-(으)ㄹ망정 / (으)ㄹ지언정
(eu)lmangjeong / (eu)ljieonjeong
Grammar · 1 sense
even though, although, despite
Examples
그는 나를 돕지는 못할망정 방해는 하지 말아야지요.
Even though he can't help me, he shouldn't hinder me.
친구가 이해는 못해줄망정 비난은 하지 않았으면 좋겠어요.
Even if my friend can't understand, I hope they don't criticize.
오늘이 삶의 끝일지언정 후회 없는 하루를 보내도록 하겠다
Even if today were the end of my life, I would live it without regrets.
When you'd hear it
This pattern is formal and somewhat literary, appearing in writing, speeches, dramatic declarations, and carefully worded conversation. -(으)ㄹ지언정 is especially literary; -(으)ㄹ망정 also occurs in emphatic spoken contrasts such as 못할망정 ... 하지 말다.
What learners get wrong
Unlike neutral -더라도, this pattern often creates a forceful contrast or a firm stance: “even if X, at least not Y.” It commonly appears with negative or undesirable situations in the first clause.
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