Unit 21: As Long As (-는 한)

In Easy Korean, when you want to set a condition stating that "as long as [this] remains true, [that] will happen/not happen," you use -는 한.

Structure

Action Verb Stem + -는 한

• 살다 -> 사는 한 (As long as I live)
• 노력하다 -> 노력하는 한 (As long as you try)
• 포기하지 않다 -> 포기하지 않는 한 (As long as you don't give up)

Usage

It strongly limits the situation. It is often used with promises, warnings, or philosophical statements.

Examples

• 내가 살아 있는 한 너를 지켜줄게. (As long as I am alive, I will protect you.)
• 비가 오지 않는 한 내일 출발할 겁니다. (As long as it doesn't rain, we will depart tomorrow.)
• 열심히 노력하는 한 실패는 없습니다. (As long as you try hard, there is no failure.)