-으며

Korean

Alternative forms

• 며 (-myeo) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)

Etymology

From Middle Korean 으〮며〮/ᄋᆞ〮며〮 (Yale: -úmyé/ómyé), from Old Korean 㢱 (*-mye).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯmjʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [으며]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eumyeo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eumyeo
McCune–Reischauer?	ŭmyŏ
Yale Romanization?	umye

Suffix

으며 • (-eumyeo)

1. (rather formal) and; enumerates descriptions or actions.

   Synonym: (less formal) 고 (-go)

   무며 오이며 부추며 갖가지 채소로 김치를 담근다.

   Mu-myeo oi-myeo buchu-myeo gatgaji chaeso-ro gimchi-reul damgeunda.

   Kimchi is made from various vegetables such as white radishes, cucumbers, and leeks.

   (Note that the copula 이다 (-ida) has been elided here.)

   로마 제국의 국경은 북쪽으로는 라인강을 접했으며 남쪽으로는 사하라 사막에 다다랐다.

   Roma jegug-ui gukgyeong-eun bukjjog-euro-neun Rain-gang-eul jeop-haess-eumyeo namjjog-euro-neun Sahara samag-e dadaratda.

   The borders of the Roman Empire adjoined the Rhine to the north and attained the Sahara Desert to the south.

2. (rather formal) while, at the same time

   Synonym: (more common) 으면서 (-eumyeonseo)

   그녀는 숨을 가쁘게 쉬며 강변 산책로를 따라 뛰었다.

   Geunyeo-neun sum-eul gappeuge swi-myeo gangbyeon sanchaengno-reul ttara ttwieotda.

   She ran along the riverside walk while breathing heavily.

   살며 사랑했고 죽으며 사랑했느니라.

   Sal-myeo sarang-haetgo jug-eumyeo sarang-haen-neunira.

   While living, I loved; while dying, I loved.