Expressing Unexpected Results with -아도/-어도

The ending -아도/-어도 connects two short sentences when the result in the second sentence does not change, regardless of the condition in the first sentence.

Think of it like "even if" or "even though" in English. Instead of the expected result happening, an unexpected or opposite result occurs.

Example Comparison

Expected: 비가 와요 + 집에 있어요 → 비가 와서 집에 있어요 (It rains, so I stay home.)

Unexpected: 비가 와요 + 가요 → 비가 와도 가요 (Even if it rains, I go.)

To use this ending, look at the final vowel of the predicate stem. The rules are very similar to adding -아요/-어요.

Vowels ㅏ or ㅗ → -아도

오다 → 와도

비싸다 → 비싸도

바쁘다 → 바빠도

Other Vowels → -어도

없다 → 없어도

어렵다 → 어려워도

하다 verbs → -해도

피곤하다 → 피곤해도

운동하다 → 운동해도

Core takeaway: Choose -아도, -어도, or -해도 based on the final vowel

When you combine two sentences using -아도/-어도 , you show that the first fact cannot stop the second action.

Common Examples

Sentence 1 · Sentence 2 · Connected Sentence

시간이 없어요 · 운동해요 · 시간이 없어도 운동해요

피곤해요 · 운동해요 · 피곤해도 운동해요

어려워요 · 계속 공부해요 · 어려워도 계속 공부해요

A very common pattern you will hear is combining this ending with 괜찮아요 (it is okay).

When you say "운동해도 괜찮아요" , you are literally saying "Even if you exercise, it is okay." In natural conversation, this is a standard way to give permission or say that an action is acceptable.

You can use this with adjectives too: 비싸도 괜찮아요 (It is okay even if it is expensive).

Beginners sometimes confuse -(으)면 (if) and -아도/-어도 (even if).

Use -(으)면 when you are stating a normal condition and its expected result.

비가 오면 집에 있어요 (If it rains, I stay home.)

Use -아도/-어도 when you are highlighting that the condition will not stop the result.

비가 와도 가요 (Even if it rains, I go.)