How To Say Doesn't Matter / Even If In Korean (는/ㄴ댔자)
In Korean, 는/ㄴ댔자 is used to indicate that even if you carry out a certain action, a desired outcome will not be realized due to another counterproductive action.
Unlike 더라도, which can be used both positively and negatively, 는/ㄴ댔자 always conveys a negative consequence.
Examples of 는/ㄴ댔자
Health & Wellness
약을 먹어 본댔자 술을 마시면 약 효가 안 나요.
Even if you take medicine, it won't have any effect if you drink alcohol.
Even if you take medicine, it won't have any effect if you drink alcohol.
아무리 다이어트를 한댔자 운동을 안 하면 살이 빠지지 않을 거예요.
No matter how much you diet, if you don't exercise then you won't lose weight.
No matter how much you diet, if you don't exercise then you won't lose weight.
채소를 많이 먹는댔자 소금을 같이 먹으면 건강에 좋지 않아요.
Even if you eat a lot of vegetables, if you eat them with salt, your health won't improve.
Even if you eat a lot of vegetables, if you eat them with salt, your health won't improve.
Language Learning
열심히 공부한댔자 말하기 연습을 안 하면 한국말을 못 해요.
Even if you study hard, if you don't practice speaking Korean, you'll never be able to do it.
Even if you study hard, if you don't practice speaking Korean, you'll never be able to do it.
중국어를 공부한댔자 중국 친구랑 이야기를 하지 않으면 실력이 늘지 않을 거예요.
Even if you study Chinese, if you don't speak with Chinese people, your ability won't improve.
Even if you study Chinese, if you don't speak with Chinese people, your ability won't improve.
Lifestyle
아침 식사를 한댔자 양이 적으면 나중에 배가 고플 거에요.
Even if you eat breakfast, if the portions are small, you'll still be hungry later.
Even if you eat breakfast, if the portions are small, you'll still be hungry later.
다른 나라에서 일한댔자 똑같은 문화이나 국적 사람만이랑 만나면 가장 재미있는 경험이 없을 거예요.
Even if you work in other countries, if you only interact with people from the same culture or nationality, you won't have the most interesting experience.
Even if you work in other countries, if you only interact with people from the same culture or nationality, you won't have the most interesting experience.
Conclusion
Understanding the 는/ㄴ댔자 structure can help you articulate situations where a desired outcome isn’t achieved due to a counterproductive action.
This can be a particularly useful tool in highlighting the consequences of actions in conversations.
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