TOPIK II · LEVEL 3
아무리 -아/어도
아무리 -아/어도 means 'no matter how (much) …': the result stays the same however much A happens.
대조·양보Contrast & concessionHan: 아무리 pairs with -아/어도, not with -(으)면.
Examples
아무리 바빠도 아침은 꼭 먹어요.No matter how busy I am, I always eat breakfast.
아무리 찾아도 지갑이 안 보여요.No matter how hard I look, I can't find my wallet.
아무리 어려워도 포기하지 마세요.However hard it gets, don't give up.
Don’t mix up
아무리 -아/어도vs-아/어도-아/어도 alone = 'even if'; with 아무리 it means 'no matter how much': 비싸도 사요 vs 아무리 비싸도 사요.How to build it
아무리+V/A+아도/어도/해도
바쁘다 → 아무리 바빠도, 먹다 → 아무리 먹어도
- 아무리 strengthens -아/어도; it can't be used alone.
- Also with -(으)ㄴ/는다고 해도: 아무리 비싸다고 해도.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 아무리 피곤하면 쉬세요.
Right: 아무리 피곤해도 숙제는 하세요.
아무리 pairs with -아/어도, not with -(으)면.
Practise 아무리 -아/어도 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".
- -(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.
- -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.
- -(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 …'.