(으)면서 (eumyeonseo) means "while".
Indicates two actions happening simultaneously by the same subject.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a vowel or ㄹ: 면서 myeonseo. After other consonants: 으면서 eumyeonseo.
Build it
When to use it
Two at once
Same person, same moment.
Same period
Two things going on in the same stretch of life.
Even though
Often in a complaint.
Watch out
Both actions need the same person. Otherwise use 동안 dongan.
No past tense on 면서 myeonseo here. The last verb carries it.
걷다 geotda is irregular: ㄷ turns into ㄹ before a vowel.
In context
8 examples- 1
밥을 먹으면서 TV를 봐요.
Babeul meogeumyeonseo TVreul bwayo.
I watch TV while eating.
- 2
운전하면서 전화하지 마세요.
Unjeonhamyeonseo jeonhwahaji maseyo.
Don't talk on the phone while driving.
- 3
아르바이트하면서 학교에 다녔어요.
Areubaiteuhamyeonseo hakgyoe danyeosseoyo.
I worked a part-time job while I was in school.
- 4
그 사람이 웃으면서 인사했어요.
Geu sarami useumyeonseo insahaesseoyo.
He said hello with a smile.
- 5
걸으면서 휴대폰 보지 마.
Georeumyeonseo hyudaepon boji ma.
Don't look at your phone while you walk.
- 6
노래를 부르면서 설거지를 했어요.
Noraereul bureumyeonseo seolgeojireul haesseoyo.
I sang while doing the dishes.
- 7
다 알면서 모르는 척하지 마세요.
Da almyeonseo moreuneun cheokaji maseyo.
Don't pretend you don't know when you know full well.
- 8
저녁 먹으면서 얘기할까?
Jeonyeok meogeumyeonseo yaegihalkka?
Shall we talk over dinner?
Practice
8 questions듣다 + (으)면서
(으)면서 vs 고
고 go lists actions, usually one after the other. 면서 myeonseo puts them at the same time.
- 밥을 먹고 드라마를 봤어요. babeul meokgo deuramareul bwasseoyo "I ate, then watched a drama."
- 밥을 먹으면서 드라마를 봤어요. babeul meogeumyeonseo deuramareul bwasseoyo "I watched a drama while I ate."
(으)면서 vs 는 동안
면서 myeonseo needs one person doing both things. When two different people are involved, use 는 동안 neun dongan, "during the time that":
- 아기가 자는 동안 청소했어요. agiga janeun dongan cheongsohaesseoyo "I cleaned while the baby slept."
"Even though" in the past
In the "even though" meaning, 면서 myeonseo can take the past tense. It usually points out that someone's words don't match what they did:
- 봤으면서 안 봤다고 했어요. bwasseumyeonseo an bwatdago haesseoyo "She said she hadn't seen it, even though she had."
- 먹었으면서 또 먹어? meogeosseumyeonseo tto meogeo "You already ate and you're eating again?"
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 으면서 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
