-(으)ㄹ망정
poor though it may be, still …
Admits a shortcoming and then asserts a virtue that survives it. Close in shape to -(으)ㄹ지언정, but the second clause does something different.
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When to use it
Attachment is the standard rule with the ㄹ short form: 만들다 gives 만들망정. It is written as a single ending, with no space.
The first clause names a drawback that is actually the case; the second names a virtue that holds regardless: 가난할망정 남에게 아쉬운 소리는 하지 않았다.
That is the difference from 지언정. Both accept something unwelcome, but 지언정 chooses it in order to refuse something worse, while 망정 simply concedes it and asserts dignity anyway.
Because of that, the tone is one of self-respect rather than defiance. The register is literary.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -ㄹ망정 | 가난하다 → 가난할망정 |
| Ends in a consonant | -을망정 | 늙다 → 늙을망정 |
| Ends in ㄹ | nothing added | 만들다 → 만들망정 |
| First clause | a real drawback | 가난하다, 늙다, 작다 |
| Second clause | a virtue that holds | … 떳떳하다 |
| Choosing instead | -(으)ㄹ지언정 | 굶을지언정 빌리지 않겠다 |
In use
가난할망정 남에게 아쉬운 소리는 하지 않았다.
Poor as he was, he never went cap in hand to anyone.
몸은 늙을망정 마음은 여전히 젊다.
The body may age, but the spirit stays young.
규모는 작을망정 내실은 탄탄한 회사입니다.
Small in scale it may be, but it is a solid firm.
서툴망정 제 손으로 해 보고 싶습니다.
Clumsy though I am, I want to try it with my own hands.
모양은 투박하게 만들망정 재료만큼은 최고를 씁니다.
The shape may come out rough, but the materials are the best there are.
느릴망정 방향은 옳다고 믿는다.
Slow it may be, but I believe the direction is right.
Compared with
-(으)ㄹ지언정
The pair to keep straight. 지언정 chooses a hardship in order to refuse something; 망정 concedes a drawback and asserts a virtue.
굶을지언정 받지 않겠다. (I’d sooner starve) / 가난할망정 떳떳하다. (poor, but upright)
-기에 망정이지
Same word 망정, different construction. 기에 망정이지 means “it was lucky that…” and reports a narrow escape.
일찍 나섰기에 망정이지 늦을 뻔했다. (luckily) / 가난할망정 떳떳하다. (poor, but)
-(으)ㄹ지라도
지라도 concedes a hypothetical; 망정 concedes something that is actually so.
어려울지라도 하겠다. (even if hard) / 가난할망정 떳떳하다. (poor as we are)
Watch out
가난할망정 더 가난해졌다.
가난할망정 떳떳하게 살았다.
The second clause must assert something that holds in spite of the drawback. Another drawback leaves the ending with nothing to do.
모양은 투박하게 만들을망정 재료는 최고입니다.
모양은 투박하게 만들망정 재료는 최고입니다.
A stem ending in ㄹ already supplies it, as with 만들 거예요 and 만들 뿐이다.
굶을망정 그 돈은 받지 않겠다.
굶을지언정 그 돈은 받지 않겠다.
Choosing a hardship in order to refuse something takes 지언정. 망정 concedes rather than chooses.
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