📘 Grammar 17: How to Use ~아/어도 – Even If / Even Though in Korean

📘 How to Use ~아/어도 – Even If / Even Though in Korean

Want to say “Even if I’m tired, I’ll go”, “Even if it rains, I’ll exercise”, or “Even though it’s expensive, I’ll buy it” in Korean?

Then you need to learn ~아/어도 – one of the most useful grammar points for expressing contrast and unexpected results!

This lesson will help you use ~아/어도 correctly, understand how to conjugate it, and practice with real-life examples.

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🧠 What Does ~아/어도 Mean?

~아/어도 is a grammar pattern that means:

• “Even if…”
• “Even though…”
• “Although…”

It connects two clauses where the second one happens despite the first.

💡 You use it when something happens or is true even though there is a reason it normally wouldn't.

🔤 Conjugation Rule

• If verb/adjective stem has ㅏ or ㅗ → use ~아도
• If it has other vowels → use ~어도
• If the verb is 하다 → use ~해도

Structure:
Verb/Adjective stem + 아/어도

• 가다 → 가도 (even if you go)
• 먹다 → 먹어도 (even if you eat)
• 하다 → 해도 (even if you do)

📘 Example Sentences

• 피곤해도 공부할 거예요 – Even if I’m tired, I’ll study
  pi-gon-hae-do gong-bu-hal geo-ye-yo
• 비가 와도 운동할 거예요 – I’ll work out even if it rains
  bi-ga wa-do un-dong-hal geo-ye-yo
• 비싸도 사고 싶어요 – Even though it’s expensive, I want to buy it
  bi-ssa-do sa-go sip-eo-yo
• 늦어도 기다릴게요 – Even if you’re late, I’ll wait
  neut-eo-do gi-da-ril-ge-yo

📊 Grammar Summary Table

Base	~아/어도	Meaning	Romanization
가다	가도	Even if (you) go	ga-do
먹다	먹어도	Even if (you) eat	meok-eo-do
하다	해도	Even if (you) do	hae-do
바쁘다	바빠도	Even if (you are) busy	ba-ppa-do

📌 Tip: Add “괜찮아요”, “할 거예요”, etc.

You can pair ~아/어도 with result phrases like:

• 괜찮아요 – It’s okay
• 할 거예요 – I will do it
• 좋아요 – It’s good

Examples:

• 늦어도 괜찮아요 – Even if it’s late, it’s okay
• 못 해도 할 거예요 – Even if I can’t, I’ll

❗ Common Mistakes

• ❌ 피곤도 → ✅ 피곤해도
• ❌ 먹아도 → ✅ 먹어도
• Always conjugate correctly with the right vowel!

🧪 Mini Quiz – Try It!

1. How do you say “Even if it rains”?
   a) 비가 와도
   b) 비가 오도
   
   Click to Show Answer

   ✅ a) 비가 와도

2. Translate: “Even if I’m busy, I’ll help.”
   a) 바빠도 도와줄 거예요
   b) 바쁘도 도와요
   
   Click to Show Answer

   ✅ a) 바빠도 도와줄 거예요

3. Which is correct?
   a) 가아도
   b) 가도
   
   Click to Show Answer

   ✅ b) 가도

✅ Conclusion

Now you can express contrast and unexpected results in Korean using ~아/어도 like a pro!

• Use ~아도 if stem has ㅏ/ㅗ
• Use ~어도 for other vowels
• Use ~해도 for 하다 verbs

Start making your own sentences like:

• “Even if it’s difficult, I’ll keep learning” → 어려워도 계속 배울 거예요
• “Even if I’m shy, I’ll speak Korean” → 부끄러워도 한국어로 말할 거예요

📘 Coming Up Next

Next lesson: How to Use ~게 되다 – Things That Happened Unexpectedly
Learn how to say “I ended up…” or “It turned out that…” in Korean with this powerful expression!

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