Lesson 6
Jump right back into Korean conjunctions with this lesson, since now we will introduce two more words that can be used at the beginning of sentences!
그렇지만 = but, however
그런데 = but, however
(1) 피곤해요. 그렇지만 영화 보고 싶어요.
[pi-gon-hae-yo. geu-reo-chi-man yeong-hwa bo-go si-peo-yo.]
= I am tired, but I want to see a movie.
(2) 피곤해요. 그런데 영화 보고 싶어요.
[pi-gon-hae-yo. geu-reon-de yeong-hwa bo-go si-peo-yo.]
= I am tired. However, I want to see a movie.
그렇지만 and 그런데 both mean “but” or “however”, but there is some difference in the usage of these two words.
(1) 어제 이거 샀어요. 그렇지만 정말 커요.
[eo-je i-geo sa-sseo-yo. geu-reo-chi-man jeong-mal keo-yo.]
= I bought this yesterday. “그렇지만” it is really big.
(2) 어제 이거 샀어요. 그런데 정말 커요.
[eo-je i-geo sa-sseo-yo. geu-reon-de jeong-mal keo-yo.]
= I bought this yesterday. “그런데” it is really big.
In sentence (1), 그렇지만 means “but” or “however”. The speaker is contrasting two facts: having purchased “this” yesterday and “it” being too big. It sounds as if the speaker is disappointed that it is very big.
In sentence (2), the intended meaning is “but”, however at the same time it can also mean “and”. If the speaker is implying the meaning of “and”, the entire sentence can mean “I bought this yesterday, and as I have come to find out, it is really big.”
In summary,
그렇지만 = “but”
그런데 = “but” or “and” (depending on the context)
To contrast two sentences, “A + however/but + B”, you can choose to use either 그렇
지만 or 그런데.
To introduce two actions or states which occurred one after another, and if the first
sentence is background information for the second, only use 그런데.
어제 학교에 갔어요. 그렇지만 일요일이었어요.
[eo-je hak-kkyo-e ga-sseo-yo. geu-reo-chi-man i-ryo-i-ri-eo-sseo-yo.]
= I went to school yesterday, but it was Sunday.
어제 학교에 갔어요. 그런데 일요일이었어요.
[eo-je hak-kkyo-e ga-sseo-yo. geu-reon-de i-ryo-i-ri-eo-sseo-yo.]
= I went to school yesterday, but it was Sunday.
= I went to school yesterday, and by the way, it was Sunday.
= I went to school yesterday, and as I found out after I went, it was Sunday.
그런데 can be used for a wider variety of meanings than 그렇지만, which has a very formal nuance to it and is used more in writing. In actual everyday conversations, 그런데 is used more often than 그렇지만.
Sample Sentences
어젯밤 늦게 잤어요. 그런데 피곤하지 않아요.
[eo-jet-ppam neut-kke ja-sseo-yo. geu-reon-de pi-gon-ha-ji a-na-yo.]
= I went to bed late last night, but I am not tired.
늦게 = late, at a late hour
피곤하다 = to be tired
저는 매일 운동을 해요. 그런데 살이 빠지지 않아요.
[jeo-neun mae-il un-dong-eul hae-yo. geu-reon-de sa-ri ppa-ji-ji a-na-yo.]
= I work out every day, but I do not lose any weight.
매일 = every day
살이 빠지다 = to lose weight
저는 친구가 없어요. 그런데 왕따는 아니에요.
[jeo-neun chin-gu-ga eop-sseo-yo. geu-reon-de wang-tta-neun a-ni-e-yo.]
= I do not have friends, but I am not a loner.
왕따 = outcast, loner, someone who is bullied by others