KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -더라도
Korean Grammar “-더라도”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 5)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 보더라도 | bodeorado |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽더라도 | ikdeorado |
| 하다 | to do | 하더라도 | hadeorado |
| 살다 | to live | 살더라도 | saldeorado |
What changes
- This ending attaches directly to the stem. Nothing changes, whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Explanation
아무리 바쁘더라도 아침 식사는 꼭 챙겨 드세요.
“-더라도” means “even if ~” and expresses a supposition or concession. It often goes with “아무리,” and what follows is the speaker’s will, a command, or a suggestion. The sentence means “No matter how busy you are, be sure to eat breakfast.” It is somewhat more formal and emphatic than “-아/어도.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 아무리 바쁘더라도 아침 식사는 꼭 챙겨 드세요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [아무리 바쁘더라도 아침 식싸는 꼭 챙겨 드세요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 아무리 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 무 | ㅁ+ㅜ | mu |
| 리 | ㄹ+ㅣ | ri |
| 바쁘더라도 | ||
| 바 | ㅂ+ㅏ | ba |
| 쁘 | ㅃ+ㅡ | ppeu |
| 더 | ㄷ+ㅓ | deo |
| 라 | ㄹ+ㅏ | ra |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 아침 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 침 | ㅊ+ㅣ+ㅁ | chim |
| 식사는 | ||
| 식 | ㅅ+ㅣ+ㄱ | sik |
| 사 | ㅅ+ㅏ | [싸] sa |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 꼭 | ㄲ+ㅗ+ㄱ | kkok |
| 챙겨 | ||
| 챙 | ㅊ+ㅐ+ㅇ | chaeng |
| 겨 | ㄱ+ㅕ | gyeo |
| 드세요 | ||
| 드 | ㄷ+ㅡ | deu |
| 세 | ㅅ+ㅔ | se |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 식사 → [식싸]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
It contains the honorific -(으)시-, which shows respect to the person being talked about or talked to.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 꼭 | adverb | definitely | TOPIK level 2 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 아무리 바쁘____ 아침 식사는 꼭 챙겨 드세요.
Show the answer
Answer: 아무리 바쁘더라도 아침 식사는 꼭 챙겨 드세요.
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