-(으)면서(while, as)

The Pattern '-(으)면서'

The pattern '-(으)면서' is used in Korean to express that two actions or events are happening simultaneously. The verb stem before '-(으)면서' indicates the first action or event, and the verb that follows '-(으)면서' indicates the second action or event that is happening at the same time.

To use this pattern, you need to take the verb stem of the first action or event and add "-(으)면서" at the end. If the verb stem ends with a vowel, "-면서" is added. If it ends with a consonant, "-으면서" is added. Here are some examples:

• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹으면서 (while eating)
• 일어나다 (to get up) → 일어나면서 (while getting up)
• 자다 (to sleep) → 자면서 (while sleeping)

Here are some examples of how to use '-(으)면서' in sentences:

• 음악을 들으면서 운동을 합니다. (I exercise while listening to music.)
• 친구와 이야기를 하면서 커피를 마셨어요. (I drank coffee while talking with my friend.)
• 나무를 심으면서 새를 봤어요. (I saw a bird while planting a tree.)

In these examples, the verb before '-(으)면서' indicates the first action or event, such as 'exercise,' 'to drink coffee,' or 'plant a tree.' The verb after '-(으)면서' indicates the second action or event, such as 'listen to music,' 'talk with my friend,', or 'see a bird.'

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1. When the stem ends with a vowel or ㄹ, add 면서.

일어나다 (to wake up)

1. 일어나다 -> 일어나
2. 일어나 + 면서
3. 일어나면서.

자다 (to sleep)

1. 자다 -> 자
2. 자 + 면서
3. 자면서.

만들다 (to make)

1. 만들다 -> 만들
2. 만들 + 면서
3. 만들면서.

Example:

• 지호는 일어나면서 춤을 췄다. (Jiho danced as he got up.)
• 유나는 자면서 노래를 했습니다. (Yuna sang while she was sleeping.)
• 장난감을 만들면서 음악을 들었다. (I listened to music while making toys.)

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2. When the stem ends with a final consonant, add 으면서.

먹다 (to eat)

1. 먹다
2. 먹 + 으면서
3. 먹으면서.

읽다 (to read)

1. 읽다 -> 읽
2. 읽 + 으면서
3. 읽으면서.

쌓다 (to stack up, to build)

1. 쌓다 -> 쌓
2. 쌓 + 으면서
3. 쌓으면서.

Example:

• 김치를 먹으면서 라면을 먹었다. (I ate ramen while eating kimchi.)
• 소설을 읽으면서 눈물을 흘렸다. (I shed tears while reading a novel.)
• 그 왕은 탑을 쌓으면서 명예를 얻었다. (The king gained fame while building a tower.)

In summary, "-(으)면서" is a grammar pattern in Korean for indicating that two actions or events are happening simultaneously.