V/A + -(으)련마는 / -(으)련만 (Would/should ..., and yet...)
Meaning: Would/ought to ..., but regrettably ... (expresses regret that reality in the second clause contradicts the expectation or counterfactual supposition in the first).
Conjugation & Pattern
- Present: V/A with batchim + -으련마는 (-으련만) | No batchim/ㄹ + -련마는 (-련만)
- Noun: N + -(이)련마는 (-(이)련만)
- Past: V/A + -았/었으련마는 (-았/었으련만)
Detailed Usage
Combines supposition with contrastive '-마는'. Often preceded by a conditional clause (-(으)면 or -았/었더라면) to mean 'It would be/have been ..., and yet in reality...'.
Example Sentences
- 1
하숙 생활을 하면 가끔 집 생각이 나련만 나는 통 생각이 안 나요.
Hasuk saenghwareul hamyeon gakkeum jip saenggagi naryeonman naneun tong saenggagi an nayo.
Living in a boarding house, one would expect to miss home sometimes, yet I don't think of it at all.
- 2
용기를 좀 더 냈더라면 고백했으련마는 너무 소심해서 하지 못했어요.
Yonggireul jom deo naetdeoramyeon gobaekhaesseuryeonmaneun neomu sosimhaeseo haji mothaesseoyo.
Had I mustered a bit more courage, I would have confessed my feelings, but I was too timid to do so.
- 3
운동을 꾸준히 했으면 건강하련만 그는 운동을 안 해서 건강이 나빠지고 있다.
Undongeul kkujunhi haesseumyeon geongangharyeonman geuneun undongeul an haeseo geongangi nappajigo itda.
If he exercised regularly he would be healthy, yet because he doesn't exercise, his health is deteriorating.
Important Notes
The shortened form '-(으)련만' is more common, and can also end a sentence to express a wistful wish ('If only...').
