-(으)면서
While
-(으)면서 means 'while' and connects two actions or states that happen at the same time, done by the same person or thing. For example, 'I study while listening to music.'
How It Works
-(으)면서 is the Korean equivalent of 'while' or 'as' when describing two things happening at once. The subject performing both actions must be identical.
Conjugation Rules:
1. Verb/Adjective stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -면서
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 면서 → 가면서 (while going)
- 보다 (to see) → 보 + 면서 → 보면서 (while watching)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들 + 면서 → 만들면서 (while making)
2. Verb/Adjective stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ): Add -으면서
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 으면서 → 먹으면서 (while eating)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 으면서 → 읽으면서 (while reading)
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋 + 으면서 → 좋으면서 (while being good)
Key Usage Points:
- Same Subject Rule: This is a strict rule. The person or thing doing the first action must also be doing the second. For situations with different subjects, you should use -는 동안.
- Tense: The tense of the sentence is expressed in the final verb. The verb with -(으)면서 does not show tense.
- Adjectives: It can also be used with adjectives to describe two co-existing qualities of a single noun. For example, 'This bag is pretty and cheap.'
Examples (5)
- 음악을 들으면서 공부해요.
I study while listening to music.
Word by Word: music listen-while study.
- 밥을 먹으면서 텔레비전을 봐요.
I watch television while eating a meal.
Word by Word: meal eat-while television watch.
- 운전하면서 전화하면 안 돼요.
You shouldn't talk on the phone while driving.
Word by Word: driving-while call-if not okay.
This shows how -(으)면서 can be combined with other grammar patterns like -면 안 되다 (must not).
- 그 가방은 예쁘면서 싸요.
That bag is pretty and cheap.
Word by Word: that bag pretty-while cheap is.
Here, -면서 is used with an adjective (예쁘다) to describe two simultaneous qualities of the bag.
- 어제 친구와 이야기하면서 커피를 마셨어요.
Yesterday, I drank coffee while talking with my friend.
Word by Word: yesterday friend-with talk-while coffee drank.
The past tense is indicated by the final verb (마셨어요), not the verb with -면서.
Common Mistakes
Using -(으)면서 when the subjects of the two clauses are different.
Not Quite제가 운전하면서 제 친구가 노래를 불렀어요.Better제가 운전하는 동안 제 친구가 노래를 불렀어요.-(으)면서 requires the subject to be the same for both actions ('I' drive, 'I' sing). When the subjects are different ('I' drive, 'my friend' sings), you must use a different pattern like -는 동안 (during the time that).
Learn This First
To express 'while doing', you need conditional knowledge and verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -는 동안While, During
Both mean 'while' or 'during'. However, -는 동안 can be used when the subjects of the two actions are different, whereas -(으)면서 requires the same subject.
- -다가While Doing, Then
-다가 connects two actions where the first action is interrupted by the second. -(으)면서 connects two actions that happen completely at the same time.
- -고And, And Then
-고 is a general connector for 'and' or 'and then', usually implying a sequence of events. -(으)면서 specifically indicates that the events are simultaneous, not sequential.
- -는 길에On the Way to, While Going
-는 길에 means 'on the way' and is used for an action that happens while traveling to or from a place. -(으)면서 is for any two general actions happening at the same time.