KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㅁ으로써
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㅁ으로써”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 5)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 앉다 | to sit | 앉음으로써 | anjeumeurosseo |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽음으로써 | ilgeumeurosseo |
| 하다 | to do | 함으로써 | hameurosseo |
| 살다 | to live | 삶으로써 | salmeurosseo |
What changes
- -(으)ㅁ turns a verb into a noun: ㅁ is added after a vowel (하 → 함), 음 after a consonant (읽 → 읽음), and a stem ending in ㄹ becomes ㄻ (살 → 삶).
Explanation
회의 시간을 줄임으로써 업무 효율을 높였다.
“-(으)ㅁ으로써” means “by ~ing” and is a written-style expression showing that a result was obtained through a certain method or means. Turn the verb stem into a noun with “-(으)ㅁ” and then add “으로써.” The sentence means “By shortening meeting times, we raised work efficiency.” Do not confuse it with “-(으)로서” (“as ~”).
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 회의 시간을 줄임으로써 업무 효율을 높였다.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 회의 | ||
| 회 | ㅎ+ㅚ | hoe |
| 의 | ㅇ+ㅢ | ui |
| 시간을 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 간 | ㄱ+ㅏ+ㄴ | [가] ga |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [늘] neul |
| 줄임으로써 | ||
| 줄 | ㅈ+ㅜ+ㄹ | [주] ju |
| 임 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅁ | [리] ri |
| 으 | ㅇ+ㅡ | [므] meu |
| 로 | ㄹ+ㅗ | ro |
| 써 | ㅆ+ㅓ | sseo |
| 업무 | ||
| 업 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅂ | [엄] eom |
| 무 | ㅁ+ㅜ | mu |
| 효율을 | ||
| 효 | ㅎ+ㅛ | hyo |
| 율 | ㅇ+ㅠ+ㄹ | [유] yu |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [를] reul |
| 높였다 | ||
| 높 | ㄴ+ㅗ+ㅍ | nop |
| 였 | ㅇ+ㅕ+ㅆ | yeot |
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | da |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 간을 → [가늘]
- Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 업무 → [엄무]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -다. Common in proverbs, writing and the news, but not how you normally speak to the person in front of you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 회의 | noun | meeting | TOPIK level 2 |
| 업무 | noun | work duties | TOPIK level 5 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 회의 시간을 줄____ 업무 효율을 높였다.
Show the answer
Answer: 회의 시간을 줄임으로써 업무 효율을 높였다.
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