Advanced Estimated read: 3 mins

-(으)며

Used to list two or more actions or states on equal terms. It can also indicate simultaneous actions or states. Primarily used in written language.

Summary

Equivalent

And..., While..., Simultaneously...

Also: -고 · -(으)면서

Example

He was both a soldier and a politician.

그는 군인이며 정치가였다.

Grammar rules

  • 1.
  • Listing: A and B are true.
  • 2.
  • Simultaneous: Doing A while doing B.
  • It is more formal than '-고' or '-(으)면서'.
  • For simultaneous actions, the subject of both clauses must be the same.

    그는 음악을 들으며 책을 읽었다. (He read a book while listening to music.)

Patterns

1

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives)

현재 (Present) · -(으)며

2

N (Nouns)

현재 (Present) · (이)며

Example sentences

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -(으)며

He was both a soldier and a politician.

그는 군인이며 정치가였다.

N (Nouns) · 현재 (Present) · (이)며

These days, there are many people who commute while listening to video lectures.

요즘은 동영상 강의를 들으며 출퇴근하는 사람이 많다.

V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) · 현재 (Present) · -(으)며

This place is famous as a tourist destination and is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year.

이곳은 관광지로 유명하며 매년 수만 명의 관광객이 찾는다.

Conversation

A: What do you think of that actor?

그 배우는 어때요?

B: They act well and also have outstanding singing skills.

연기도 잘하며 노래 실력도 아주 뛰어나요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct 'and/while' phrase.

Listing qualities.

Simultaneous state.