-는데도 in Korean: “even though, despite”
-는데도
-neundedo
even though, despite
Intermediate · Linking ideas
-는데도 (-neundedo) means "even though" or "despite". It describes a real situation and then something that happens against what you would expect.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem (and 있다/없다) | + 는데도 | 먹다 → 먹는데도, 맛있다 → 맛있는데도 |
| Adjective stem ending in a vowel | + ㄴ데도 | 비싸다 → 비싼데도 |
| Adjective stem ending in a consonant | + 은데도 | 작다 → 작은데도 |
| Past tense | + 았/었는데도 | 공부하다 → 공부했는데도 |
| Noun | + 인데도 | 주말 → 주말인데도 |
How to use it
-는데도 links two real facts where the second is surprising given the first: 열심히 공부했는데도 떨어졌어요 (Even though I studied hard, I failed).
It often carries a feeling of frustration or surprise. It is built from -는데 (background) + 도 (even), so it follows the same conjugation as -는데.
The second part is usually a statement of fact, not a request or a suggestion. The politeness level comes from the final ending.
Examples
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Getting test results
Complaining about work
At the doctor's
Frustrated with a roommate
Don’t mix it up with
-아도/어도: -아도/어도 can describe imagined situations (even if it rains). -는데도 is for things that are actually true.
-는데: -는데 just gives background or a soft contrast. Adding 도 makes it a clear "even though."
Common mistakes
Using 는데도 with adjectives. Say 비싼데도, not 비싸는데도.
Want the basics first? Read -는데: background, "but" and -는데요.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between -는데도 and -아도?
Both can mean "even though." -는데도 is used for facts that are really true, while -아도/어도 can also be used for "even if" about things that have not happened.
Is -는데도 formal or casual?
Neither on its own. 먹었는데도 배고파 is casual and 먹었는데도 배고파요 is polite. The final ending decides.