TOPIK II · LEVEL 3
-(으)ㄴ/는데도
-(으)ㄴ/는데도 means 'even though': a real situation is stated, and the result goes against what you would expect from it.
대조·양보Contrast & concessionHan: Tomorrow's rain is only a possibility, not a known fact, so 'even if' -아/어도 is needed instead of -는데도.
Examples
이 식당은 비싼데도 항상 사람이 많아요.This restaurant is expensive, yet it's always crowded.
약을 먹었는데도 감기가 안 나아요.Even though I took medicine, my cold isn't getting better.
동생은 아직 학생인데도 돈을 많이 써요.My younger sibling is still a student, yet spends a lot of money.
열심히 공부했는데도 시험에 떨어졌어요.Even though I studied hard, I failed the exam.
Don’t mix up
-(으)ㄴ/는데도vs-아/어도-아/어도 can express a hypothetical 'even if'; -는데도 only states a real fact: 비가 와도 갈 거예요 (if it rains) vs 비가 오는데도 갔어요 (it was raining).-(으)ㄴ/는데도vs-지만-지만 simply contrasts two facts; -는데도 stresses that the result defies expectation: 이 옷은 비싸지만 예뻐요 (plain contrast) vs 비싼데도 잘 팔려요 (surprisingly sells well).-(으)ㄴ/는데도vs-(으)ㄴ/는데-는데 often just gives background, with no clash of expectation; 도 adds 'despite': 비가 오는데 우산 있어요? (background) vs 비가 오는데도 우산을 안 가져왔어요 (despite).
How to build it
V / 있다·없다+는데도
A+(으)ㄴ데도
N+인데도
past: V/A+았/었는데도
먹다 → 먹는데도, 먹었는데도; 비싸다 → 비싼데도; 학생 → 학생인데도
- The first clause must be a real, known fact. For hypothetical or future conditions ('even if') use -아/어도 instead.
- The sentence usually cannot end with a command or suggestion (-(으)세요, -(으)ㅂ시다, -자); use -아/어도 for those.
- Mark past time in the first clause with 았/었는데도; adjectives in the present take -(으)ㄴ데도, but 있다/없다 words take 는데도 (맛있는데도).
Classic mistake
Wrong: 내일 비가 오는데도 소풍을 갈 거예요.
Right: 내일 비가 와도 소풍을 갈 거예요.
Tomorrow's rain is only a possibility, not a known fact, so 'even if' -아/어도 is needed instead of -는데도.
Practise -(으)ㄴ/는데도 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에)-(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에) means 'instead of' (replacement) or 'in exchange for / but on the other hand' (trade-off).
- -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에-(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 links two facts that show opposite sides of something, like "whereas" or "on the other hand".
- -기는 하다You admit that something is true, but only partly or with a reservation, usually followed by a 'but'.
- -다가도Even while A is going on, B suddenly happens, usually something opposite: 'A one moment, then (suddenly) B'. Stresses how quickly a situation or mood changes.
- -더라도-더라도 means "even if (we suppose) this happens": the main clause stays true or must still be done regardless.
- 아무리 -아/어도아무리 -아/어도 means 'no matter how (much) …': the result stays the same however much A happens.
- -(으)ㅁ-(으)ㅁ turns a verb or adjective into a noun; it is used in notes, notices, memos and written records.
- -(으)며-(으)며 is a formal, written 'and' (listing) or 'while' (two actions at once).
- -(이)야-(이)야 emphasizes a topic as obvious or as the only one meant: 'as for N, of course …'.
