KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)” (TOPIK 6)
How to attach it
The ending differs for verbs and adjectives, so the table shows both. Compare how each word changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch (verb) | 보는 반면에 | boneun banmyeone |
| 읽다 | to read (verb) | 읽는 반면에 | ingneun banmyeone |
| 크다 | big (adjective) | 큰 반면에 | keun banmyeone |
| 좋다 | good, nice (adjective) | 좋은 반면에 | joeun banmyeone |
What changes
- For verbs, -는 attaches directly to the stem (읽 → 읽는). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ first (살 → 사는).
- For adjectives, the present-tense form is -(으)ㄴ: ㄴ after a vowel (크 → 큰) and 은 after a consonant (좋 → 좋은).
Explanation
이 지역은 여름에는 더운 반면 겨울에는 몹시 추워요.
“-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)” means “while ~ / on the other hand ~” and sets two contrasting traits or facts of the same subject side by side. The sentence means “In this region it’s hot in summer, whereas in winter it’s very cold.” “-(으)ㄴ 탓에” gives a cause and cannot express contrast.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 이 지역은 여름에는 더운 반면 겨울에는 몹시 추워요.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 지역은 | ||
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 역 | ㅇ+ㅕ+ㄱ | [여] yeo |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [근] geun |
| 여름에는 | ||
| 여 | ㅇ+ㅕ | yeo |
| 름 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㅁ | [르] reu |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [메] me |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 더운 | ||
| 더 | ㄷ+ㅓ | deo |
| 운 | ㅇ+ㅜ+ㄴ | un |
| 반면 | ||
| 반 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㄴ | ban |
| 면 | ㅁ+ㅕ+ㄴ | myeon |
| 겨울에는 | ||
| 겨 | ㄱ+ㅕ | gyeo |
| 울 | ㅇ+ㅜ+ㄹ | [우] u |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [레] re |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 몹시 | ||
| 몹 | ㅁ+ㅗ+ㅂ | mop |
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | [씨] si |
| 추워요 | ||
| 추 | ㅊ+ㅜ | chu |
| 워 | ㅇ+ㅝ | wo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
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. 역은 → [여근]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 몹시 → [몹씨]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 지역 | noun | region, area | TOPIK level 4 |
| 여름 | noun | summer | TOPIK level 1 |
| 겨울 | noun | winter | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 이 지역은 여름에는 더운 ____ 겨울에는 몹시 추워요.
Show the answer
Answer: 이 지역은 여름에는 더운 반면 겨울에는 몹시 추워요.
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