Korean grammar patterns › Level 6
-건만
although …, (yet) (literary; expectation not met)
Level 6 · TOPIK II · advanced
How to use it
Clause 1 is a real fact that should lead to a certain result; clause 2 shows that result didn't happen, often with disappointment or regret. Literary; a contracted form of -건마는.
Forming it
| 준비하다 | → 준비했건만 |
| 알다 | → 알건만 |
| 휴가 | → 휴가이건만 |
| 봄 | → 봄이건만 |
Examples
그렇게 열심히 준비했건만 결과는 좋지 않았다.
I prepared so hard, but the result was not good.
벌써 봄이건만 아직도 바람이 차갑다.
It's already spring, yet the wind is still cold.
Compared with similar patterns
-지만 is a neutral 'but'; -(으)ㄴ/는데도 is the spoken 'even though'. -(으)련만 is about a hypothetical expected result ('would …, but'), while -건만 starts from an actual fact.