How to Say "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking" in Korean | -지만 Grammar
Quick Answer: "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking" in Korean is "토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요." (tokkineun pigonhajiman, kkeutkkaji geoleoyo.). It uses the -지만 grammar pattern (But/However (-지만)). Level: A2.
In Korean, "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking" is expressed as "토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요.". This sentence demonstrates But/However (-지만), one of the most useful grammar patterns for Korean learners. Let's explore the grammar and vocabulary.
What does "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking" mean in Korean?
The Korean sentence "토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요." translates to "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking." in English. This line matches the English meaning, "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking", but it keeps the mood soft. The "-요" ending makes it gentle and kind.
Pronunciation guide: tokkineun pigonhajiman, kkeutkkaji geoleoyo.
Grammar Point: But/However (-지만)
The connective -지만 joins two contrasting clauses, similar to 'but' or 'however' in English. It attaches directly to the verb/adjective stem. This sentence also uses -아/어요.
Verb stem + 지만. For example: 작지만 (small but…), 춥지만 (cold but…).
Korean Sentence Structure Breakdown
Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, which is different from English (SVO). In "토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요.", the verb comes at the end of the sentence. Here is the word-by-word breakdown: • 토끼는 (tokkineun) • 피곤하지만, (pigonhajiman,) • 끝까지 (kkeutkkaji) • 걸어요 (geoleoyo)
Korean sentences always end with the verb. Get comfortable with putting the action word last.
Why This Korean Expression Sounds Natural
English depends on voice tone for warmth. Korean bakes warmth into the sentence, so "The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking" sounds like a friendly whisper.
Cultural Insight
한국어는 감정을 드러낼 때도 부드러운 말투로 마음의 온기를 전해요.
Examples
토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요. — tokkineun pigonhajiman, kkeutkkaji geoleoyo. — The rabbit is tired, but keeps walking.
지금 토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요. — jigeum tokkineun pigonhajiman, kkeutkkaji geoleoyo. — Right now, the rabbit is tired, but keeps walking
정말 토끼는 피곤하지만, 끝까지 걸어요. — jeongmal tokkineun pigonhajiman, kkeutkkaji geoleoyo. — Really, the rabbit is tired, but keeps walking
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 작은지만 → Correct: 작지만. Do not add the modifier ending -은/-는 before -지만. Attach -지만 directly to the stem.
Incorrect: 먹아요 → Correct: 먹어요. The stem 먹- ends in a dark vowel (ㅓ), so it takes -어요 not -아요. Match the vowel harmony.
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