-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 겸
While Doing, In Addition to
-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 겸 is a connector used to link two or more purposes for a single action. It's like saying 'I'm doing X for reason A and also for reason B'.
How It Works
-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 겸 is used to express that a single action is performed for two or more reasons or purposes. It effectively combines multiple intentions into one event.
Conjugation:
It attaches directly to verb stems and changes based on tense.
1. Future/Intention: -ㄹ/을 겸 (Most common form)
This form indicates the intended purposes of an action you are about to do or plan to do.
- Verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: + -ㄹ 겸
- 보다 → 볼 겸 (to watch and...)
- 만나다 → 만날 겸 (to meet and...)
- 만들다 → 만들 겸 (to make and...) - Verb stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ): + -을 겸
- 먹다 → 먹을 겸 (to eat and...)
- 찾다 → 찾을 겸 (to find and...)
Note: 겸 attaches ONLY as -(으)ㄹ 겸. There is no -는 겸 or -(으)ㄴ 겸. The 'on the way' or 'since I've already done X' meaning is a different pattern, -는/-(으)ㄴ 김에 (가는 김에 = on my way; 온 김에 = since I've come).
Common Structures:
1. A-(으)ㄹ 겸 B-(으)ㄹ 겸 + Verb: This explicitly lists two purposes for the final action.
- 한국어 공부도 할 겸 친구도 사귈 겸 한국에 왔어요. (I came to Korea to study Korean and also to make friends.)
2. A-(으)ㄹ 겸 + Verb: This implies the main purpose is the final verb, but A is an additional, secondary reason.
- 산책할 겸 밖에 나갔어요. (I went outside, partly to take a walk.)
Examples (5)
- 기분 전환도 할 겸 머리도 자를 겸 미용실에 갔어요.
I went to the hair salon to get a haircut and also for a change of pace.
Word by Word: Mood change also do as well as hair also cut as well as to the hair salon went.
This example uses the 'A-(으)ㄹ 겸 B-(으)ㄹ 겸' structure to list two distinct reasons for going to the hair salon.
- 산책할 겸 편의점에 다녀왔어요.
I went to the convenience store, partly to take a walk.
Word by Word: Walk as well as to the convenience store went and came back.
Here, the main action is going to the convenience store, but '산책할 겸' adds a secondary purpose: getting some exercise.
- 여기까지 온 김에 유명한 빵집에 들르자.
Since we've come all this way, let's also stop by the famous bakery.
Word by Word: To here came as well as famous bakery let's stop by.
The 'since we've come all this way' meaning uses -(으)ㄴ 김에, not 겸. 겸 only combines with -(으)ㄹ for dual purpose.
- 시장에 가는 김에 우체국에 들러서 편지를 부칠게요.
On my way to the market, I'll also stop by the post office and mail a letter.
Word by Word: To the market going as well as to the post office stopping by letter I will mail.
The 'on my way' meaning uses -는 김에, not 겸. Use 겸 only in the -(으)ㄹ 겸 form for combining two purposes.
- 새로 나온 영화도 볼 겸 스트레스도 풀 겸 주말에 영화관에 갈 거예요.
I'm going to the movie theater this weekend to watch a new movie and also to relieve some stress.
Word by Word: Newly released movie also watch as well as stress also relieve as well as on the weekend to the movie theater will go.
This sentence uses the common 'A-(으)ㄹ 겸 B-(으)ㄹ 겸' structure to state two clear reasons for going to the movie theater: to see a new film and to relieve stress.
Common Mistakes
Confusing purpose (-ㄹ 겸) with simultaneous action (-면서).
Different Meaning음악을 들을 겸 공부했어요.Better음악을 들으면서 공부했어요.-ㄹ 겸 indicates the purpose of an action. The incorrect sentence awkwardly implies that the purpose of studying was to listen to music. -면서 is used correctly here to show two actions (studying and listening) happening at the same time.
Attaching -ㄹ 겸 to adjectives instead of verbs.
Not Quite날씨가 좋을 겸 공원에 갔어요.Better날씨가 좋아서 산책할 겸 공원에 갔어요.-ㄹ 겸 must be attached to a verb that describes an action or purpose. '좋다' (to be good) is an adjective. You need to add a verb like '산책하다' (to take a walk) to express the intended action.
Learn This First
To express dual purpose 'while doing/in addition to', you need modifier forms.
Related Patterns
- -(으)면서While
Contrast for clarity. While
-ㄹ 겸indicates multiple purposes for one action, -면서 indicates two actions happening simultaneously. - -ㄴ/는 김에While You're at It
Similar meaning. -는 김에 means 'while you're at it' or 'since you're already doing something'. It implies taking advantage of an existing opportunity, whereas
-ㄹ 겸focuses more on the planned, dual intentions from the start. - -(으)러In Order to
Purpose marker. -러 is used to state a single, direct purpose for an action of movement (like 가다/오다).
-ㄹ 겸is used to state two or more purposes for any action. - -(으)려고In Order to, So That
Purpose marker. -려고 expresses a single intention or purpose for an action.
-ㄹ 겸is used when there are multiple intentions.