-자면
-jamyeon
if (someone) suggests/proposes
Attaches to verb stems to assume and express someone's recommendation or suggestion as a hypothetical condition — 'if someone were to suggest X, ...'.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Auxiliary
Meanings
- 1
An expression used to assume and indicate someone's recommendation or suggestion.
누군가가 권유하거나 제안하는 것을 가정하여 나타내는 표현.
※ 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다. ‘-자고 하면’이 줄어든 말이다.
Examples
우리 아들은 병원에 가자면 울기부터 한다.
Whenever it's suggested that our son go to the hospital, he starts crying before anything else.
저렇게 멋진 남자가 결혼하자면 얼마나 기쁠까!
If such a wonderful man proposed marriage, how happy would that be!
네가 그러지 말자면 나도 안 할게.
If you suggest we not do that, I won't either.
오늘은 오랜만에 삼겹살을 먹으러 가자. 그래. 네가 먹자면 먹어야지.
Let's go get samgyeopsal today, it's been a while. Okay. If you're suggesting it, I guess we should.
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. What does ‘-자면’ mean?
2. Which form means “if (someone) suggests/proposes”?