아무리 -아/어도
Quick answer: 아무리 -아/어도 means however much — the reason is pushed as far as it goes, and still nothing changes.
How to form it
아무리 + stem + -아/어도 · 아무리 cannot be used on its own
In Korean: 아무리 + 어간 + -아/어도 아무리는 혼자 못 씁니다
What to know
아무리 needs -아/어도 to finish it — it cannot stand alone the way English «however» can. Think of them as one frame with a hole in the middle: 아무리 ___아/어도. The 그래도 that often follows in the next sentence carries the same idea on its own.
Examples
- 아무리 바빠도 운동을 해야 돼요.However busy you are, you have to exercise.
- 아무리 어려워도 견뎌요.However hard it is, hold out.
- 아무리 힘들어도 포기하지 마세요.However tough it gets, do not give up.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 2 (TOPIK I), Lesson 24: 아무리 바빠도 운동을 해야 돼요 — However busy you are, you have to exercise. Also in the Level 2 book.
Learned in the same lesson: -아/어도.
Practise 아무리 -아/어도 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 2, Lesson 24 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.