Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 8 - Advanced Korean #1 (Lessons 211 to 240) ᚛ Lesson 211 - As long as, now that in Korean [-는 한] [-는 이상]
As long as, now that in Korean [-는 한] [-는 이상]
In Korean, to say "as long as", "so long as", we use the structure -는 한: the clause that precedes it sets the condition without which what follows is no longer true. A related structure, -(으)ㄴ/는 이상, expresses "now that", "since": a fact is established, and it brings about a consequence that can no longer be avoided. Both are often translated as "as long as" in English, but they do not say quite the same thing.
"As long as" with -는 한
The noun 한 means "limit". Placed after the present adjectival form, it marks the boundaries within which the main clause remains valid:
[Stem]는 한 [Consequence]
The form is the same for all verbs, including 있다 and 없다 (있는 한, 없는 한). ㄹ verbs drop their ㄹ: 알다 gives 아는 한, "as far as I know". The tense of the sentence is carried by the main clause, most often in the future or with -(으)ㄹ 거예요, -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 and -(으)ㄹ 수 없다.
재현이가 네 곁에 함께 있는 한 내가 너를 더 이상 걱정할 일은 없을 것 같아.
→ As long as Jaehyun is by your side, I don't think I'll have to worry about you anymore.
이웃들이 계속해서 관심을 가지고 챙겨 주는 한 독거노인들도 희망을 잃지 않을 거예요.
→ As long as the neighbors keep caring about them and looking after them, the elderly people living alone won't lose hope.
외할머니는 건강이 허락하는 한 농사일을 손에서 놓지 않을 거라고 말씀하셨어요.
→ My maternal grandmother said that as long as her health allowed it, she would not give up farm work.
그동안 혼자서 힘들었겠지만 앞으로는 내 능력이 닿는 한 최대한 너를 도와줄 거야.
→ It must have been hard for you on your own until now, but from now on I'll help you as much as I possibly can.
내가 아는 한 민지는 그런 일을 할 아이가 아니야.
→ As far as I know, Minji is not the kind of girl who would do that.
The expressions 내가 아는 한, "as far as I know", 가능한 한, "as much as possible", 내 능력이 닿는 한, "as far as my abilities allow", and 건강이 허락하는 한, "as long as my health allows", are very common and worth memorizing as they are.
"Unless" with -지 않는 한
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"Now that", "since" with -(으)ㄴ/는 이상
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Exercises
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