Grammar — Entry No. 0218
하지만
hajiman · adverb
하지만
hajiman
[hah-jee-MAN]
adverbintermediate
Meaning
The Korean word for “but” or “however,” used to introduce a contrasting or opposing statement. It appears constantly in K-Drama dialogue, marking the emotional pivot points that fans replay endlessly. Unlike the casual 근데, 하지만 carries a deliberate, weighted quality that signals something significant—usually a confession, reversal, or farewell—is about to be said.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
In Crash Landing on You, 하지만 punctuates the moment characters reverse course just before a confession or goodbye, giving the word a near-Pavlovian effect on fans. BTS’s emotionally layered songs like Spring Day build tension using contrasting clauses that mirror 하지만’s structure. Fans learning Korean often cite this word as one of the first grammar pieces they absorbed purely from watching dramas without subtitles.
Example Sentences
좋아해. 하지만 말할 수 없어.
Joahae. Hajiman malhal su eopseo.
“I like you. But I can’t say it.” — the unspoken confession, a K-Drama staple that makes fans scream at their screens
가야 해, 하지만 가고 싶지 않아.
Gaya hae, hajiman gago sipji ana.
“I have to go, but I don’t want to.” — the airport goodbye trope, delivered with maximum emotional devastation
이해해, 하지만 많이 상처받았어.
Ihaehae, hajiman mani sangcheobadasseo.
“I understand, but I was really hurt.” — post-argument vulnerability, the line that always leads to a tearful reconciliation hug
⚠️ Don’t use hajiman when…
1) Fans often swap 하지만 and 근데 (geunde)—하지만 is formal or written, so texting it sounds stiff and unnatural; use 근데 in casual conversation. 2) English speakers try to insert 하지만 mid-sentence like “I love you, 하지만…”—in Korean it must open its own clause or sentence and cannot float in the middle of one.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Crash Landing on You — Ri Jeong-hyeok says 하지만 before admitting he has been inventing reasons to stay near Yoon Se-ri, the scene fans cite most when learning the word
- K-Pop: BTS — Spring Day
💡 Did You Know? Korean grammarians classify 하지만 as a 접속 부사 (conjunctive adverb)—a category with no English equivalent—which is why Korean treats “but” as a full pivot word that resets the sentence rather than a simple connector inserted mid-thought.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.