If you are studying Korean grammar deorado, this lesson is the one to keep. You will learn how -더라도 works in real conversation, when to use it, and the mistakes English speakers make first. This is a Korean advanced grammar guide with examples, romanization, and a five-minute speaking drill.
By the end you should be able to hear -더라도 in dramas and K-talk, then reuse it in your own sentences. Read once. Say the examples out loud. Then drill the same lines on Practice.
What -더라도 means
-더라도 is “even if.” It concedes a possibility and then holds the main point. 비가 오더라도 갈 거예요: even if it rains, I’ll go. It is stronger and more formal-leaning than -아/어도.
How to form it
- Stem + -더라도 (가더라도, 없더라도, 바쁘더라도)
- Past concession: -았/었더라도
- 이다: 이더라도 / 더라도 after nouns (학생이더라도)
- Second clause is the speaker’s stand
-더라도 examples
Use these Korean grammar deorado example sentences as a speaking list. Korean first, then pronunciation, then English.
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 시간이 없더라도 식사는 하세요. | sigani eopdeorado siksaneun haseyo. | Even if you don’t have time, eat a meal. |
| 실패하더라도 한 번은 해 보세요. | silpaehadeorado han beoneun hae boseyo. | Even if you fail, try it once. |
| 비싸더라도 품질이 중요해요. | bissadeorado pumjiri jungyohaeyo. | Even if it’s expensive, quality matters. |
| 내가 없더라도 계획대로 진행해 주세요. | naega eopdeorado gyehoekdaero jinhaenghae juseyo. | Even if I’m not there, please proceed as planned. |
| 늦었더라도 와 줘서 고마워요. | neujeotdeorado wa jwoseo gomawoyo. | Even though you were late, thanks for coming. |
| 누가 뭐라고 하더라도 나는 포기 안 해요. | nuga mworago hadeorado naneun pogi an haeyo. | No matter what anyone says, I won’t quit. |
When to use it
- Advice that survives a bad case.
- Policy: even if X, we do Y.
- Emotional resolve.
Common mistakes
These are the traps English speakers hit when they translate word-for-word. Fix the pattern, not just the vocabulary.
Watch-out
❌ 더라도 vs 어도 as if identical
✅ 더라도 is heavier/hypothetical
추워도 가요 is everyday. 춥더라도 가야 합니다 is firmer.
Watch-out
❌ 더라도 ending the sentence
✅ It needs the stand
없더라도… what?
Watch-out
❌ Using it for simple past contrast
✅ 지만 / 는데
더라도 is even-if, not but.
Mini dialogue
Read it twice. Second time, cover the English.
| Speaker | Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 오늘 컨디션이 안 좋아요. | oneul keondisyeoni an joayo. | I don’t feel well today. |
| B | 아프더라도 약은 먹고 와요. 발표는 미룰 수 있어요. | apeudeorado yageun meokgo wayo. balpyoneun mirul su isseoyo. | Even if you’re sick, take medicine and come. Or we can delay the talk. |
| A | 발표는 하고 싶어요. 짧게라도요. | balpyoneun hago sipeoyo. jjalgeradyo. | I still want to present. Even if it’s short. |
Don’t mix these up
어도 = even if (light). 더라도 = even if (emphatic). ㄹ지라도 is even more formal/literary. 는 한이 있어도 is extreme resolve.
Five-minute Korean speaking practice
Korean speaking practice beats extra grammar notes. Do this once today, then again tomorrow without looking.
- Read each example slowly, Korean only.
- Say it at natural speed. Record yourself if you can.
- Cover the Korean and rebuild the sentence from English.
- Swap in your own details: your job, your city, your weekend.
Starter lines for today:
- 틀리더라도 일단 말해 보세요.
- 돈이 없더라도 예의를 지켜야 해요.
- 기억이 안 나더라도 적어 둔 걸 봐요.
Lesson summary
- Pattern: -더라도
- Search topic: Korean grammar deorado
- -더라도 concedes a case and keeps the main rule or resolve.
- Say it out loud on Practice, then come back to Guides if a particle still feels sticky.
Homework
- Write four policy/advice 더라도 sentences.
- Rewrite two 어도 sentences as 더라도 and feel the weight.
- Use one 았더라도 about a past concession.
Korean grammar deorado: quick answers
TOPIK?
Very common in II writing conclusions.
더라도요?
You can echo: 없더라도요? as a challenge, but finish the thought in careful speech.
Keep going
Want a path, not a single grammar point? Open Learn or browse the rest of this series in Korean advanced.