-어도

See also: 어도

Korean

Alternative forms

• 여도 (yeodo) — used after 하다 (hada) verbs and adjectives

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 어〮도〮 (Yale: é-twó); equivalent to the addition of the particle 도 (-do) to the infinitive suffix 어 (-eo). Compare 어서 (-eoseo).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ʌ̹do̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [어도]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eodo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eodo
McCune–Reischauer?	ŏdo
Yale Romanization?	eto

Suffix

Ablaut/harmonic pair

Yin-form	어도 (-eodo)
Yang-form	아도 (-ado)

어도 • (-eodo)

1. even though, but: a suffix introducing two truths which seem to contradict each other.

   Synonym: 지만 (-jiman)

   오늘은 추워도 학교에 가야 돼요.

   Oneur-eun chuwodo hakgyo-e gaya dwae-yo.

   Even though it's cold, I have to go to school.

   키는 커도 잘생긴 사람은 아니네요.

   Ki-neun keodo jalsaenggin saram-eun anine-yo.

   Even though he's tall, he isn't handsome.

2. even if, no matter: a suffix presenting a possible truth and indicating that an action or a state has no influence over a certain situation, often questioning the extent of it..

   Synonyms: 더라도 (-deorado), 어야 (-eoya), 자 (-ja)

   내일 비가 와도 갈게. 알았어?

   Naeil bi-ga wado galge. Ar-ass-eo?

   Even if it rains tomorrow I'll go. got it?

   그건 사실이라도 못 믿어요.

   Geugeon sasir-irado mot mid-eo-yo.

   Even if it's the truth, I can't believe it.

   맛있어도 얼마나 맛있겠냐?

   Masisseodo eolmana masit-gen-nya?

   Even if it's tasty, how tasty can it be?

Usage notes

• For vowel harmony, contractions, and allomorphy, see 아/어/여 (-a/eo/yeo).
• Even though 어도 (-eodo) can follow the tense markers 겠 (-get-) and 었 (-eot-), it is much more common to instead use them at the end of the sentence.
• In the second sense, the suffix is usually accompanied by 아무리 (amuri) to emphasize the meaning.