-건만
Used when the following clause is the opposite of what you would expect based on the first clause — usually expressing disappointment or a sad contrast.
Summary
Equivalent
But... / However...
Also: -지마는 · -(으)나
Example
My heart feels young, but my body just won't cooperate.
마음은 젊건만 몸이 따라 주질 않네요.
Grammar rules
- It implies 'Despite [X] being true or expected, [Y] (the contrasting reality) is what actually happened.' It has a slightly literary or lamenting tone.
- Interchangeable with '-지만' or '-(으)나'.
- The subject of the first clause and second clause can be the same or different.
열심히 공부했건만 시험에 떨어졌다. (I studied hard, but I still failed the exam.)
Patterns
A/V (Adj/Verbs)
과거/완료 (Past/Completed) · -았건만/었건만
A/V (Adj/Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -건만
A/V (Adj/Verbs)
미래/추측 (Future/Guess) · -겠건만
N이다 (Noun + Copula)
과거/완료 (Past/Completed) · 였건만/이었건만
N이다 (Noun + Copula)
현재 (Present) · (이)건만
Example sentences
My heart feels young, but my body just won't cooperate.
마음은 젊건만 몸이 따라 주질 않네요.
The sky is clear, but my heart feels heavy today.
하늘은 맑건만 오늘은 마음이 무겁다.
I waited for a long time, but that person never showed up in the end.
오래 기다렸건만 그 사람은 끝내 나타나지 않았다.
Conversation
A: Do you still go exercise in the early morning these days?
요즘도 새벽마다 운동하러 가시나요?
B: No, my heart wants to go, but I keep getting too tired in the end.
아니요, 마음은 가고 싶건만 피곤해서 결국 못 가게 되더라고요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct contrasting phrase using '-건만'.
열심히 노력했는데 결과가 안 좋았어요.
날씨가 좋아 보이는데 비가 와요.