Korean grammar patterns › Level 6
-(으)ㄹ망정
even if …, (I won't …); … though it may be
Level 6 · TOPIK II · advanced
How to use it
(1) The speaker accepts a bad outcome in clause 1 rather than do what clause 2 rejects (often -지 않겠다). (2) Concession: 'A may be true, but B' (작을망정 편하다).
Forming it
| 굶다 | → 굶을망정 |
| 지다 | → 질망정 |
| 작다 | → 작을망정 |
| 시골 | → 시골일망정 |
In use (1), clause 2 is usually a negative statement of will (-지 않겠다, -(으)ㄹ 수 없다).
Examples
굶을망정 남의 돈에는 손대지 않겠어요.
I'd rather starve than touch other people's money.
집은 작을망정 마음만은 편해요.
The house may be small, but at least I feel at ease.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄹ지언정 is nearly the same, slightly more resolute and written. With -느니 and -(으)ㄹ 바에(야) the rejected option comes first (훔치느니 굶겠다); with -(으)ㄹ망정 the accepted hardship comes first (굶을망정 안 훔치겠다).