-으면서

Korean

Alternative forms

• 면서 (-myeonseo) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)

Etymology

From Middle Korean 으〮며셔〮/ᄋᆞ〮며셔〮 (Yale: -úmyèsyé/ómyèsyé), from 으〮며〮/ᄋᆞ〮며〮 (Yale: -úmyé/ómyé, “while”) + 이셔〮 (Yale: ìsyé, infinitive of 잇다〮 (Yale: ìstá, “to be at”, whence modern 있다 (itda))). Compare 어서 (-eoseo), from a similar etymology.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯmjʌ̹nsʰʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [으면서]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eumyeonseo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eumyeonseo
McCune–Reischauer?	ŭmyŏnsŏ
Yale Romanization?	umyense

Suffix

으면서 • (-eumyeonseo)

1. while, at the same time

   Synonym: (more formal) 으며 (-eumyeo)

   점심은 오면서 간단하게 먹었어

   jeomsim-eun o-myeonseo gandanhage meogeosseo

   I had a simple lunch while coming here.

   나는 살면서 너만 사랑했다.

   Na-neun sal-myeonseo neo-man sarang-haetda.

   While I lived, I only loved you.

2. even though

   잘 알지도 못하면서 참견은.

   Jal alji-do motha-myeonseo chamgyeon-eun.

   Quit being so nosy even though you don't know anything.

   빵은 먹으면서 밥은 왜 안 먹어?

   Ppang-eun meog-eumyeonseo bab-eun wae an meogeo?

   Why won't you eat rice even when you eat bread?