Overview
~(으)면서 means "while" and expresses two actions happening simultaneously by the same subject. It is the go-to grammar point when you want to say "I do X while doing Y."
| Key rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meaning | While doing A, also doing B |
| Subject | Must be the same for both clauses |
| Actions | Both happen at the same time |
How to Form ~(으)면서
| Stem ending | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel (no 받침) | ~면서 | 가다 → 가면서, 보다 → 보면서 |
| Consonant (받침) | ~으면서 | 먹다 → 먹으면서, 읽다 → 읽으면서 |
| ㄹ받침 | ~면서 (ㄹ stays) | 알다 → 알면서, 살다 → 살면서 |
Conjugation table
| Dictionary | Stem | + (으)면서 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 (go) | 가 | 가 + 면서 | 가면서 |
| 보다 (see) | 보 | 보 + 면서 | 보면서 |
| 하다 (do) | 하 | 하 + 면서 | 하면서 |
| 마시다 (drink) | 마시 | 마시 + 면서 | 마시면서 |
| 먹다 (eat) | 먹 | 먹 + 으면서 | 먹으면서 |
| 읽다 (read) | 읽 | 읽 + 으면서 | 읽으면서 |
| 듣다 (listen) | 들 (ㄷ irr.) | 들 + 으면서 | 들으면서 |
| 걷다 (walk) | 걸 (ㄷ irr.) | 걸 + 으면서 | 걸으면서 |
| 알다 (know) | 알 | 알 + 면서 | 알면서 |
| 울다 (cry) | 울 | 울 + 면서 | 울면서 |
| 웃다 (laugh) | 웃 | 웃 + 으면서 | 웃으면서 |
Part 1: Two Simultaneous Actions
The primary use of ~(으)면서 is describing two things you do at the same time.
- 음악을 들으면서 공부해요. (I study while listening to music.)
- 커피를 마시면서 신문을 읽어요. (I read the newspaper while drinking coffee.)
- TV를 보면서 밥을 먹어요. (I eat while watching TV.)
- 운전하면서 전화하지 마세요. (Don't talk on the phone while driving.)
- 걸으면서 이야기해요. (I talk while walking.)
Which action is the "main" action?
The second clause (after ~(으)면서) is typically the main action, and the first clause is the accompanying or background action.
- 음악을 들으면서 공부해요. (Main action: studying. Background: music.)
- 밥을 먹으면서 TV를 봐요. (Main action: watching TV. Background: eating.)
However, both actions are happening, so the distinction is often flexible.
Part 2: Manner or Attitude
~(으)면서 can describe the manner in which someone does something:
- 웃으면서 말했어요. (She spoke while smiling / She said it with a smile.)
- 울면서 전화했어요. (She called while crying.)
- 화를 내면서 나갔어요. (He left while being angry / He stormed out.)
- 노래하면서 요리해요. (I cook while singing.)
Part 3: Contrasting Actions (Contradictory "While")
~(으)면서 can also express a contrast -- doing something contradictory to what one says or claims.
- 알면서 왜 안 했어요? (You knew, so why didn't you do it? / While knowing...)
- 돈이 있으면서 안 사요? (You have money and yet you won't buy it?)
- 약속했으면서 왜 안 왔어요? (You promised, but why didn't you come?)
In this usage, the speaker is pointing out a contradiction or hypocrisy. The tone is often accusatory or surprised.
Critical Rule: Same Subject Required
Both clauses must have the same subject. This is a strict rule for ~(으)면서.
| Correct (same subject) | Incorrect (different subjects) |
|---|---|
| (저는) 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 | (X) 비가 오면서 바람이 불어요 |
| (그녀는) 웃으면서 말했어요 | (X) 엄마가 요리하면서 아빠가 TV를 봐요 |
For different subjects doing things simultaneously, use ~(으)ㄹ 때 or rephrase:
- (O) 비가 올 때 바람도 불어요. (When it rains, wind also blows.)
- (O) 엄마가 요리할 때 아빠는 TV를 봐요. (When mom cooks, dad watches TV.)
~(으)면서 vs. ~고
Both can express simultaneous actions, but with key differences:
| Feature | ~(으)면서 | ~고 |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous actions | Clear simultaneity | Ambiguous (could be sequential) |
| Same subject required | Yes | No |
| Listing/Sequential | No | Yes |
| Emphasis | Background action | Equal listing |
Comparison
| ~(으)면서 | ~고 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 | 음악을 듣고 공부해요 | ~면서: at the same time. ~고: could be same time or one after another |
| 먹으면서 이야기해요 | 먹고 이야기해요 | ~면서: simultaneously. ~고: eat, then talk |
~(으)면서 vs. ~(으)ㄹ 때
| Feature | ~(으)면서 | ~(으)ㄹ 때 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | While (simultaneous) | When (time) |
| Same subject | Required | Not required |
| Focus | Two concurrent actions | Time point/period |
Tense with ~(으)면서
Tense is marked only on the final verb, not on the ~(으)면서 clause:
| Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 먹으면서 봐요 | eat while watching (now) |
| Past | 먹으면서 봤어요 | ate while watching (then) |
| Future | 먹으면서 볼 거예요 | will eat while watching |
Do not add tense markers to the ~(으)면서 clause: - (X) 먹었으면서 봤어요 - (O) 먹으면서 봤어요
Exception: The contrasting/accusatory usage does allow past tense: - 알았으면서 왜 안 말했어요? (You knew, so why didn't you say anything?)
Common Patterns
일하면서 (while working)
- 일하면서 공부해요. (I study while working.)
- 일하면서 대학을 다녀요. (I attend university while working.)
살면서 (while living / in the course of life)
- 한국에 살면서 많이 배웠어요. (While living in Korea, I learned a lot.)
- 살면서 그런 일은 처음이에요. (In my whole life, that was a first.)
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Correction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 먹면서 (consonant stem) | 먹으면서 | Consonant stems need 으 |
| 비가 오면서 추워요 (different subjects implied) | 비가 올 때 추워요 | Same subject rule |
| 먹었으면서 봤어요 (wrong tense placement) | 먹으면서 봤어요 | Tense goes on final verb |
| 듣면서 | 들으면서 | ㄷ irregular: 듣 → 들 |
Summary
- ~(으)면서 = "while" for simultaneous actions by the same subject.
- Formation: vowel stems + 면서, consonant stems + 으면서, ㄹ stems + 면서.
- The same subject rule is strict -- use ~(으)ㄹ 때 for different subjects.
- Can express manner (웃으면서 말했어요) or contradiction (알면서 왜 안 했어요?).
- Tense goes on the final verb only (except in the contradictory usage).
- More precise than ~고 for indicating simultaneity.