Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 7 - Upper-Intermediate Korean #2 (Lessons 181 to 210) ᚛ Lesson 200 - Even if in Korean #2 [-더라도] [-(ㄴ/는)다고 하더라도]
Even if in Korean #2 [-더라도] [-(ㄴ/는)다고 하더라도]
In the lesson on "even if", we saw the -아/어도 structure, which expresses a concession in a neutral way. Korean has a second structure, -더라도, which presents the concession as a hypothesis pushed to its limit: "even if", "no matter if", "even supposing that". We will first look at -더라도, then at its form reinforced by indirect speech, -(ㄴ/는)다고 하더라도, and finally at what distinguishes these forms from -아/어도.
Even if with -더라도
The -더라도 structure is used in the following manner:
[Present / past stem]더라도
You will recognize the 더 of the -더니 and -던 structures: it presents the situation of the first part as imagined, often unlikely or extreme. The second part then expresses what will remain true regardless: a decision, an intention, a judgment. This is why -더라도 is so often accompanied by 아무리 ("no matter how") in the first part, and by 절대, 꼭 or 여전히 in the second.
회사 일이 아무리 바쁘더라도 너를 꼭 다시 만나고 싶어.
→ No matter how busy work gets, I really want to see you again.
수진이가 나에게 사과하러 오더라도 나는 절대 사과를 받아 주지 않을 거예요.
→ Even if Sujin came to apologize to me, I would never accept her apology.
이번 한국 교환학생 면접에 붙더라도 부모님의 반대로 한국에 갈 수 있을지 모르겠어요.
→ Even if I pass the interview for the exchange program in Korea, I do not know whether I will be able to go, because of my parents’ opposition.
이번에 유럽 여행을 갈 수 있는 기회가 있더라도 지난번에 갔던 이탈리아와 독일은 가지 않을 거예요.
→ Even if I had the chance to travel to Europe this time, I would not go to Italy or Germany, where I went last time.
이 살인사건의 범인이 밝혀지더라도 유족들이 가족을 잃은 슬픔은 무엇으로도 달래 줄 수 없어.
→ Even if the culprit of this murder is identified, nothing can soothe the grief of the family who lost one of their own.
회원님이 아무리 운동을 자주 하더라도 식이조절을 병행하지 않으면 살을 빼기는 어려워요.
→ No matter how often you exercise, if you do not watch your diet at the same time, it will be hard to lose weight.
지금 방에서 2층의 더 넓은 방으로 물건을 다 옮기더라도 여전히 방이 좁을 거예요.
→ Even if you move all your things into the bigger room on the second floor, the room will still be cramped.
방역 규제가 완화됨에 따라서 실외 마스크를 착용하지 않아도 된다고 했지만 여전히 많은 사람들은 실외에 나가더라도 마스크를 착용할 거라고 했어요.
→ With the easing of health rules, it was announced that masks were no longer required outdoors, but many people said they would keep wearing one even when going out.
After a noun, we use [Noun](이)더라도, and with the past stem, -았/었더라도 refers to a fact supposed to be already completed:
아무리 친한 친구 사이더라도 돈 문제는 분명히 해야 해요.
→ Even between very close friends, money matters must be settled clearly.
재현이가 아무리 많은 업무를 같이했더라도 지금까지의 불성실한 태도 때문에 모든 사람에게 인정받을 수는 없을 거예요.
→ No matter how much work Jaehyun had shared with us, he could not be recognized by everyone, because of the half-hearted attitude he has shown so far.
Even if we say that: -(ㄴ/는)다고 하더라도
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Differences between -아/어도 and -더라도
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Exercises
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