로서 (roseo) means "as (a role)".
Indicates a status, capacity, or qualification. 'As a...'
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- 로서 roseo after a vowel or ㄹ, 으로서 euroseo after other consonants.
Build it
When to use it
In the role of
Speaking or acting as something.
Status
What someone is known as.
Before a noun
With 의 ui: 로서의 roseoui.
Watch out
학생 haksaeng ends in a consonant, so it takes 으로서 euroseo.
For a method, it's 로써 rosseo.
In context
8 examples- 1
리더로서 책임이 있어요.
Rideoroseo chaegimi isseoyo.
I have responsibility as a leader.
- 2
인간으로서의 도리입니다.
Inganeuroseoui doriimnida.
It is a duty as a human being.
- 3
친구로서 하는 말이야.
Chinguroseo haneun mariya.
I'm saying this as your friend.
- 4
엄마로서 정말 자랑스러워요.
Eommaroseo jeongmal jarangseureowoyo.
As a mom, I'm really proud.
- 5
그는 가수로서뿐만 아니라 배우로서도 유명해요.
Geuneun gasuroseoppunman anira baeuroseodo yumyeonghaeyo.
He's famous not just as a singer but as an actor too.
- 6
팀장으로서 제가 책임지겠습니다.
Timjangeuroseo jega chaegimjigetseumnida.
As team leader, I'll take responsibility.
- 7
외국인으로서 한국에서 사는 건 어때요?
Oegugineuroseo hangugeseo saneun geon eottaeyo?
What's it like living in Korea as a foreigner?
- 8
이 건물은 문화재로서 가치가 높아요.
I geonmureun munhwajaeroseo gachiga nopayo.
This building is very valuable as a heritage site.
Practice
8 questions학생 + (으)로서
로서 vs 로써
These two are only one letter apart, and even native speakers mix up the spelling. They mean different things, though:
- (으)로서 is a role: "as".
- (으)로써 (eu)rosseo is a means: "by" or "through".
- 교사로서 말씀드릴게요. gyosaroseo malsseumdeurilgeyo "Let me say this as a teacher."
- 대화로써 해결합시다. daehwarosseo haegyeolhapsida "Let's settle this through dialogue."
A quick test: if you can say "as a …" in English, it's 로서.
In speech, plain (으)로
로서 sounds a bit formal and stresses the role. In everyday talk, plain (으)로 (eu)ro often does the same job:
- 그냥 친구로 지내요. geunyang chinguro jinaeyo "We're just friends." Literally, "we get along as friends".
- 이 방은 창고로 써요. i bangeun changgoro sseoyo "We use this room as a storeroom."
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 으로서 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
