Yesterday I get to learn a sister of the verb+지만 construction which means but or although. This is verb+도 which also means even though, despite or inspite. They are the same in meaning but verb+도 means a little stronger than verb+지만.
One use of verb+도 is to ask and give permission. In English we normally ask or give permission by using the word ‘may I’ or ‘you may’. However in Korean its expressed literally as — even if I do this is it okay? This is how verb+도 play arole, the final verb can be a choice among these three:
- 돼요(dweyo – can)
- 좋아요 (choayo – is good or right) and
- 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo – is okay)
Here are some examples:
- 오늘 새 옷을 입어도 좋아요? (Oneul sae oseul ipeodo choayo?) Literally this means, is it okay for me to wear my new clothes today? However this simply means may I wear my new clother today?
- 오늘 새 옷을 입어도 괜찬아요? (Oneul sae oseul ipeodo gwaenchanayo?) Is it okay for me to wear my new clothes?
- 오늘 새 옷을 입어도 돼요? (Oneul sae oseul ipeodo dweyo?) Can i wear my new clothes today?
It Started with Hangul 