Korean Pattern ~기는 하다: How to Say "do ~ but... (concession)"

Verb/Adj stem + 기는 하다. Acknowledges something before contrasting. Emphasizes concession.

The Rule

~기는 하다 = "do ~ but... (concession)" Verb/Adj stem + 기는 하다. Acknowledges something before contrasting. Emphasizes concession. This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "do ~ but... (concession)" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "do ~ but... (concession)" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~기는 하다 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + 기는 하다 Verb/Adj stem + 기는 하다. Acknowledges something before contrasting. Emphasizes concession. Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가기는 하다 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 맛있기는 한데 비싸요. (matitgineun hande bissayo.) — "It IS delicious, but it's expensive." • 알기는 알아요. (argineun arayo.) — "I DO know, but..."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "do ~ but... (concession)" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~기는 하다 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "do ~ but... (concession)" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~기는 하다 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가기는 하다 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹기는 하다 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~기는 하다 = "do ~ but... (concession)"

Examples

맛있기는 한데 비싸요. — matitgineun hande bissayo. — It IS delicious, but it's expensive.

알기는 알아요. — argineun arayo. — I DO know, but...