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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 6: Killing two birds with one stone (-(으)ㄹ 겸)

In Level 6, we learned -(으)ㄴ/는 김에 (While you're at it).

In this unit, we will learn a similar but slightly different grammar point: -(으)ㄹ 겸 (겸해서). This is used when you do one action to achieve two or more purposes at the same time ("killing two birds with one stone").

-(으)ㄴ/는 김에 vs. -(으)ㄹ 겸

  • -는 김에: You were already doing Action A, so you decided to add Action B just because it was convenient.
  • -(으)ㄹ 겸: You planned the action because it would achieve Goal A and Goal B at the same time.

How to Conjugate

You attach -(으)ㄹ 겸 to the verb stem of the purpose(s).

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㄹ 겸 * 가다 -> 갈 겸 (For the purpose of going) * 사다 -> 살 겸 (For the purpose of buying)

2. Consonant stem: Add -을 겸 * 먹다 -> 먹을 겸 (For the purpose of eating)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -겸 * 놀다 -> 놀 겸 (For the purpose of hanging out)

Structure

Usually, we list two purposes, so the structure looks like this: [Purpose A]-(으)ㄹ 겸, [Purpose B]-(으)ㄹ 겸 [Action]

  • 바람도 쐴 겸, 친구도 만날 겸 밖에 나갔어요. (I went outside to get some fresh air and to meet a friend.)
  • 한국어도 공부할 겸, 여행도 할 겸 한국에 왔어요. (I came to Korea to study Korean and to travel.)

Note: You can use '도' (also) after the object nouns to emphasize the multiple purposes.

Shortening it

If one of the purposes is obvious or already known, you can just list one purpose and say -(으)ㄹ 겸 해서. * 산책할 겸 해서 나왔어요. (I came out [to do other things] and also to take a walk.)

Example Sentences

  1. 얼굴도 볼 겸, 밥도 먹을 겸 만났어요. (We met up to see each other's faces and eat together.)
  2. 운동할 겸 걸어서 출근했어요. (I walked to work to double as exercise.)