에도 불구하고: Despite of

안녕하세요!

Remember when you thought the spiciest kimchi was too hot to handle, but you ate it anyway? Or when you believed binge-watching K-dramas all night was a bad idea, but cue dramatic music you did it regardless? Well, today’s lesson is somewhat like that. We’re diving into the world of “-에도 불구하고” which, translated, gives us the vibe of “despite” or “in spite of.” It’s all about doing things or events happening contrary to what one might expect.

Just like how you bravely faced that spicy kimchi or defied sleep for one more episode (okay, maybe five more), “-에도 불구하고” is here to add some spicy, dramatic flair to your Korean sentences. So, grab your language-learning chopsticks, and let’s dig in! 🥢😂🔥📚

Background and basics

Welcome to the world of Korean conjunctions, where “-에도 불구하고” stands tall and proud! Let’s break it down and understand its background and the basics of its usage.

Historical Background:

While we won’t venture deep into ancient scrolls or age-old texts, it’s fun to note that the beauty of the Korean language is its ability to encapsulate complex feelings and situations succinctly. The evolution of “-에도 불구하고” mirrors this essence, helping speakers articulate a sense of contrast or contradiction.

Literal Translation:

The phrase “-에도 불구하고” can be broken down as follows:

• 에도: This part translates to “even in” or “even at.”
• 불구하고: This is derived from “불구하다,” which means “to disregard” or “to ignore.”

Put together, “-에도 불구하고” can be thought of as “even disregarding” or “even ignoring,” but in everyday English, it’s more naturally translated as “despite” or “in spite of.”

Conjugation

To use “-에도 불구하고,” you generally attach it after a noun. The structure looks like this:

Noun + 에도 불구하고

For instance:

• 비 (rain) -> 비에도 불구하고 (despite the rain)

Verb stem + -는데도 불구하고

1. Take a verb i.e. 가다
2. Drop “다” i.e. 가
3. Add 는데도 불구하고 i.e. 가는데도 불구하고

• 먹다 –> 먹 + 는데도 불구하고 –> 먹는데도 불구하고 (despite eating)
• 보다 –> 보 + 는데도 불구하고 –> 보는데도 불구하고 (despite looking)
• 하다 –> 하 + 는데도 불구하고 –> 하는데도 불구하고 (despite doing)
• 듣다 –> 듣 + 는데도 불구하고 –> 듣는데도 불구하고 (despite hearing)

Descriptive verb stem + -(으)ㄴ데도 불구하고

1. Take a verb i.e. 좋다
2. Drop “다” i.e. 좋
3. Add appropriate ending based on the below rules (in this case it is 좋은데도 불구하고)

• If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ데도 불구하고
• If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add -은데도 불구하고
• If the verb stem ends in a consonant “ㅂ”, drop “ㅂ” and add -운데도 불구하고

• 크다 –> 큰데도 불구하고 (despite being big)
• 예쁘다 –> 예쁜데도 불구하고 (despite being pretty)
• 빠르다 –> 빠른데도 불구하고 (despite being fast)
• 어렵다 –> 어려운데도 불구하고 (despite being difficult)

Usage and context

Dive in, eager beaver! Now that you’ve got the foundations of “-에도 불구하고,” it’s time to see it in action, splashing around in the pool of context and daily usage.

Expressing Contradiction or Surprise:

One of the primary roles of “-에도 불구하고” is to highlight a contrast between what’s expected and what’s actually happening. It’s like saying, “Hey, you’d think THIS would happen because of THAT, but surprise, the opposite occurred!”

Example:

• 눈이 많이 오는데도 불구하고 학교가 취소되지 않았어요. (Despite the heavy snow, school wasn’t cancelled.)

When Something Goes Against Common Sense:

Sometimes, life just doesn’t make sense. Maybe you know someone who wears sunglasses at night or someone who carries an umbrella on sunny days. Weird, right? “-에도 불구하고” is your trusty tool for these situations.

Example:

• 태양이 뜨겁게 빛나는 날에도 불구하고 그는 우산을 썼어요. (Despite the sun shining brightly, he used an umbrella.)

When Referring to Negative Situations:

The phrase “-에도 불구하고” often pops up when referring to adverse or unfavorable circumstances, emphasizing the perseverance or unexpected outcomes in those situations.

Example:

• 경제적 어려움에도 불구하고 그는 대학에 진학했어요. (Despite financial difficulties, he went to college.)

Situational Variations:

While “-에도 불구하고” is commonly used, there are other similar conjunctions or expressions in Korean. It’s like choosing between ice cream flavors – while they’re all delightful, sometimes you crave vanilla over chocolate. Similarly, in some contexts, other phrases might fit better, but “-에도 불구하고” is your classic, always-reliable flavor.

In Comparison with Similar Expressions:

There are other expressions, like “-지만” (but) and “-는데” (even though), which can sometimes be used interchangeably. The distinction is often in the depth of the contrast being conveyed. “-에도 불구하고” often carries a stronger sense of surprise or contradiction. It can also have a nuance that “even if (something) wasn’t enough”.

Example:

• 날씨가 추운데도 불구하고 저는 아이스크림을 먹었어요. (Even though the weather was cold, I ate ice cream./As if it wasn’t enough cold already, I ate some ice cream.)

Contrast with:

• 날씨가 추운데 아이스크림을 먹었어요. (The weather was cold, but I ate ice cream.)

To master “-에도 불구하고,” immerse yourself in various contexts, understanding the weight and nuance it brings to sentences. Soon, you’ll be wielding it like a pro, impressing native speakers with your intricate understanding of contrasts and surprises in the Korean language! 🌟

Example sentences

1. 비가 오는데도 불구하고 그녀는 나가서 달렸어요. – Despite the rain, she went out and ran.
2. 그녀가 예쁜데도 불구하고 좋은 남자 못 만났어요. – Despite her being pretty she couldn’t find a nice guy.
3. 바쁜데도 불구하고 도와줬어요. – Despite being busy she helped.
4. 설명을 열심히 하는데도 불구하고 그는 이해를 못 했어요. – Despite trying hard to explain he didn’t understant.
5. 그녀는 두려운데도 불구하고 높은 곳에서 뛰어내렸어요. – Even though she was scared, she jumped from a high place.

Activity 1

Fill in the blanks.

1. 그녀는 ________ 숙제를 다 끝냈어요. – Despite being tired she finished her homework.
2. 밖에 비가 _________ 우리는 축구를 했어요. – Despite it was raining outside we played football.
3. 음식이 _____________ 다 먹었어요. – Despite the foo being spicy I ate it all.
4. 공부를 열심히 ____________ 시험 잘 보지 않았어요. – Despite studying really hard I didn’t do well in the exam.
5. 그는 _________ 자신의 사업을 시작했어요. – Despite being young, he started his own business.

Activity 1 Answers

1. 그녀는 피곤한데도 불구하고 숙제를 다 끝냈어요. – Despite being tired she finished her homework.
2. 밖에 비가 오는데도 불구하고 우리는 축구를 했어요. – Despite it was raining outside we played football.
3. 음식이 매운데도 불구하고 다 먹었어요. – Despite the foo being spicy I ate it all.
4. 공부를 열심히 하는데도 불구하고 시험 잘 보지 않았어요. – Despite studying really hard I didn’t do well in the exam.
5. 그는 어린데도 불구하고 자신의 사업을 시작했어요. – Despite being young, he started his own business.

Wrap up

Alright, dear Korean language enthusiasts! 🌟

You’ve successfully surfed through the waves of “-에도 불구하고” and didn’t wipe out! 🏄‍♂️ Remember, even if you feel like a fish out of water sometimes, keep practicing. Just as fish can’t live without water, a language learner thrives on practice and persistence. (And maybe a bit of kimchi to fuel the brain!)

If you ever find yourself in a K-drama where you need to say, “Despite the fact that I can’t sing, I will conquer the karaoke machine!”, you’ll know just how to express it! 🎤

Until next time, keep those Korean language gears grinding and remember: no matter how spicy the kimchi, there’s always a way to enjoy it! -에도 불구하고, of course! 😉🌶️

Stay curious, and see you in our next linguistic adventure! 🚀📘