Listening Drill: Catching Suffixes that Flip Meaning

🔑 The Big Picture

음식이 맛있기는 하지만 너무 비싸요.

🧩 Core Concepts / Patterns

1. -기는 하지만: “It is true that…, but…”

• 싸기는 하지만 품질이 별로예요.
= It is cheap, but the quality is not good.

• 시간이 있기는 하지만 너무 피곤해요.
= I do have time, but I am too tired.

2. -기는커녕: “Far from…, not even…”

• 쉬기는커녕 점심도 못 먹었어요.
= Far from resting, I could not even eat lunch.

• 도움이 되기는커녕 방해가 됐어요.
= Far from helping, it became a disturbance.

3. -는데도 / -(으)ㄴ데도: “even though…”

• 비가 오는데도 사람들이 많았어요.
= Even though it was raining, there were many people.

• 연습을 많이 했는데도 실수를 했어요.
= Even though I practiced a lot, I made a mistake.

4. 그래도 / 오히려 / 대신

• 그래도 = still, nevertheless

• 오히려 = rather, instead, unexpectedly more

• 대신 = instead, in exchange

• 비싸요. 그래도 품질이 좋아서 살 거예요.

• 시간이 줄었어요. 오히려 집중이 더 잘 됐어요.

• 오늘 못 만나요. 대신 내일 전화할게요.

✅ Exam Strategy

1. Catch the topic: What is being discussed?

2. Catch the first evaluation: positive, negative, possible, impossible?

3. Listen for a flip marker: 하지만, 그런데, 커녕, 그래도, 오히려, -는데도.

4. Trust the final meaning more than the first clue.

5. Eliminate answers that repeat only one word but miss the relationship.

• + but - = starts positive, ends negative

• - but + = starts negative, ends positive

• expected → opposite = -는데도

• not A, not even B = -기는커녕

⚠️ Pitfalls

• Choosing an answer after hearing one keyword.

• Treating -기는 하지만 as fully positive.

• Missing 커녕, which makes the meaning stronger and more negative.

• Ignoring the final sentence of a dialogue.

• Confusing “not bad, but expensive” with “bad and expensive.”

🎧 Listening Script Bank

Set 1 — -기는 하지만: positive first, stronger contrast second

1. What does B think about the bag?
1. It is ugly but light.
2. It is pretty but too heavy.
3. It is cheap and useful.
4. It is small but expensive.

1. What is B’s main complaint?
1. The café is noisy.
2. The coffee is bad.
3. The chairs are uncomfortable.
4. The café is too far.

1. Which is correct?
1. The movie was fun but too long.
2. The movie was short and boring.
3. The movie was expensive.
4. The movie was not interesting at all.

1. What is true about the room?
1. It is narrow but bright.
2. It is wide but does not get much sunlight.
3. It is dark and narrow.
4. It is bright and clean.

1. What does B say about the class?
1. The explanation is detailed but fast.
2. The explanation is short but easy.
3. The teacher is late.
4. The class is too slow.

1. Why is B not fully satisfied?
1. The shoes are uncomfortable.
2. The size is wrong.
3. B does not like the color.
4. The shoes are too cheap.

1. What is B’s opinion?
1. The location was bad.
2. The room was large.
3. The location was good, but the room was small.
4. The hotel was quiet and cheap.

1. What does B mean?
1. The problem looks easy but causes many mistakes.
2. The problem is impossible.
3. The problem is short and clear.
4. The problem has no answer.

1. What is the contrast?
1. Low salary but little overtime.
2. High salary but much overtime.
3. High salary and much vacation.
4. Low salary and easy work.

1. Who may find the book difficult?
1. Teachers.
2. Beginners.
3. Children only.
4. Office workers.

Set 2 — -기는커녕: far from A, not even B

1. What did B do on the weekend?
1. B traveled far away.
2. B went outside briefly.
3. B could not even leave home.
4. B met friends outside.

1. What is true?
1. B finished everything.
2. B almost finished.
3. B did not even start.
4. B started and stopped.

1. What happened?
1. B slept very well.
2. B rested a little.
3. B could not rest or sleep well.
4. B took a short nap.

1. How did B feel after the explanation?
1. More confused.
2. More confident.
3. Very thankful.
4. Completely bored.

1. What did B buy?
1. Many sale items.
2. Only expensive items.
3. Nothing useful.
4. Everything needed.

1. What happened to the meeting?
1. It ended early.
2. It ended on time.
3. It was canceled.
4. It ended two hours late.

1. What is B saying?
1. B spoke fluently.
2. B could not even say one sentence well.
3. B gave a long speech.
4. B forgot the topic but spoke a lot.

1. What was the result?
1. B lost weight.
2. B stayed the same.
3. B gained weight instead.
4. B stopped exercising.

1. Why was the result unexpected?
1. B arrived faster by taxi.
2. B arrived later because of traffic.
3. B walked instead of taking a taxi.
4. B arrived before the meeting.

1. What does B think of the app?
1. It is convenient.
2. It is pretty.
3. It keeps having errors.
4. It is too simple.

Set 3 — -는데도: unexpected result

1. What was unexpected?
1. Many people came despite heavy rain.
2. Nobody came because of rain.
3. The event was canceled.
4. The rain stopped early.

1. What happened?
1. B practiced and made no mistakes.
2. B made mistakes despite practicing.
3. B did not practice.
4. B canceled the presentation.

1. What is true?
1. The headache is gone.
2. The medicine worked quickly.
3. B still has a headache.
4. B did not take medicine.

1. What was the result?
1. B found the place easily.
2. B did not ask anyone.
3. B eventually could not find it.
4. B arrived early.

1. Why did B fail to do it?
1. There was not enough time.
2. B could not focus despite enough time.
3. B forgot the deadline.
4. B was traveling.

1. What does B mean?
1. B understood completely.
2. B did not listen.
3. B still does not understand well.
4. B explained it to someone.

1. Why was B late?
1. B left late.
2. The bus did not come.
3. B took the wrong train.
4. The meeting changed.

1. What was unexpected?
1. Customers increased a lot.
2. There were few customers despite the lower price.
3. The price went up.
4. The store closed early.

1. What happened to the score?
1. It rose a lot.
2. It stayed exactly the same.
3. It went down a little.
4. It was not checked.

1. What is true?
1. It is still noisy outside despite closing the door.
2. The room is quiet now.
3. The door is broken.
4. B opened the window.

Set 4 — 그래도 / 오히려 / 대신: final direction words

1. Why does B still go there?
1. It is cheap.
2. The ingredients are fresh.
3. It is near home.
4. The portions are small.

1. What was the unexpected result?
1. B focused more.
2. B gave up.
3. B had more time.
4. B forgot the work.

1. What will B do instead?
1. Meet today.
2. Call tomorrow morning.
3. Send a package.
4. Cancel forever.

1. Which part was easier than expected?
1. Reading.
2. Writing.
3. Listening.
4. Vocabulary.

1. What advantage does B mention?
1. The room is large.
2. It is close to the station.
3. It is very quiet.
4. It has many windows.

1. What changed positively?
1. B sleeps all day.
2. B’s life became more regular.
3. B stopped working.
4. B has no schedule.

1. What happened?
1. B arrived on time despite traffic.
2. B missed the appointment.
3. B changed the appointment.
4. B did not go.

1. Why does B like online classes now?
1. B can listen repeatedly.
2. B never studies.
3. The class is shorter.
4. The teacher gives no homework.

1. Why is the clothing good for interviews?
1. It is bright.
2. It is formal/neat in design.
3. It is very cheap.
4. It is colorful.

1. What positive result does B mention?
1. B learned the problems.
2. B will stop trying.
3. B succeeded completely.
4. B forgot the plan.

Set 5 — Mixed TOPIK-style meaning checks

1. What does B mean?
1. The desk is large, but B regrets buying it a little.
2. The desk is small and perfect.
3. The room became wider.
4. B will buy another desk today.

1. What is true?
1. B went to the party.
2. B prepared the party.
3. B did not even know about the invitation.
4. B was the host.

1. Why was B late?
1. There were too many cars despite it being the weekend.
2. B left one hour early.
3. The road was empty.
4. The appointment was canceled.

1. What is B’s opinion?
1. The portions are large, but the taste is ordinary.
2. The portions are small but delicious.
3. The restaurant is closed.
4. The food is spicy and expensive.

1. What does B do?
1. B never exercises.
2. B walks 20 minutes every morning despite being busy.
3. B exercises only on weekends.
4. B goes to the gym at night.

1. What was the problem?
1. The material had many wrong facts.
2. The material was very helpful.
3. B finished the presentation easily.
4. B did not need more research.

1. What is unexpected?
1. B is still tired despite sleeping a lot.
2. B did not sleep.
3. B feels fully rested.
4. B woke up early to exercise.

1. What disadvantage does B mention?
1. The rent is expensive.
2. It is too far from work.
3. It is too noisy.
4. It has no kitchen.

1. What does B mean?
1. B improved a lot.
2. B became more awkward because of lack of practice.
3. B practices every day.
4. B teaches speaking now.

1. What is B’s final evaluation?
1. The lecture was difficult but helpful because there were many examples.
2. The lecture was easy and boring.
3. The lecture had no examples.
4. The lecture was canceled.

🔁 Final Review

• “The first half says ___, but the final meaning is ___.”

• “The marker that flips the meaning is ___.”

• “The correct answer is ___ because ___.”