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Lv 2Connective endingBeginner · TOPIK I

-으면서

-eumyeonseo

while; even though

Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to show two actions or states happening at the same time ('while'), or to show they contradict each other ('even though/but').

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-면서

Meanings

  1. 1

    A connective ending used when more than two actions or states happen at the same time.

    두 가지 이상의 동작이나 상태가 함께 일어남을 나타내는 연결 어미.

  2. 2

    A connective ending used to show that more than two actions or states are contradictory.

    두 가지 이상의 동작이나 상태가 서로 대립되는 관계에 있음을 나타내는 연결 어미.

Examples

  • 나는 거리를 걸어 다니면서 이곳저곳 구경을 했다.

    I walked around the streets, looking here and there.

  • 나는 살면서 실패를 거듭했고 따라서 성공할 수 있었다.

    I failed over and over as I lived, and because of that I was able to succeed.

  • 오늘따라 아버지께서 주시는 용돈이 죄송하면서 또 더 고맙게 느껴졌다.

    The allowance my father gave me this time felt both a little sorry-making and even more grateful than usual.

  • 지수는 친구와 전화를 하기도 하고 신문을 보기도 하면서 주말을 보냈다.

    Jisu spent the weekend both talking with friends on the phone and reading the newspaper.

  • 잘 알지도 못하면서 아는 체하지 마!

    Don't act like you know when you don't really know!

  • 후회할 줄 알면서 저질러 버리는 일들이 있다.

    There are things people do even while knowing they'll regret them.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-으면서’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “while; even though”?