-(으)ㅁ
Nominalizing Ending
Attach -ㅁ/음 to a verb or adjective stem to turn it into a noun. It's similar to adding '-ness' or '-ing' in English, but is often used for more abstract concepts, states, or facts.
How It Works
The ending -ㅁ/음 is a crucial tool for creating nouns from verbs and adjectives, a process called nominalization. It's particularly common in written Korean, titles, and formal speech to express concepts, states, or facts.
Conjugation Rules:
1. Vowel Stem + -ㅁ: If the verb/adjective stem ends in a vowel, attach -ㅁ.
- 자다 (to sleep) → 잠 (sleep)
- 기쁘다 (to be happy) → 기쁨 (joy, happiness)
2. Consonant Stem + -음: If the stem ends in a consonant, attach -음.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹음 (eating, the act of eating)
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋음 (goodness)
3. ㄹ Stem → Drop ㄹ + -ㅁ: If the stem ends in ㄹ, the ㄹ is dropped before adding -ㅁ.
- 살다 (to live) → 삶 (life)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만듦 (making, creation)
-ㅁ/음 vs. -기
While both are nominalizers, they have different nuances:
- -ㅁ/음: Often refers to a concrete result, a state, a fact, or an abstract concept. It feels more static and is common in formal or literary contexts. Think of it as creating a standalone noun.
- -기: Often refers to the action or process itself. It feels more dynamic and is common in everyday speech and in various grammatical patterns like -기 때문에 (because of doing) or -기 시작하다 (to start doing).
For example, '꿈을 이룸' means 'the realization of a dream' (a fact/result), while '꿈을 이루기' means 'realizing a dream' (the process/act).
Examples (5)
- 그의 죽음은 모두에게 큰 슬픔이었다.
His death was a great sadness to everyone.
Word by Word: His death-topic marker everyone-to big sadness-was.
Here, 죽다 (to die) becomes 죽음 (death) and 슬프다 (to be sad) becomes 슬픔 (sadness). Both are nominalized using this pattern.
- 도움이 필요하시면 연락주세요.
If you need help, please contact us.
Word by Word: Help-subject marker if you need contact please give.
돕다 (to help) is nominalized to 도움 (help, assistance). This form is very common on signs and in official announcements.
- 저는 그림 그리기를 좋아하지만, 좋은 그림을 보는 것도 좋아해요.
I like drawing pictures, but I also like looking at good pictures.
This example contrasts the two nominalizers. '그리기' (-기) refers to the act of drawing. '그림' is a standalone noun that historically comes from 그리다 + -ㅁ, referring to the result of drawing (a picture).
- 최선을 다했음에 후회는 없습니다.
I have no regrets in having done my best.
Word by Word: Best-object marker did-in regret-topic marker do not exist.
This shows a more advanced usage where the past tense -았/었- is combined with -음 to nominalize a past action: 다했다 → 다했음.
- 인생은 앎과 모름의 연속이다.
Life is a continuation of knowing and not knowing.
Word by Word: Life-topic marker knowing-and not knowing-of continuation-is.
알다 (to know) becomes 앎 (knowledge/knowing) and 모르다 (to not know) becomes 모름 (not knowing). This demonstrates the pattern's use for abstract concepts.
Common Mistakes
Using -ㅁ/음 when -기 is more natural, especially for ongoing activities or hobbies.
Not Quite제 취미는 책 읽음입니다.Better제 취미는 책 읽기입니다.When talking about a hobby or the general act of doing something, -기 is the standard choice. '읽음' sounds overly formal and static, as if referring to a single, completed act of reading rather than the activity itself.
Forgetting to drop the ㄹ from stems before adding -ㅁ.
Not Quite그것을 만들음에 시간이 오래 걸렸다.Better그것을 만듦에 시간이 오래 걸렸다.When a verb or adjective stem ends in ㄹ, the ㄹ is dropped before attaching -ㅁ. So, 만들다 becomes 만듦, not 만들음.
Learn This First
To turn verbs into nouns formally, you need verb stems and nominalizer knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -는 것Thing of -ing
Similar Function: -는 것 is another way to turn a verb phrase into a noun clause (e.g., 'the act of doing something' or 'the thing that one does'). It's very common in spoken Korean and often interchangeable with -기, but less so with -ㅁ/음.
- -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
Related Concept (Noun Modifiers): While -ㅁ/음 turns a verb/adjective into a noun, -ㄴ/은 turns it into a modifier that can describe a noun (e.g., 예쁘다 → 예쁜 사람, 'a pretty person'). Both change the function of the original word to relate to nouns.
- Verb stems
Foundation: Understanding how to find the verb stem is essential, as -ㅁ/음 attaches directly to it.