-(으)며
And, While
-며 is a connective ending used to link two clauses. It can mean 'and' when listing actions or states, or 'while' when two actions happen at the same time. It's generally used in more formal or written contexts.
How It Works
-며 is a versatile connector that adds a formal or literary tone to a sentence. It's more common in writing, presentations, and news reports than in casual conversation.
1. Listing/Enumeration ('and')
This usage is similar to -고, but -며 implies a stronger connection between two equally important facts or characteristics. It's often used to describe a person or object with multiple attributes.
- 그는 가수이며 배우이다. (He is a singer and an actor.)
- 이 음식은 맛있으며 건강에도 좋다. (This food is delicious and is also good for your health.)
2. Simultaneous Actions ('while')
This usage is similar to -면서, indicating that two actions are happening at the same time. Again, -며 carries a more formal nuance than -면서.
- 그녀는 노래를 부르며 춤을 췄다. (She sang while dancing.)
- 나는 음악을 들으며 책을 읽었다. (I listened to music while reading a book.)
Key Rules:
- Attachment: Attach -으며 to stems ending in a consonant (except for ㄹ), and -며 to stems ending in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ. (e.g., 먹다 → 먹으며; 가다 → 가며; 만들다 → 만들며)
- Same Subject: The subject of the first and second clauses must be the same.
- Tense: The tense of the entire sentence is determined by the final verb. The verb with -며 does not show tense.
Examples (4)
- 이 꽃은 아름다우며 향기도 좋습니다.
This flower is beautiful and it smells good too.
Word by Word: This flower is beautiful and scent is also good.
Here, -며 lists two positive qualities of the flower: being beautiful (아름답다) and having a good scent.
- 그는 학생이며, 아르바이트도 합니다.
He is a student and also works a part-time job.
Word by Word: He is a student and, part-time job also does.
-며 attaches to the stem of 이다 (이-) to list two facts about the subject 'he'.
- 아버지는 신문을 읽으시며 아침을 드셨습니다.
My father ate breakfast while reading the newspaper.
Word by Word: Father newspaper reads while morning meal ate.
This shows two actions (reading and eating) happening simultaneously. The honorific marker -시- is placed before -며.
- 그는 가구를 만들며 노래를 불렀다.
He sang a song while making furniture.
Word by Word: He furniture made while song sang.
This shows the conjugation for a verb stem ending in the consonant 'ㄹ'. The stem of 만들다 ends in 'ㄹ', so -며 is attached directly, becoming 만들며.
Common Mistakes
Using -며 when the subjects of the two clauses are different.
Different Meaning나는 공부하며 동생은 놀았다.Better나는 공부했고 동생은 놀았다.-며 requires the subject to be the same for both the action before and after it. When the subjects are different (I, my sibling), you cannot use -며. Instead, use a connector like -고.
Using -며 in casual conversation where -면서 would be more natural.
Different Meaning나 밥 먹으며 TV 봤어. (Sounds overly formal/written)Better나 밥 먹으면서 TV 봤어.For simultaneous actions in everyday, casual speech, -면서 is much more common and sounds more natural. Using -며 can make you sound like you are reading from a book or giving a formal speech.
Learn This First
To use formal conjunction 'and/while', you need conjunction knowledge and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -(으)면서While
Both -며 and -면서 express simultaneous actions ('while'). The main difference is formality. -면서 is the standard choice for everyday conversation, while -며 is reserved for more formal or written contexts.
- -는데But, And
-는데 connects clauses by providing background information or a contrast. While -며 connects two clauses of equal weight, -는데 creates a relationship where the first clause sets the scene or context for the second.
- -거나Or
-며 is additive ('and'), connecting two things that are both true. In contrast, -거나 is selective ('or'), presenting a choice between two or more options. They serve opposite functions in a sentence.