TTMIK Level 6 Lesson 14 - a podcast by G9Languages

Level 6 Lesson 14 / -(으)ㄹ 겸

In this lesson, we take a look at the expression -(으)ㄹ 겸 [-(eu)l gyeom] and how it is used. -(으)ㄹ 겸 is used to express something or an action that has dual purposes or positions. It can be translated as “/ (slash)” or “and” when used with nouns, and as “(while doing something else) to do XYZ as well” when used with verbs.

겸
When you want to say “breakfast/lunch” or “singer/actor”, you use the word 겸 [gyeom].

Examples
1. 아침 겸 점심
[a-chim gyeom jeom-sim]
= breakfast/lunch, brunch

2. 가수 겸 배우
[ga-su gyeom bae-u]
= singer and actor, singer/actor

3. 화가 겸 작곡가
[hwa-ga gyeom jak-gok-ga]
= painter/composer, painter and composer

-(으)ㄹ 겸
When you want to talk about an action that has two or more purposes, you can list them using -(으)ㄹ 겸 [-(eu)l gyeom]. When you just mention one purpose using -(으)ㄹ 겸 in a sentence, the other purpose has to be understood from the context. And since -(으)ㄹ 겸 usually has the nuance of “both at the same time”, you often use the particle -도 (meaning “also”) after the noun that comes before “Verb + -(으)ㄹ 겸”.

Examples
1. 바람 좀 쐴 겸 밖에 나왔어요.
[ba-ram-do ssoel gyeom ba-kke na-wa-sseo-yo.]
= (There’s another reason/purpose, too, but) I came outside to get some fresh air.

2. 영어 공부도 할 겸, 영어로 된 소설을 읽고 있어요.
[yeong-eo gong-bu hal gyeom, yeong-eo-ro doen so-seo-reul il-go i-sseo-yo.]
= (I’m doing it because it’s fun, too, but) I’m reading a novel written in English to study English as well.

3. 친구 생일 선물도 살 겸, 제 옷도 볼 겸, 백화점에 갈 거예요.
[chin-gu saeng-il seon-mul-do sal gyeom, je ot-do bol gyeom, bae-kwa-jeo-me gal geo-ye-yo.]
= I’m going to go to the department store to buy a present for my friend’s birthday and, at the same time, look at some clothes for myself.

4. 산책도 할 겸, 사진도 찍을 겸, 남산에 갔어요.
[san-cheok-do hal gyeom, sa-jin-do jji-geul gyeom, nam-sa-ne ga-sseo-yo.]
= I went to Namsan to take a walk and also to take some photos.

-(으)ㄹ 겸 해서
Sometimes, when people feel that just saying -(으)ㄹ 겸 is a little too short, they add the word 해서 after that and say -(으)ㄹ 겸 해서. It has the same meaning as -(으)ㄹ 겸, but -(으)ㄹ 겸 해서 is usually used with the second verb when there are two verbs used as “purposes” for doing something.

Ex)
산책도 할 겸, 사진도 찍을 겸 = 산책도 할 겸 해서, 사진도 찍을 겸 해서

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