그러나

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Usage of '그러나'

'그러나' is a conjunction used to express contrast or opposition between two statements. It is similar to 'but' or 'however' in English and is commonly used in both spoken and written Korean.

Common Contexts

You will often find '그러나' linking two sentences where the second sentence presents a different or opposing idea to the first. It is more formal than '근데' or '하지만', making it suitable for written texts, formal speeches, and polite conversations.

Collocations and Patterns

  • '그러나' + [clause]: introduces a contrasting statement.
  • Often used at the beginning of a sentence to shift the topic or present an opposing fact.

Register and Politeness

'그러나' is neutral to formal in tone. It is appropriate in academic writing, news reports, and formal discussions. For casual conversations, '근데' or '하지만' might be more common.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '그러나' with '그래서' (so/therefore). Remember, '그러나' introduces contrast, not cause and effect.

Using '그러나' correctly helps you sound more natural and clear when expressing contrasting ideas in Korean.

Example Sentences

나는 피곤하다. 그러나 일을 해야 한다.

Naneun pigonhada. Geureona ireul haeya handa.

I am tired. But I have to work.

그는 열심히 공부했다. 그러나 시험에 떨어졌다.

Geuneun yeolsimhi gongbuhatda. Geureona siheome tteoreojyeotda.

He studied hard. However, he failed the exam.

날씨가 좋았다. 그러나 바람이 많이 불었다.

Nalssiga joatda. Geureona barami mani bureotda.

The weather was good. But the wind blew strongly.