🤝

Even though / Granted: -(으)ㄴ/는 다지만

Keywords
다지만
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
🤝
TL;DR 🦄
  • -다지만 is a shortened form of -다고 하지만: they say A / I admit A / granted A, but B.
  • Use it when you acknowledge a claim, fact, excuse, or reputation, then give a contrasting point.
  • 비싸다지만 오래 쓸 수 있어요. = Granted, it is expensive, but you can use it for a long time.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 비싸다지만, 간다지만, 먹는다지만, 학생이라지만, 끝났다지만, and 갈 거라지만. Listen for the rhythm of “claim + but.”
 

🌈 The Big Picture

다지만 is a concession + contrast grammar.
 
It says:
 
I will accept A for the moment, but B is also true.
 
People say A, but B.
 
It may be true that A, but B.
 
Think of it as a softer, more report-like version of “but.”
 
Examples:
  • 이 가방은 비싸다지만 오래 쓸 수 있어요.
      • [i ga-bang-eun bi-ssa-da-ji-man o-rae sseul su i-sseo-yo]
      Granted, this bag is expensive, but you can use it for a long time. 👜
  • 친구가 온다지만 아직 확실하지 않아요.
      • [chin-gu-ga on-da-ji-man a-jik hwak-sil-ha-ji a-na-yo]
      My friend says they are coming, but it is not certain yet. 📱
  • 초보자라지만 발표를 정말 잘했어요.
      • [cho-bo-ja-ra-ji-man bal-pyo-reul jeong-mal ja-rae-sseo-yo]
      They say they are a beginner, but they gave the presentation really well. 🎤
 
This grammar is useful for polite disagreement, reviews, advice, planning, excuses, and “yes, but...” situations.

🧠 What Is 다지만 Doing?

The hidden full form is often:
 
-다고 하지만 → -다지만
 
So:
  • 비싸다고 하지만 → 비싸다지만
      • They say it is expensive, but...
  • 간다고 하지만 → 간다지만
      • They say they are going, but...
  • 학생이라고 하지만 → 학생이라지만
      • They say they are a student, but...
 
Common chunks:
  • 좋다지만 — granted it is good, but...
  • 비싸다지만 — granted it is expensive, but...
  • 어렵다지만 — they say it is difficult, but...
  • 바쁘다지만 — granted someone is busy, but...
  • 간다지만 — they say someone is going, but...
  • 먹는다지만 — they say someone eats / will eat, but...
  • 학생이라지만 — they say someone is a student, but...
  • 갔다지만 — they say someone went, but...
  • 갈 거라지만 — they say someone will go, but...

🧩 Formation Rules

The page title uses -(으)ㄴ/는 다지만, but in real sentences this follows quoted declarative forms.
 

1. Action verb present: stem + ㄴ/는다지만

Use this for actions, habits, or present/future quoted actions.
 
  • 가다 → 간다지만 — they say they are going, but...
  • 오다 → 온다지만 — they say they are coming, but...
  • 먹다 → 먹는다지만 — they say they eat / will eat, but...
  • 읽다 → 읽는다지만 — they say they read, but...
  • 하다 → 한다지만 — they say they do it, but...
 

2. Descriptive verb / adjective: stem + 다지만

Use this for states and qualities.
 
  • 좋다 → 좋다지만 — granted it is good, but...
  • 비싸다 → 비싸다지만 — granted it is expensive, but...
  • 어렵다 → 어렵다지만 — they say it is difficult, but...
  • 바쁘다 → 바쁘다지만 — granted someone is busy, but...
  • 편리하다 → 편리하다지만 — granted it is convenient, but...
 

3. Noun: N(이)라지만

Use this for identity or category.
 
  • 학생 → 학생이라지만 — they say someone is a student, but...
  • 초보자 → 초보자라지만 — they say someone is a beginner, but...
  • 전문가 → 전문가라지만 — they say someone is an expert, but...
  • 좋은 기회 → 좋은 기회라지만 — they say it is a good opportunity, but...
 

4. Past: -았/었다지만

Use this for a reported or admitted past fact.
 
  • 가다 → 갔다지만 — they say someone went, but...
  • 먹다 → 먹었다지만 — they say someone ate, but...
  • 끝나다 → 끝났다지만 — they say it ended, but...
  • 도움이 되다 → 도움이 되었다지만 — they say it was helpful, but...
 

5. Future / prediction / plan: -(으)ㄹ 거라지만

Use this for a reported future plan or prediction.
 
  • 가다 → 갈 거라지만 — they say they will go, but...
  • 끝나다 → 끝날 거라지만 — they say it will end, but...
  • 좋아지다 → 좋아질 거라지만 — they say it will get better, but...
  • 해결되다 → 해결될 거라지만 — they say it will be solved, but...

🛠️ How It Works in Sentences

1. Acknowledge a point, then disagree gently

  • 그 말이 맞다지만 저는 조금 다르게 생각해요.
      • Granted, that statement is right, but I think a little differently. 🤔
  • 좋은 방법이라지만 모든 상황에 맞지는 않아요.
      • It may be a good method, but it does not fit every situation.
 

2. Repeat a claim, then show doubt

  • 친구가 온다지만 아직 확실하지 않아요.
      • My friend says they are coming, but it is still not certain.
  • 내일 끝날 거라지만 저는 아직 걱정돼요.
      • They say it will end tomorrow, but I am still worried.
 

3. Admit difficulty, then continue anyway

  • 어렵다지만 한번 해 볼게요.
      • They say it is difficult, but I will try it once. 💪
  • 시간이 없다지만 중요한 일은 먼저 해야 해요.
      • Granted there is no time, but important work should be done first. ⏰
 

4. Contrast reputation or identity with reality

  • 초보자라지만 정말 침착하게 설명했어요.
      • They say they are a beginner, but they explained very calmly.
  • 학생이라지만 경험이 많아요.
      • They are a student, but they have a lot of experience. 🎓
 

5. Reviews and evaluations

  • 가격이 싸다지만 품질이 걱정돼요.
      • Granted the price is cheap, but I am worried about the quality.
  • 편리하다지만 개인정보 문제가 있어요.
      • It may be convenient, but there are privacy issues.

🔍 Meaning Contrast

다지만

Reported or admitted fact + contrast.
  • 비싸다지만 오래 쓸 수 있어요.
      • Granted it is expensive / they say it is expensive, but you can use it for a long time.
 

지만

Simple direct “but.”
  • 비싸지만 오래 쓸 수 있어요.
      • It is expensive, but you can use it for a long time.
 

-아/어도

Even if / even though; A does not stop B.
  • 비싸도 살 거예요.
      • Even if it is expensive, I will buy it.
 

-는데도

Concrete background fact + unexpected result.
  • 비싼데도 사람들이 많이 사요.
      • Even though it is expensive, people buy it a lot.
 

-는데도 불구하고

Formal written “despite / in spite of.”
  • 비싼데도 불구하고 인기가 많아요.
      • Despite being expensive, it is popular.
 

반면에

Balanced comparison between two sides.
  • 비싼 반면에 품질이 좋아요.
      • It is expensive; on the other hand, the quality is good.
 

-(으)ㄹ지언정

Strong formal concession, often with resolve or sacrifice.
  • 늦을지언정 포기하지 않겠어요.
      • Even if I am late, I will not give up.
 
Shortcut:
  • quoted/admitted “granted A, but B” → 다지만
  • simple “A, but B” → 지만
  • “even if A, B still happens” → -아/어도
  • fact + unexpected result → -는데도
  • formal “despite” → -는데도 불구하고
  • balanced comparison → 반면에
  • strong formal resolve → -(으)ㄹ지언정

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson connects with
🌧️
Even if / Although: -아/어도,
🫢
Contrastive Background: -는데도,
🛡️
Even if it means: -(으)ㄹ지언정,
🌉
Background Information: -는데 / -(으)ㄴ데, and
⚖️
On the other hand: 반면에. The main difference is that 다지만 sounds like you are granting or reporting A before adding B.

🪞 Synonym & Usage Alert

Possible English translations:
  • they say that..., but...
  • it is said that..., but...
  • granted that..., but...
  • I admit that..., but...
  • although it may be true that...
  • sure, A..., but B...
 
Useful chunks:
  • 맞다지만 — granted it is right, but...
  • 좋다지만 — granted it is good, but...
  • 비싸다지만 — granted it is expensive, but...
  • 어렵다지만 — they say it is difficult, but...
  • 간다지만 — they say they are going, but...
  • 먹는다지만 — they say they eat / will eat, but...
  • 초보자라지만 — they say they are a beginner, but...
  • 끝났다지만 — they say it ended, but...
 
Tone note:
  • 다지만 can soften disagreement because it first acknowledges the other point.
  • It is stronger than plain 지만 in the sense that it frames A as a claim, report, or conceded fact.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 비싼다지만 → ✅ 비싸다지만. Adjectives use 다지만.
  • ❌ 먹다지만 for present action → ✅ 먹는다지만.
  • ❌ 가는다지만 → ✅ 간다지만.
  • ❌ 학생다지만 → ✅ 학생이라지만.
  • ❌ 끝난다지만 when you mean “they say it ended” → ✅ 끝났다지만.
  • ⚠️ Do not use 다지만 for every “but.” If you only need a simple contrast, use 지만.
  • ⚠️ Make sure the second clause actually contrasts, limits, doubts, corrects, or adds a different angle.
You now have the “granted, but...” tool: 비싸다지만, 좋다지만, 간다지만, 학생이라지만, 끝났다지만. Thoughtful concession unlocked. 🤝✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each blank with the correct 다지만 form.
1. 비싸다 → 이 가방은 ＿＿＿＿ 오래 쓸 수 있어요.
Answer
비싸다지만 — Granted it is expensive, but...
2. 좋다 → 방법은 ＿＿＿＿ 시간이 오래 걸려요.
Answer
좋다지만.
3. 가다 → 친구가 ＿＿＿＿ 저는 안 갈 거예요.
Answer
간다지만.
4. 먹다 → 아이가 ＿＿＿＿ 거의 안 먹었어요.
Answer
먹는다지만.
5. 초보자 → ＿＿＿＿ 발표를 잘했어요.
Answer
초보자라지만.
6. 끝났다 → 이미 ＿＿＿＿ 질문이 남아 있어요.
Answer
끝났다지만.
7. Choose: “they say it is difficult, but...”
① 어렵다지만 / ② 어려운다지만
Answer
① 어렵다지만.
8. Choose: “they say they go, but...”
① 간다지만 / ② 가다지만
Answer
① 간다지만.
9. Fix: ❌ 학생다지만
Answer
학생이라지만.
10. Translate: “Granted it is expensive, the quality is good.”
Answer
비싸다지만 품질은 좋아요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 다지만 → they say / granted, but
  • 비싸다 → to be expensive
  • 오래 → for a long time
  • 방법 → method
  • 아이 → child
  • 초보자 → beginner
  • 발표 → presentation
  • 품질 → quality
Tip 💡 다지만 often answers a claim: “That may be true, but...”
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below gives you 50 more questions: forms, “granted but” sentences, reported claims, grammar choices, and error fixes.
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Even though / Granted: -다지만
 
Welcome to the “granted, but...” lab. 🤝 You’ll practice admitting or reporting a point, then pushing back with a second idea.
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear each completed sentence aloud.
 

Exercise 1 — Build the 다지만 Form 🔧

A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
간다지만
B. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
온다지만
C. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹는다지만
D. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
읽는다지만
E. 하다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
한다지만
F. 좋다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
좋다지만
G. 어렵다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
어렵다지만
H. 학생 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
학생이라지만
I. 초보자 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
초보자라지만
J. 끝났다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
끝났다지만
🔧
Form Box
  • action present → ㄴ/는다지만
  • adjective/state → 다지만
  • noun → (이)라지만
  • past → -았/었다지만
  • future → -(으)ㄹ 거라지만
Memory tip 💡 If you can expand it to -다고 하지만, it can often shrink into -다지만.
 

Exercise 2 — Granted, But... 🤝

A. 이 제품은 비싸다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: the quality is good
Answer
품질은 좋아요.
B. 그 방법은 좋다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: it takes too much time
Answer
시간이 너무 오래 걸려요.
C. 그 사람이 바쁘다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: they can reply once
Answer
답장은 한 번 할 수 있어요.
D. 시험이 어렵다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I will try anyway
Answer
그래도 한번 해 볼게요.
E. 날씨가 춥다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I still want to go out
Answer
그래도 나가고 싶어요.
F. 모두 쉽다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: it is hard for me
Answer
저한테는 어려워요.
G. 그 일은 중요하다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: rest is also necessary
Answer
휴식도 필요해요.
H. 가격이 싸다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I am worried about quality
Answer
품질이 걱정돼요.
I. 편리하다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: personal information is worrying
Answer
개인정보가 걱정돼요.
J. 맞다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I think differently
Answer
저는 다르게 생각해요.
🤝
Concession words
  • 그래도 → still / even so
  • 한번 해 보다 → to try once
  • 답장 → reply
  • 휴식 → rest
  • 개인정보 → personal information
Tip 💡 After 다지만, the second clause usually pushes back or limits the first clause.
 

Exercise 3 — Reported Claim + Counterpoint 🗣️

A. 친구가 간다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I am not going
Answer
저는 안 갈 거예요.
B. 동생이 먹는다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I do not believe it
Answer
저는 믿지 않아요.
C. 민수 씨가 한다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: we should check again
Answer
다시 확인해야 해요.
D. 그 사람이 전문가라지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: they can make mistakes too
Answer
실수할 수도 있어요.
E. 초보자라지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: they speak confidently
Answer
자신 있게 말해요.
F. 학생이라지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: they have a lot of experience
Answer
경험이 많아요.
G. 좋은 기회라지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I need time to think
Answer
생각할 시간이 필요해요.
H. 안전하다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I am still worried
Answer
그래도 걱정돼요.
I. 내일 끝날 거라지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: I am not sure yet
Answer
아직 확실하지 않아요.
J. 도움이 되었다지만 ＿＿＿＿.
Use: it did not solve the problem
Answer
문제를 해결하지는 못했어요.
🗣️
Report frames
  • 간다지만 → they say they are going, but...
  • 한다지만 → they say they will do it, but...
  • 전문가라지만 → they say they are an expert, but...
  • 끝날 거라지만 → they say it will end, but...
Tip 💡 다지만 is very natural when the first clause is someone else’s statement or a common belief.
 

Exercise 4 — Choose the Best Contrast Grammar 🧭

A. “It is expensive, but the quality is good.” Simple contrast.
① 비싸지만 품질은 좋아요 / ② 비싸다지만 품질은 좋아요
Answer
① 비싸지만 품질은 좋아요. Simple direct contrast uses 지만.
B. “Granted it is expensive, the quality is good.”
① 비싸다지만 품질은 좋아요 / ② 비싸도 품질은 좋아요
Answer
① 비싸다지만 품질은 좋아요.
C. “Even if it is expensive, I will buy it.”
① 비싸도 살 거예요 / ② 비싸다지만 살 거예요
Answer
① 비싸도 살 거예요. Hypothetical “even if” uses -아/어도.
D. “Even though it is expensive, people buy it.” Unexpected result.
① 비싼데도 사람들이 사요 / ② 비싸다지만 사람들이 사요
Answer
① 비싼데도 사람들이 사요. Use -는데도 for fact + unexpected result.
E. “They say they are a beginner, but they explain well.”
① 초보자라지만 설명을 잘해요 / ② 초보자다지만 설명을 잘해요
Answer
① 초보자라지만 설명을 잘해요.
F. “It is convenient; on the other hand, it is expensive.”
① 편리한 반면에 비싸요 / ② 편리하다지만 비싸요
Answer
① 편리한 반면에 비싸요. Balanced comparison uses 반면에.
G. “They say they will go, but I’m not sure.”
① 간다지만 확실하지 않아요 / ② 가다지만 확실하지 않아요
Answer
① 간다지만 확실하지 않아요.
H. “They say it ended, but questions remain.”
① 끝났다지만 질문이 남아 있어요 / ② 끝난다지만 질문이 남아 있어요
Answer
① 끝났다지만 질문이 남아 있어요.
I. Which one means “despite / in spite of” in formal writing?
① -는데도 불구하고 / ② 반면에
Answer
① -는데도 불구하고.
J. Which one means “granted / they say A, but B”?
① 다지만 / ② 동안
Answer
① 다지만.
🧭
Decision Box
  • simple but → 지만
  • granted / they say, but → 다지만
  • even if → -아/어도
  • even though fact + surprise → -는데도
  • formal despite → -는데도 불구하고
  • on the other hand → 반면에
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Translation + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. Translate: “Granted, it is expensive, but the quality is good.”
Answer
비싸다지만 품질은 좋아요.
B. Translate: “They say it is difficult, but I will try.”
Answer
어렵다지만 한번 해 볼게요.
C. Translate: “They say they are a beginner, but they presented well.”
Answer
초보자라지만 발표를 잘했어요.
D. Translate: “They say they will go, but I am not sure.”
Answer
간다지만 확실하지 않아요.
E. Translate: “They say it will get better, but I am still worried.”
Answer
좋아질 거라지만 아직 걱정돼요.
F. Fix: ❌ 비싼다지만
Answer
비싸다지만.
G. Fix: ❌ 먹다지만 (present action)
Answer
먹는다지만.
H. Fix: ❌ 가는다지만
Answer
간다지만.
I. Fix: ❌ 전문가다지만
Answer
전문가라지만.
J. What does 다지만 add that plain 지만 does not?
Answer
It adds the feeling of reporting, admitting, or granting the first point before giving a contrast: “they say A / granted A, but B.”
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Final Check
  • 가다 → 간다지만
  • 오다 → 온다지만
  • 먹다 → 먹는다지만
  • 하다 → 한다지만
  • 좋다 → 좋다지만
  • 비싸다 → 비싸다지만
  • 학생 → 학생이라지만
  • 초보자 → 초보자라지만
  • 끝나다 → 끝났다지만
Final Boss Rule 💡 다지만 is not just “but.” It means “I grant/report that point, but here is another angle.”
 
🎉 Practice complete. You can now use 다지만 to concede, report, and gently push back: 비싸다지만, 어렵다지만, 간다지만, 학생이라지만, and 끝났다지만. Thoughtful concession Korean unlocked. 🤝✨