TOPIK II · LEVEL 6
-는 한이 있더라도
Shows strong resolve: the speaker is ready to accept even an extreme, painful outcome in order to do (or not do) something.
감정·희망Feelings, hopes & regretsHan: The pattern is fixed with the present modifier 는, because it imagines a possible sacrifice; the past form -은 한이 있더라도 is not used.
Examples
굶는 한이 있더라도 남에게 돈을 빌리지는 않을 거예요.Even if I have to go hungry, I won't borrow money from others.
밤을 새우는 한이 있더라도 이 보고서는 내일까지 끝내겠습니다.Even if it means staying up all night, I'll finish this report by tomorrow.
손해를 보는 한이 있더라도 고객과의 약속은 지켜야 합니다.Even if we take a loss, we must keep our promises to customers.
회사를 그만두는 한이 있더라도 부당한 지시는 따를 수 없습니다.Even if it means quitting the company, I can't follow unfair orders.
Don’t mix up
-는 한이 있더라도vs-더라도-더라도 is a neutral 'even if' for any condition; -는 한이 있더라도 adds that the condition is an extreme sacrifice the speaker accepts: 비가 오더라도 행사는 진행합니다.-는 한이 있더라도vs-(으)ㄹ지언정-(으)ㄹ지언정 weighs two options and rejects the second ('I'd rather A than B'), usually with a negative main clause; -는 한이 있더라도 focuses on pushing toward a goal despite the cost: 굶을지언정 구걸은 하지 않겠다.-는 한이 있더라도vs-는 한-는 한 without 이 있더라도 means 'as long as' and sets a condition, not a concession: 내가 살아 있는 한 포기하지 않겠다.
How to build it
V+는 한이 있더라도 (= V + 는 한이 있어도)
굶다 → 굶는 한이 있더라도; 밤을 새우다 → 밤을 새우는 한이 있더라도
- Use the present modifier 는 even when the sacrifice is in the future; forms like -은 한이 있더라도 or -았/었는 한이 있더라도 are wrong.
- The first clause is usually an extreme, unwanted outcome (굶다, 밤을 새우다, 회사를 그만두다, 손해를 보다), not a neutral condition like rain or traffic.
- The main clause usually expresses will, obligation or a strong request (-겠다, -을 거예요, -아/어야 하다, -(으)세요), not a plain statement of fact.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 밤을 새운 한이 있더라도 이 일은 끝내겠어요.
Right: 밤을 새우는 한이 있더라도 이 일은 끝내겠어요.
The pattern is fixed with the present modifier 는, because it imagines a possible sacrifice; the past form -은 한이 있더라도 is not used.
Practise -는 한이 있더라도 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- N 같으니(라고)'N 같으니(라고)!' scolds or lightly curses someone: 'you fool!, what a …!'. This sentence-final -(으)니 of reproach occurs only after 같다; plain style, in exclamations or muttered to oneself.
- -(으)매-(으)매 is a bookish, literary way to say 'because' or 'as', linking a cause to its natural result in formal writing.
- -(으)나 -(으)나Two paired or opposite verbs/adjectives, each with -(으)나, mean 'whichever of these is the case, the following stays the same', which often amounts to 'regardless' or 'all the time'.
- -(으)락 -(으)락Joins two opposite actions or states to show that they keep switching back and forth.
- -(으)랴 -(으)랴Lists two (or more) tasks a person is juggling at the same time to stress that they are extremely busy or worn out.
- -(이)건 -(이)건N(이)건 N(이)건 lists two or more options and says that whichever one it is, the outcome stays the same.
- -(이)라 (예스러운 서술)An archaic plain (해라체) statement ending attached to 이다 and 아니다: 'X is Y.' It sounds solemn and old, as in classical texts, proverbs, historical-drama narration and poetry; modern Korean uses -(이)다.
- -(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯-(으)ㄹ 듯 말 듯 describes something hovering on the edge of happening, so it seems to happen and not happen at the same time.
- -(으)ㄹ 리 만무하다A formal, emphatic way to say "there is absolutely no way that ~", based on the speaker's firm reasoning.
