더라도 (emphatic concessive) - Even If/Though

This grammar acts like a strong bridge. The first part sets up a big challenge. The second part shows your unshakable result. You are acknowledging a potential problem. But you are also saying it doesn't matter. It works with verbs and adjectives. You can even use it with nouns. It creates a sense of "No matter what." Imagine you are in a K-drama. You are confessing your love in the rain. -더라도 is the grammar you would use. It adds a bit of drama and weight. It tells people you really mean it. It is perfect for making promises. It is also great for giving strong advice.

1. 1For Verbs, just take the dictionary form. Remove the 다. Add -더라도.
2. 2먹다 becomes 먹더라도.
3. 3가다 becomes 가더라도.
4. 4For Adjectives, the process is the same. No changes needed for the stem.
5. 5비싸다 becomes 비싸더라도.
6. 6멀다 becomes 멀더라도.
7. 7For Nouns, you need to add 이. Then add -더라도.
8. 8학생 becomes 학생이더라도.
9. 9의사 becomes 의사이더라도.
10. 10For Past Tense, use the past tense stem first.
11. 11갔다 becomes 갔더라도.
12. 12먹었다 becomes 먹었더라도.
13. 13If the stem ends in a vowel or consonant, the rule stays the same. It is very regular and friendly.

Use this when you want to sound serious. It is great for job interviews. You might say, "Even if the work is hard, I will do my best." That sounds professional. Use it when ordering food that might be too spicy. "Even if it is spicy, I want to try it." It shows your courage! Use it when asking directions. "Even if it takes a long time, I will walk." It shows you are not lazy. You can use it for hypothetical situations. These are things that haven't happened yet. But you are preparing for them. It is also useful for conceding a point. You admit something is true. But your opinion stays the same. "Even if he is rich, I don't like him." That is a classic -더라도 moment.

Don't use it for very small, daily things. If you say, "Even if I eat a snack, I'll be happy," it sounds too dramatic. It is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. For small things, use -아/어도. Avoid using it when you aren't sure. If you sound weak, -더라도 feels out of place. It needs a strong second clause. Don't use it if you are just listing facts. It needs that "concessive" feeling. It shouldn't be used in very formal government reports often. There, more formal written forms are preferred. But in daily life and business, it is perfect. Just don't over-dramatize your breakfast choices. Your cereal doesn't need that much emotional weight.

Many people forget the 이 for nouns. They say 학생더라도. That is a bit of a "clunk" sound. Always remember 학생이더라도. Another mistake is mixing it up with -다면. -다면 is just "if." -더라도 is "even if." Some people use the wrong tense. They use the future tense -겠더라도. This is almost never used. Stick to the present or past stem. Don't forget the second clause must be a result. It cannot be a question usually. "Even if it rains, will you go?" sounds a bit odd. Better to say, "Even if it rains, go!" or "I will go."

Let's compare -더라도 with -아/어도. Think of -아/어도 as a light breeze. It means "even though" for common things. -더라도 is a heavy storm. It is much more emphatic. If you use -아/어도, you are just stating a fact. If you use -더라도, you are making a point. There is also -을지라도. That one is very old-fashioned. You might hear it in old songs or poems. In modern Seoul, -더라도 is the king of emphasis. If -아/어도 is a polite nod, -더라도 is a firm handshake. Use -더라도 when you want to impress someone with your resolve.