-건만

-건만 is a literary 'although' that links a fact with a result that goes against it, often with a tone of regret or frustration.

대조·양보Contrast & concession

Han: -건만 reports a result that went against expectation, so it is usually not followed by a suggestion like -자; use -지만 instead.

Examples

몇 번이나 전화했건만 그는 끝내 받지 않았다.I called him several times, but he never answered in the end.

밤을 새워 공부했건만 시험에 떨어지고 말았다.I studied all night, and yet I ended up failing the exam.

봄이 왔건만 날씨는 여전히 쌀쌀하다.Spring has come, yet the weather is still chilly.

부모님은 자식을 위해 평생을 바쳤건만 자식들은 그 마음을 몰랐다.The parents devoted their whole lives to their children, yet the children never understood their hearts.

Don’t mix up

-건만vs-지만-지만 is a neutral 'but' for any style and can be followed by commands; -건만 is literary and stresses a disappointing result: 비싸지만 사세요 (not 비싸건만 사세요).

-건만vs-는데도-는데도 ('even though') has a similar meaning but is common in speech; -건만 sounds written and adds a sigh of regret: 약을 먹었는데도 안 나았어요 (spoken) vs 약을 먹었건만 낫지 않았다 (written).

How to build it

V/A+건만

V/A+았/었건만 (past)

N+이건만

하다 → 하건만 / 했건만; 학생 → 학생이건만

It is mainly used in writing, speeches and literary style; in everyday conversation -지만 or -는데도 sounds more natural.
The second clause usually states a real, often disappointing result; it is usually not followed by commands or suggestions (-세요, -자).
Tense goes before 건만: use 았/었건만 for a completed past action (열심히 했건만), and 이건만 after nouns.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~피곤하건만 조금만 더 걷자.~~

Right: 피곤하지만 조금만 더 걷자.

-건만 reports a result that went against expectation, so it is usually not followed by a suggestion like -자; use -지만 instead.

Practise -건만 on real TOPIK questions

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.

Start 7-day free trial

More level 4 grammar

All TOPIK grammar