-으면 몰라도Korean expression · TOPIK 5

-eumyeon mollado

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.

형태Forms

-으면 몰라도-면 몰라도

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

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.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ, the past -었- or the future -겠-.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사와 형용사 또는 ‘-었-’, ‘-겠-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

차가 멈추어 있으면 몰라도 운전 중에는 통화하시면 안 돼요.

Unless the car is stopped, you shouldn't be on the phone while driving.

가족이 많으면 몰라도 부부 단둘이서 사는데 이 집은 너무 넓다.

This house is too big for just a couple, unless you have a large family.

아침에 출발했으면 몰라도 지금 가면 길이 너무 막혀서 대전까지 한참 걸려.

If we had left in the morning, it would be fine, but if we go now, the traffic is so bad it'll take forever to get to Daejeon.

대화In conversation

김 씨는 지독한 구두쇠야.

Mr. Kim is a terrible miser.

맞아. 돈이 없으면 몰라도 있을 만큼 있으면서 너무 짜.

Right. If he had no money, it would be one thing, but he's got plenty and he's still so stingy.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 마련이다 -ge maryeonida -기 마련이다 An expression used to indicate that it is natural for something to occur or become a certain state. TOPIK 5 -게 생겼다 -ge saengyeotta An expression used to indicate that someone is facing the situation expressed by the preceding statement. TOPIK 5 -기 나름이다 -gi nareumida -을 나름이다 An expression used to indicate that something depends on how the act mentioned in the preceding statement is done. TOPIK 5 -기가 바쁘게 -giga bappeuge An expression used to indicate that something happens as soon as the act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed. TOPIK 5 -기가 쉽다 -giga swipda An expression used to state that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is likely to occur. TOPIK 5 -기만 하다 -giman hada An expression used to state that one does only one act without doing anything else. TOPIK 5

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -으면 몰라도 mean in Korean?

-으면 몰라도 is a expression introduced at 5급 (TOPIK 5). 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.

When do you use -으면 몰라도?

Attaches after verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant other than ㄹ, the past -었- or the future -겠-. The other shape is -면 몰라도 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -으면 몰라도 and -면 몰라도?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same expression, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -으면 몰라도?

5급 — TOPIK 5, advanced. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.