-으면 몰라도
-eumyeon mollado
if it were... but as it is
Attaches to verb/adjective stems to assume an opposite or unrealized condition and say that only under that condition would the following be acceptable — 'if X were the case, maybe, but (since it's not)...'.
Form
- Other shapes
- -면 몰라도
Meanings
- 1
An expression used to assume an opposite state or an unrealized situation, and indicate that the following situation is possible only when such a condition is met.
현재의 상태와 반대되거나 일어나지 않은 상황을 가정하여 그런 조건을 만족시키는 경우에만 뒤에 오는 상황이 가능함을 나타내는 표현.
Examples
차가 멈추어 있으면 몰라도 운전 중에는 통화하시면 안 돼요.
If the car were stopped, maybe, but you shouldn't talk on the phone while driving.
가족이 많으면 몰라도 부부 단둘이서 사는데 이 집은 너무 넓다.
If there were a big family, maybe, but this house is way too big for just a couple.
아침에 출발했으면 몰라도 지금 가면 길이 너무 막혀서 대전까지 한참 걸려.
If we'd left in the morning, maybe, but if we go now, the traffic is so bad it'll take forever to get to Daejeon.
김 씨는 지독한 구두쇠야. 맞아. 돈이 없으면 몰라도 있을 만큼 있으면서 너무 짜.
Mr. Kim is a terrible miser. Right. If he had no money, maybe, but he has plenty and is still so stingy.
승규가 풀면 몰라도 지수는 그 문제 못 풀걸?
If Seunggyu were solving it, maybe, but I doubt Jisu can solve that problem.
엄마가 도와주면 몰라도 혼자서는 잡채 못 만들어요.
If Mom helped, maybe, but I can't make japchae by myself.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-으면 몰라도’ mean?
2. Which form means “if it were... but as it is”?