KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ/는데도
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ/는데도”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
The ending differs for verbs and adjectives, so the table shows both. Compare how each word changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch (verb) | 보는데도 | boneundedo |
| 읽다 | to read (verb) | 읽는데도 | ingneundedo |
| 크다 | big (adjective) | 큰데도 | keundedo |
| 좋다 | good, nice (adjective) | 좋은데도 | joeundedo |
What changes
- For verbs, -는 attaches directly to the stem (읽 → 읽는). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ first (살 → 사는).
- For adjectives, the present-tense form is -(으)ㄴ: ㄴ after a vowel (크 → 큰) and 은 after a consonant (좋 → 좋은).
Explanation
약을 먹었는데도 감기가 낫지 않아요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는데도” means “even though / in spite of ~” and shows that the second clause goes against what the first would lead you to expect. The sentence means “Even though I took medicine, my cold isn’t getting better.” For the past, use “-았/었는데도,” as in 먹었는데도. It expresses a contrast, the opposite of the reason relationship in “-(으)니까.”
열심히 공부했는데도 성적이 오르지 않았어요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는데도” means “even though …,” showing that the result is the opposite of what the first clause would lead you to expect. After a past verb, use “-았/었는데도.” The sentence means “Even though I studied hard, my grades didn’t go up.” “-(으)니까” gives a reason, so it does not fit a contrary result.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 약을 먹었는데도 감기가 낫지 않아요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 약을 | ||
| 약 | ㅇ+ㅑ+ㄱ | [야] ya |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [글] geul |
| 먹었는데도 | ||
| 먹 | ㅁ+ㅓ+ㄱ | [머] meo |
| 었 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅆ | [건] geon |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 데 | ㄷ+ㅔ | de |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 감기가 | ||
| 감 | ㄱ+ㅏ+ㅁ | gam |
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | gi |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 낫지 | ||
| 낫 | ㄴ+ㅏ+ㅅ | [낟] nat |
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | [찌] ji |
| 않아요 | ||
| 않 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄶ | [아] a |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | [나] na |
| 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
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 약을 → [야글]
- Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 었는데 → [언는데]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 낫지 → [낟찌]
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 않아 → [아나]
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 약 | noun | medicine | TOPIK level 2 |
| 성적 | noun | grades, results | TOPIK level 3 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 약을 먹었____ 감기가 낫지 않아요.
Show the answer
Answer: 약을 먹었는데도 감기가 낫지 않아요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 열심히 공부했____ 성적이 오르지 않았어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 열심히 공부했는데도 성적이 오르지 않았어요.
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