Learn Hardcore Korean: yejeongi jaju bakkwigineun hajiman oneureun geudaero gaja. - The plan often changes, but let’s keep it as is today.

-지만: a straightforward “although/but.”
-기는 하지만: adds an “I do admit that…” flavor. You explicitly acknowledge the first clause before contrasting it. Example:
예정이 자주 바뀌지만 오늘은 그대로 가자. = Although it changes often, let’s stick with it today. (neutral)
예정이 자주 바뀌기는 하지만 오늘은 그대로 가자. = I admit it really does change often, but let’s stick with it today. (stronger concession/emphasis)

Can I shorten 바뀌기는 하지만?

Yes, very common shortenings:

바뀌긴 하지만 (most common contraction)
바뀌긴 한데 (softer, more conversational)
바뀌긴 해도 (even though; slightly more conditional-sounding) All keep the same basic concessive meaning.

Why is it 예정이 and not 예정은?

예정이: subject marker; the schedule is what “gets changed.”
예정은: topic/contrast; “As for the schedule, …” Both are possible:
예정이 자주 바뀌기는 하지만… (describing the schedule’s behavior)
예정은 자주 바뀌기는 하지만… (contrastively: as for the schedule, it often changes…)

What’s the difference between 예정, 일정, and 계획 here?

예정: something scheduled/expected (often more official/externally set).
일정: timetable/itinerary (specific schedule of times and items).
계획: plan (your intention/strategy). In many contexts, 일정이 자주 바뀌기는 하지만… may sound the most natural. 예정이… is also fine; 계획이… focuses on personal plans changing.

Why use 바뀌다 and not 바꾸다?

바뀌다: passive “to be changed.” Subject undergoes change (예정/일정 changes).
바꾸다: active “to change (something).” Compare:
일정이 자주 바뀌어요. = The schedule changes often. (passive)
사람들이 일정을 자주 바꿔요. = People often change the schedule. (active)

What does 그대로 mean here, and how is it different from 그냥 or 원래대로?

그대로: “as it is/as it currently stands,” without altering it.
그냥: “just/simply/for no particular reason,” not necessarily “unchanged.”
원래대로: “as originally planned,” which could differ from the current state. So 오늘은 그대로 가자 = “let’s proceed as it is today.” If you want “as originally planned,” say 원래대로 가자.

Does 가자 mean “go (to a place)” here?

Not necessarily. 가다 often works like “go ahead/proceed (with it).” Here, 그대로 가자 = “let’s stick with it/proceed as is.” Alternatives:

그대로 하자 (let’s do it as is)
그대로 진행하자 (let’s proceed as is)
그대로 밀고 가자 (let’s push ahead as is; colloquial)

What does the -은 in 오늘은 do?

It makes “today” a contrastive topic: “at least today / today in particular.”

오늘은 그대로 가자 = Today, let’s (at least) stick with it.
오늘 그대로 가자 (without -은) is a plain time adverb, less contrastive.

Is the sentence casual? How do I make it more polite?

Yes, -자 is an informal “let’s.” Politer options:

… 그대로 가요. (polite, soft suggestion)
… 그대로 가시죠. or … 그대로 합시다/갑시다. (more formal/collegial) Workplace-neutral: … 그대로 진행하시죠/진행합시다.

Can I drop 예정이 or change the order?

Subject drop is fine if context is clear: 자주 바뀌긴 하지만, 오늘은 그대로 가자.
Two-sentence style: 예정이 자주 바뀌긴 해. 하지만 오늘은 그대로 가자.
You can also add 그래도 in the second clause for “even so”: 예정이 자주 바뀌지만, 그래도 오늘은 그대로 가자.

Where should 자주 go?

Put it before the verb phrase: 자주 바뀌기는 하지만 is the default.
바뀌기는 자주 하지만 is possible for emphasis but sounds marked; stick with the standard placement.

Is using both -기는 and 하지만 redundant?

No. -기는 marks concessive acknowledgment inside the first clause (“it does change”), and 하지만 links it to the contrasting main point. Together they create the natural “I admit X, but Y” rhythm.

How else is -기는 used?

It often softens or half-agrees before a “but”-type follow-up:

좋기는 좋은데 비싸요. = It’s good, but expensive.
필요하긴 한데 지금은 아니에요. = It is necessary, but not now. Here, -기는 (or contracted -긴) highlights what you concede.

Could I use -(아/어)도 or -더라도 instead of -기는 하지만?

Yes, but nuance shifts:

바뀌어도/바뀌더라도 오늘은 그대로 가자. = Even if it (does) change, let’s still stick with it today. (conditional/hypothetical, stronger resolve)
바뀌기는 하지만… states a general fact (“it does often change”) and then contrasts it.

Is 하지만 the only connector I can use? What about 그런데/근데?

You can use them; it’s mainly register:

하지만: neutral-to-formal, logical “but/however.”
그런데: neutral conversational “but/by the way.”
근데: casual contraction of 그런데. Example: 예정이 자주 바뀌긴 한데, 오늘은 그대로 가자. (casual)