But / Although

This pattern connects two clauses that have a contrasting relationship. The first clause presents a fact or situation, and the second clause presents an opposing or unexpected fact or situation.

Formation

It's very simple to form. Attach -지만 directly to the stem of a verb or adjective, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Verb Stems:

가다 (to go) → 가지만

먹다 (to eat) → 먹지만

Adjective Stems:

예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘지만

좋다 (to be good) → 좋지만

Tense

You can also attach -지만 to past or future tense stems.

Past Tense (-았/었-):

봤다 (saw) → 봤지만 (I saw it, but...)

좋았다 (was good) → 좋았지만 (It was good, but...)

Future/Conjecture (-겠-):

알겠다 (I understand) → 알겠지만 (I understand, but...)

맛있지만 너무 비싸. / 알지만 모르는 척했어. / 춥지만 하늘이 맑아. / 오래됐지만 잘 돼요.

Learners often confuse -지만 with -(으)ㄴ데, as both can translate to "but." However, they have different nuances.

-지만: Direct Contrast

Use -지만 when you want to express a clear, direct, and sometimes strong opposition between two facts. The first clause is true, in spite of the second clause being true.

Focus: Opposition. "A is true, but B is also true (and B is contrary to A)."

Example: 한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요. (Korean is difficult, but it's fun.) The difficulty and fun are presented as two opposing facts about Korean.

-(으)ㄴ데: Background & Soft Contrast

-(으)ㄴ데 is much broader. It can show a soft contrast, but its primary function is to provide background information or context for the main clause. It connects ideas more loosely.

Focus: Context. "Given fact A, here is B (a question, suggestion, or contrasting situation)."

Example: 날씨가 좋은데, 공원에 갈까요? (The weather is nice, so shall we go to the park?) Here, 좋은데 sets the scene, it's not a direct contrast.

비싸지만 좋아요. / 이 옷이 예쁜데 좀 비싸네요. / 공부했지만 시험을 잘 못 봤어요. / 지금 공부하는데, 나중에 전화할게.

-지만 is frequently used with certain verbs to create polite phrases for starting a conversation, making a request, or delivering slightly inconvenient news.

미안하지만 / 죄송하지만 (I'm sorry, but...)

This is a very common way to soften a refusal, a request, or a correction. 죄송하지만 is more formal than 미안하지만.

Usage: Before declining an offer or asking for a favor.

Example: 미안하지만 거절할게요. (I'm sorry, but I'll decline.)

실례지만 (Excuse me, but...)

This phrase is used to apologize in advance for asking a personal question or interrupting someone. It literally means "It's a discourtesy, but..."

Usage: Before asking for someone's name, age, or directions.

Example: 실례지만, 지금 몇 시예요? (Excuse me, but what time is it now?)

미안하지만 거절할게. / 죄송하지만, 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? / 실례지만, 성함이 어떻게 되세요?

The -지만 connector itself is neutral in terms of politeness. The overall formality of your sentence is determined by the verb ending in the final clause.

Casual Language (반말)

Use casual endings like -어/아 or -야/이야 when speaking to close friends, family, or people younger than you. This is the informal style you see in the first line of each pair in the drill.

Example: 힘들지만 재미있어. (It's hard, but it's fun.)

Polite Language (해요체)

Use polite endings like -아요/어요 or -예요/이에요 for most everyday conversations with adults, colleagues, or people you don't know well. This is the standard polite style.

Example: 힘들지만 재미있어요. (It's hard, but it's fun.)

Notice how only the final verb changes, not the -지만 part.

싫지만 할게. / 싫지만 할게요. / 맵지만 맛있어. / 맵지만 맛있어요. / 피곤하지만 행복해. / 피곤하지만 행복해요.