요?

• Natural: Excuse me, but what is your name?

감사하지만 괜찮아요.

• Natural: Thank you, but it's okay.

맛있지만 너무 매워서 못 먹겠어요.

• Natural: It's delicious, but it's too spicy so I can't eat it.

💡 죄송하지만, 실례지만, 감사하지만 - these fixed expressions are extremely useful in daily Korean. They soften what follows by acknowledging something positive first.

💪 Overcoming Contrast

힘들지만 포기하지 않을 거예요.

• Natural: It's hard, but I won't give up.

시간이 없지만 해볼게요.

• Natural: I don't have time, but I'll try.

잘 못하지만 열심히 하고 있어요.

• Natural: I'm not good at it, but I'm working hard.

처음엔 어려웠지만 이제 조금 쉬워요.

• Natural: It was difficult at first, but now it's a little easier.

🏙️ Describing Places & Things

서울은 복잡하지만 재미있어요.

• Natural: Seoul is crowded, but it's fun.

이 식당은 멀지만 음식이 정말 맛있어요.

• Natural: This restaurant is far, but the food is really delicious.

방이 작지만 뷰가 좋아요.

• Natural: The room is small, but the view is nice.

~지만 vs 그런데 vs 하지만

Korean has several ways to express contrast. Here's how they differ:

~지만 (one sentence):

한국어가 어렵지만 재미있어요. Korean is difficult, but it's interesting.

그런데 (new sentence, softer):

한국어가 어려워요. 그런데 재미있어요. Korean is difficult. But it's interesting.

하지만 (new sentence, more formal):

한국어가 어려워요. 하지만 재미있어요. Korean is difficult. However, it's interesting.

All three are correct - the choice depends on sentence structure and formality.

⚠️ ~지만 Can't Change Who Does the Action

One subtle thing to note: in most natural uses of ~지만, the subject of both clauses is the same or the contrast is between two states of the same thing.

When the subject changes between clauses, ~지만 can still work - but it can sometimes sound unnatural. In those cases, 그런데 or 하지만 to start a new sentence often sounds better.

저는 한국어를 공부하지만 제 친구는 일본어를 공부해요. (I study Korean, but my friend studies Japanese.) ← sounds a bit formal; 그런데 would flow more naturally in speech.

Real Conversations Using ~지만

📍 Conversation 1: Talking about Korean learning

A: 한국어 공부가 어때요? (How is studying Korean going?)

B: 어렵지만 재미있어요. 발음이 특히 어렵지만 포기하지 않을 거예요. (It's difficult, but it's interesting. Pronunciation is especially hard, but I won't give up.)

A: 맞아요. 처음엔 다 어렵지만 계속하면 늘어요. (Right. It's all hard at first, but if you keep going, you improve.)

📍 Conversation 2: Recommending a restaurant

A: 좋은 한국 식당 알아요? (Do you know a good Korean restaurant?)

B: 네! 역 근처에 있는데 조금 멀지만 진짜 맛있어요. (Yes! It's near the station - a bit far, but it's really delicious.)

A: 비싸요? (Is it expensive?)

B: 조금 비싸지만 그만한 가치가 있어요. 꼭 가 보세요. (A little expensive, but it's worth it. You should definitely go.)

📍 Conversation 3: Politely declining

A: 이번 주말에 같이 등산 갈래요? (Do you want to go hiking together this weekend?)

B: 가고 싶지만 이번 주말은 좀 바빠요. (I want to go, but I'm a bit busy this weekend.)

A: 아, 그렇군요. 다음에 가요. (Oh, I see. Let's go next time.)

B: 네, 죄송하지만 다음에 꼭 같이 가요! (Yes, I'm sorry, but let's definitely go together next time!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake 1: Adding 지만 after a full conjugated form (with 아요/어요)

❌ 어려워요지만 재미있어요. ✅ 어렵지만 재미있어요. (attach to stem, not conjugated form)

❌ Mistake 2: Using 지만 when the contrast needs a new sentence

In casual conversation, chaining too many ~지만 clauses can sound unnatural. Break it up with 그런데 when needed.

❌ 한국어가 어렵지만 재미있지만 시간이 없지만 공부하고 있어요. ✅ 한국어가 어렵지만 재미있어요. 그런데 시간이 없어서 조금씩 공부하고 있어요.

❌ Mistake 3: Confusing ~지만 with ~지 않다

~지만 = "but" (contrast) ~지 않아요 = "don't/doesn't" (negation)

These look similar but are completely different:

가지만 = go, but 가지 않아요 = don't go

Quick Practice

Connect the sentences using ~지만:

1. 한국어가 어렵다 + 재미있어요 (Korean is difficult + it's interesting)
2. 이 옷이 비싸다 + 살 거예요 (This clothes is expensive + I'll buy it)
3. 피곤하다 + 공부해야 해요 (I'm tired + I have to study)
4. 음식이 맛있었다 + 너무 매웠어요 (The food was delicious + it was too spicy)
5. 가고 싶다 + 시간이 없어요 (I want to go + I don't have time)

Answers:

1. 한국어가 어렵지만 재미있어요.
2. 이 옷이 비싸지만 살 거예요.
3. 피곤하지만 공부해야 해요.
4. 음식이 맛있었지만 너무 매웠어요.
5. 가고 싶지만 시간이 없어요.

Summary

~지만 is one of those connectors that makes everything sound more balanced and nuanced. Instead of two short sentences, you get one flowing thought that acknowledges complexity - which is exactly how real conversation works.