Intermediate (JSON) Estimated read: 3 mins

-(으)ㄴ/는데도

Used when the result in the second clause is unexpected or contrary to what would normally be expected given the first clause.

Summary

Equivalent

Even though / Despite the fact that

Also: -(으)ㄴ/는데 (Background + contrast - without the 'even though' emphasis) · -아/어도 (Even if/even though - more about hypothetical conditions)

Example

Even though I took medicine, my fever hasn't gone down.

약을 먹는데도 열이 안 내려요.

Grammar rules

  • Emphasizes that despite the circumstances described in the first clause, the result in the second clause is surprising or unfortunate.
  • Stronger sense of contradiction than '-(으)ㄴ/는데'.
  • The subject of both clauses is usually the same, and the second clause expresses a result opposite to what is expected.

    열심히 공부했는데도 시험에 떨어졌어요. (Even though I studied hard, I failed the exam.)

Patterns

1

Verbs (Present)

Present · Verb Stem + 는데도

2

Verbs (Past)

Past · Verb Stem + 았/었/했는데도

3

Adjectives (Present)

Present · Adjective Stem + (으)ㄴ데도

Example sentences

Verbs (Past) · Past · Verb Stem + 았/었/했는데도

Even though I took medicine, my fever hasn't gone down.

약을 먹는데도 열이 안 내려요.

Adjectives (Present) · Present · Adjective Stem + (으)ㄴ데도

Even though there's no money in my wallet, I still want to go shopping.

지갑에 돈이 없는데도 쇼핑을 하고 싶어요.

Verbs (Present) · Present · Verb Stem + 는데도

Even though I'm still full, I keep wanting to eat.

직 배가 부른데도 계속 먹고 싶어요.

Conversation

A: Why do you look so tired?

왜 이렇게 피곤해 보여요?

B: Even though I went to bed early, I'm still sleepy.

일찍 잠자리에 들는데도 계속 졸려요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct 'despite' contrast expression.

Exercising (Present Verb).

Expensive (Adj).