TTMIK Level 7 Lesson 27 - a podcast by G9Languages

In this lesson, let us take a look at how to say “as long as” in Korean. This is not the literal comparison of two things as in “A is as long as B” but the fixed expression “as long as + S + V” as in “As long as you stay here, you are safe.” Let’s find out how to say this in Korean!

How to say AS LONG AS in Korean
There are a few ways to say this in Korean.
1. Verb stem + -기만 하면
(Original literal translation = “if + S + only + V”)

2. Verb stem + -(느)ㄴ 한
(Original literal translation = “within the boundaries where S + V”)

3. Verb stem + -지만 않으면
(Original literal translation = “only if + S + doesn’t + V”)

Examples
1. Verb stem + -기만 하면
(Original literal translation = “if + S + only + V”)

여기에 있기만 하면 괜찮아요.
[yeo-gi-e it-gi-man ha-myeon gwaen-cha-na-yo.]
= As long you are here, you’re fine.

재미있게 공부하기만 하면, 한국어 잘할 수 있어요.
[jae-mi-it-ge gong-bu-ha-gi-man ha-myeon, han-gu-geo ja-ral su i-sseo-yo.]
= As long as you study Korean in a fun way, you can become good at Korean.

2. Verb stem + -(느)ㄴ 한
(Original literal translation = “within the boundaries where S + V”)
** This form is a little more formal than the other forms.

제가 열쇠를 가지고 있는 한, 아무도 못 들어가요.
[je-ga yeol-soe-reul ga-ji-go it-neun han, a-mu-do mot deu-reo-ga-yo.]
= As long as I have the keys, no one can go in.

3. Verb stem + -지만 않으면
(Original literal translation = “only if + S + doesn’t + V”)

너무 춥지만 않으면 갈게요.
[neo-mu chup-ji-man a-neu-myeon gal-ge-yo.]
= As long as it’s not too cold, I will go/come.

Sample Sentences
1. 비밀을 지키기만 하면 안전해요.
[bi-mi-reul ji-ki-gi-man ha-myeon an-jeo-nae-yo.]
= As long as you keep the secret, you’re safe.

2. 사람들이 너무 많이 오지만 않으면 괜찮아요.
[sa-ram-deu-ri neo-mu ma-ni o-ji-man a-neu-myeon gwaen-cha-na-yo.]
= As long as not too many people come here, it’s okay.

3. 깨지지만 않으면, 계속 쓸 수 있어요.
[kkae-ji-ji-man a-neu-myeon, gye-sok sseul su i-sseo-yo.]
= As long as it’s not broken, you can keep using it.

4. 살아있는 한, 저는 계속 공부를 할 거예요.
[sa-ra-it-neun han, jeo-neun gye-sok gong-bu-reul hal geo-ye-yo.]
= As long as I am alive, I will keep studying.

5. 음식이 맛있고 직원이 친절하기만 하면, 식당은 언젠가 유명해져요.
[eum-si-gi ma-sit-go ji-gwo-ni chin-jeo-ra-gi-man ha-myeon, sik-dang-eun eon-jen-ga yu-myeong-hae-jyeo-yo.]
= As long as the food is good and the staff are kind, a restaurant will get famous one day.

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