아/어/여도 (concessive conditional) - Even If, Although

This pattern connects two clauses together. The first clause sets a condition or a situation. The second clause shows an unexpected or persistent result. Usually, you expect the first part to stop the second part. But with 아/어/여도, the second part wins. For example, "Even if it rains, I will go." The rain should stop you, but it doesn't. In Korean, the 도 part means "also" or "even." When added to the 아/어/여 connective form, it creates this concessive meaning. It works with verbs, adjectives, and nouns. It can describe the past, present, or future. However, the tense is usually expressed in the final verb. This keeps the middle of your sentence clean and easy. It’s like a grammar bridge that handles a lot of traffic. You just need to make sure the bridge is built correctly.

1. 1Building this is just like making the polite present tense. If you can say 아요/어요, you can do this. Here is the step-by-step breakdown:
2. 2Look at the last vowel of the verb or adjective stem.
3. 3If the vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 아도. For example, 가다 becomes 가도.
4. 4If the vowel is anything else, add 어도. For example, 먹다 becomes 먹어도.
5. 5For 하다 verbs, change them to 해도. This includes all those long noun+하다 verbs.
6. 6For nouns, use 이어도 if it ends in a consonant. Use 여도 if it ends in a vowel.
7. 7For irregulars, follow the standard rules. 돕다 becomes 도와도. 듣다 becomes 들어도.
8. 8It’s basically the 아/어/여 form plus 도. If you've mastered the 해요 style, you're 90% there. Just drop the 요 and slide in that 도. It’s like swapping a hat on a friend you already know.

You’ll use this in many real-world scenarios. Imagine you are at a spicy rice cake stand. You might say, "Even if it's spicy, I'll eat it." That's 매워도 먹을 거예요. Or maybe you are at a job interview. You want to say, "Even if the work is hard, I won't quit." That's 일이 힘들어도 포기하지 않겠어요. It's perfect for showing your boss you're tough. Use it when you want to emphasize persistence. It’s also great for giving permission. "You can go even if you don't finish." It adds a layer of flexibility to your speech. You can also use it with 아무리 to mean "no matter how much." For example, 아무리 비싸도 사고 싶어요 (No matter how expensive it is, I want to buy it). This combo is a powerhouse for expressing strong desires. It makes you sound much more natural and fluent.

Don't use this for simple "but" situations. If there's no "even if" feeling, use 지만 instead. For example, "I am tall but my brother is short." There is no conflict there. So, 아/어/여도 would feel very weird. Also, avoid using past tense markers before 도 in most cases. You shouldn't say 갔어도 unless you're talking about a hypothetical past. For general "even though I went," the standard 가도 or a different structure is better. Don't use it when the two actions are just happening in sequence. It needs that "despite" flavor to make sense. If you use it for everything, you'll sound a bit too dramatic. It’s like wearing a tuxedo to a grocery store. It’s a great look, but maybe not for buying milk. Keep it for when the contrast actually matters.

The biggest mistake is the "Double Tense" trap. Learners often try to put 았/었 before 도. They say 먹었어도 when they just mean "even though I ate." Usually, the final verb handles the time. Another mistake is forgetting irregulars. 걷다 (to walk) becomes 걸어도, not 걷어도. If you say 걷어도, people might think you're talking about hanging laundry. It’s a small change that makes a big difference. Some people also confuse 아/어/여도 with 아/어/여서. Remember, 서 is for reasons (because). 도 is for obstacles (even if). If you mix them up, you might say "I went because it rained" instead of "I went even though it rained." That might lead to some very confused looks from your Korean friends. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they're tired, but you've got this!

Let’s look at 아/어/여도 vs. 지만. 지만 is a simple "but." It just connects two facts. 아/어/여도 is much stronger. It implies that the first part should have stopped the second part. Think of 지만 as a flat road and 아/어/여도 as a hurdle. Another one is ㄴ/는데. That one just provides background info. It’s very soft. 아/어/여도 is bold and clear. There is also 더라도. This is very similar to 아/어/여도 but more formal and hypothetical. You’ll see 더라도 in books or speeches. In daily life at a cafe or the gym, 아/어/여도 is your best friend. It’s the "jeans and t-shirt" of concessive grammar—comfortable and fits almost everywhere.