Korean "But": -지만, 하지만 and 그렇지만 Explained
Learn how to say "but" in Korean. Add 지만 to any verb or adjective, start a sentence with 하지만 or 그렇지만, and soften requests with 죄송하지만 and 실례지만.
Beginner7 min readTap any Korean word to see it explained
The short answer
To say “but” inside one sentence, add 지만 to a verb or adjective stem: 비싸지만 맛있어요 (it’s expensive, but tasty). To start a new sentence with “but”, use 하지만 or 그렇지만.
English has one little word for “but”. Korean usually builds it into the verb instead. The good news: 지만 is one of the easiest endings in Korean. It never changes shape, and it attaches straight to the stem. Tap the chips below to see each part.
1. Verb or adjective + 지만
Take the dictionary form, drop 다, and add 지만. The first half is the part you are contrasting. The second half finishes the sentence as usual.
어렵다 is irregular in the 요 form (어려워요), but with 지만 nothing changes: 어렵지만.
2. Past tense: 았/었 + 지만
For something that already happened, make the past tense first, then add 지만. The ending stays exactly the same.
3. Nouns: 이지만
With a noun, you use 이다 (“to be”), so you get 이지만. After a vowel, Koreans usually shorten it to 지만.
| Dictionary form | Present + 지만 | Past + 지만 |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 (go) | 가지만 | 갔지만 |
| 먹다 (eat) | 먹지만 | 먹었지만 |
| 하다 (do) | 하지만 | 했지만 |
| 좋다 (good) | 좋지만 | 좋았지만 |
| 학생이다 (be a student) | 학생이지만 | 학생이었지만 |
| 의사이다 (be a doctor) | 의사지만 | 의사였지만 |
4. Starting a sentence: 하지만 and 그렇지만
Sometimes you finish one sentence and want to start the next with “But” or “However”. Use 하지만 or 그렇지만 at the front.
- 하지만: the everyday choice. Fine in speech and writing.
- 그렇지만: a bit more formal. Literally “that is so, but”, so it agrees a little before turning.
- 그런데 / 근데: very common in conversation, softer, also means “by the way”. 근데 is casual.
5. Soft openers: 죄송하지만 and 실례지만
Koreans often start a request or a personal question with an apology plus 지만. It works like “Excuse me, but...” or “Sorry to bother you, but...” in English.
실례지만 literally means 'it is rude, but'. It is a polite way to ask something personal.
6. 지만 vs 는데: clear “but” vs soft “but/and”
You will also hear 는데 (은데/ㄴ데 after adjectives) a lot. It can mean “but”, but it is softer and more flexible. It often just gives background before the main point.
Here 는데 is not 'but' at all. 지만 would sound odd, because there is no contrast.
Hear it in songs
Love songs are full of 지만: “I miss you, but...”, “it hurts, but...”. Open a song in Hanbok Lyrics and tap a line to see every ending explained. Next, learn how to give reasons with 아서/어서 (because), or review the Korean past tense.
Check yourself
Quick check · 1 of 4맛있다 (tasty) + 지만 = ?
It is tasty, but...
Questions learners ask
How do you say "but" in Korean?
Inside one sentence, add 지만 to the verb or adjective stem: 비싸지만 맛있어요 (it is expensive, but tasty). To start a new sentence with "but", use 하지만 or 그렇지만.
What is the difference between 하지만 and 그렇지만?
They mean the same thing: "but" or "however" at the start of a sentence. 하지만 is the most common in both speech and writing. 그렇지만 is a little more formal and literally means "that is so, but".
How do you use 지만 with the past tense?
Put the past tense first, then 지만: 갔지만 (went, but), 먹었지만 (ate, but), 했지만 (did, but). The ending 지만 itself never changes.
What is the difference between 지만 and 는데?
지만 is a clear "but" that shows contrast. 는데 is softer and more flexible: it can mean "but", "and" or "so", and often just sets up background for what comes next.