⚖️ Using ~데 and ~지만 to Contrast Ideas in Korean

 

Are you looking to express contrast like "but" or "although" in Korean? Two of the most commonly used grammar forms are ~데 and ~지만. Let's explore how to use them naturally and correctly in conversations.

🧭 Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction to Contrast in Korean
• 2. How to Use ~지만
• 3. How to Use ~데
• 4. ~지만 vs ~데
• 5. Tips & Common Mistakes
• 6. 🤔 Did you know?
• 7. Practice on italki

1. Introduction to Contrast in Korean

In English, we use words like "but," "although," or "however" to show contrast. In Korean, ~지만 and ~데 serve a similar function, but they’re not always interchangeable.

2. How to Use ~지만

~지만 is the direct equivalent of "but" or "although." It is often used in formal writing and clear comparisons.

Conjugation:

• Verb/Adjective stem + 지만

Examples:

• 한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요.
  han-guk-eo-neun eo-ryeop-jiman jae-mi-it-seo-yo
  Korean is difficult, but fun.
• 날씨가 춥지만 밖에 나가고 싶어요.
  nal-ssi-ga chup-ji-man bak-ke na-ga-go sip-eo-yo
  It's cold, but I want to go outside.
• 음식이 맛있지만 너무 매워요.
  eum-sik-i ma-sit-jiman neo-mu mae-wo-yo
  The food is tasty, but too spicy.
• 돈이 없지만 여행을 가고 싶어요.
  don-i eop-jiman yeo-haeng-eul ga-go sip-eo-yo
  I don't have money, but I want to travel.
• 운동을 좋아하지만 자주 못 해요.
  un-dong-eul jo-a-ha-ji-man ja-ju mot hae-yo
  I like exercising, but I can’t do it often.

3. How to Use ~데

~데 can mean “but,” “and,” or “so,” depending on context. It is more casual and often leads into additional context or contrasting background information.

Conjugation:

• Verb/Adjective stem + 는데 / 인데 / ㄴ데 / 은데

Examples:

• 저는 학생인데 제 친구는 선생님이에요.
  jeo-neun hak-saeng-in-de je chin-gu-neun seon-saeng-nim-i-e-yo
  I'm a student, but my friend is a teacher.
• 바쁜데 시간 내줘서 고마워요.
  ba-ppeun-de shi-gan nae-jwo-seo go-ma-wo-yo
  You’re busy, but thank you for making time.
• 좋은데 너무 비싸요.
  jo-eun-de neo-mu bi-ssa-yo
  It’s nice, but too expensive.
• 운동하는데 땀이 많이 나요.
  un-dong-ha-neun-de tta-mi ma-ni na-yo
  I’m exercising, and I'm sweating a lot.
• 그 사람은 친절한데 말이 너무 많아요.
  geu sa-ram-eun chin-jeol-han-de mal-i neo-mu man-a-yo
  That person is kind, but talks too much.

4. ~지만 vs ~데

• ~지만: More formal, complete sentence contrast
• ~데: Conversational, often implies more to come
• ~지만 can be sentence-final. ~데 usually connects to the next thought.

Example:

숙제를 했지만 어려웠어요. (I did the homework, but it was hard.)
숙제를 했는데 너무 어려웠어요. (I did the homework, and it was too hard.)

5. Tips & Common Mistakes

• Don’t use both ~지만 and ~데 together in one clause.
• Use ~지만 for writing, ~데 more in speech.
• Pay attention to verb endings: ~데 changes form based on verb type.

6. 🤔 Did you know?

Korean learners often overuse ~지만 because it’s easier to learn. But native speakers use ~데 in daily life more frequently, especially when giving context before a request or opinion. Mastering both adds real fluency to your speaking!

7. Practice on italki

🗣️ Want to sound more natural in conversations?

👉 Book a lesson with me on italki and get feedback using ~지만 and ~데 like a native!