-기는 하다 in Korean: “it is, but; I do, but”

-기는 하다 (-gineun hada) means "it is, but" or "I do, but." You use it to admit something is true while hinting that there's more to say, often a "but" that follows.

How to form it

How to use it

This pattern agrees with part of something and leaves room for a "but." 맛있긴 해요 means "It IS tasty..." with a feeling that something else is coming.

It is very common with a following clause: -긴 한데, -긴 하지만. In speech, 기는 is usually shortened to 긴.

The 하다 part follows the word it attaches to. With verbs it becomes 하는데 (먹긴 하는데), and with adjectives it becomes 한데 (비싸긴 한데). In the past, both use 했는데.

You can also repeat the word instead of using 하다: 좋기는 좋은데 ("It's good, sure, but...").

Examples

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Don’t mix it up with

-지만: -지만 is a plain "but." -기는 하지만 adds "I admit" or "sure," so it sounds more like a partial agreement.

-기는(요): As a sentence ending, 잘하기는요 is a modest denial meaning "Oh, not at all." That is a different use from -기는 하다.

Common mistakes

Using 하는데 with adjectives, like 비싸긴 하는데. With adjectives, say 비싸긴 한데.

Want the basics first? Read Saying "but" (-지만, 하지만).