Lesson 196: 겸 and 겸사겸사

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Vocabulary
Introduction

겸 Between Nouns
~ㄹ/을 겸: Describing 겸 with Verbs
Adverb: 겸사겸사

 

 

Vocabulary

Nouns:
염두 = keep something in mind

발작 = seizure

미완 = incomplete

미완작 = uncompleted work

둔치 = riverside

전략 = strategy, tactic

자금 = funds, capital, money

원고 = manuscript, draft

전반전 = first half (of a game/match)

후반전 = second half (of a game/match)

심장발작 = heart attack

Verbs:
실리다 = to be printed

의논하다 = to discuss, to deliberate

고전하다 = to struggle

수선하다 = to fix, to repair

탈바꿈하다 = to transform

Adjectives:
탁월하다 = to be outstanding, to be excellent

절박하다 = to be desperate, to be urgent

갑작스럽다 = to be sudden, abrupt, unexpected

Adverbs and Other Words:
겸 = two things at once

 

Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn about another pseudo-noun. This one will allow you to express that more than one noun or verb happens simultaneously. In this lesson, you will learn about the noun 겸. Let’s get started.

 

 

겸 Between Nouns

In many previous lessons, you have learned about pseudo-nouns. These nouns cannot be used on their own, but can only be used in the presence of something else. Most recently, you learned about 둥 in Lesson 191. 겸 is another example of a pseudo-noun. One way in which 겸 can be used is by placing it between two nouns. For example:

아침 겸 점심
과학 겸 수학

In both situations, the use of 겸 indicates that some action will affect both nouns combined. The constructions above can be placed in sentences where appropriate. For example:

오늘은 늦게 일어나서 아침 겸 점심으로 샌드위치를 먹었어요
= I woke up late today, so I had a sandwich as both breakfast and lunch

그 사람은 과학 겸 수학 교사로 일하고 있어요
= That person works as a science and math teacher

At first glance, it might seem that simply using ~과/와/랑/이랑/하고 would suffice in these situations. However, there is a slightly different nuance to using 겸. For example, in the first sentence if ~과/와/랑/이랑/하고 were used:

오늘은 늦게 일어나서 아침과 점심으로 샌드위치를 먹었어요
= I woke up late today, so I had a sandwich for breakfast and lunch

In this situation, it is more likely that the speaker had a sandwich for two separate meals. They woke up late, and instead of having their regular breakfast and lunch, they had a sandwich for both. In the situation about using 겸, it is more likely that the person had one meal – one sandwich – that sufficed for both breakfast and lunch.

Below are many more examples:

시간 겸 자금 부족이 절박한 상황을 만들어 냈어요
= The lack of both time and funds created a desperate situation

갑작스러운 스트레스 겸 심장발작으로 그는 응급실에 실려 갔어요
= Due to sudden stress and a heart attack, he was rushed to the emergency room

그 거리는 공장 겸 창고로 쓰이던 건물들이 갤러리로 탈바꿈하며 다시 태어났어요
= That street was reborn as old buildings, once used as factories and warehouses, were transformed into galleries

선생님은 여행을 떠나기 전에 안전 겸 염두에 두어야 할 사항들을 꼼꼼히 확인했어요
= Before going on the trip, the teacher carefully checked the things he needed to keep in mind for both safety and caution

It is also possible to describe 겸 with the use of ~는 것. Let’s take a look at that.

 

~ㄹ/을 겸: Describing 겸 with Verbs

It is also possible to describe 겸 with a preceding verb. In Lesson 43, you saw how it is very common to describe the pseudo-noun 수 by attaching ~ㄹ/을 to verbs. You can describe 겸 in this same way. This allows the speaker to indicate that they are doing two or more actions or behaviors together. There are two main ways that this is done:

1) To indicate that two actions are done, both of them being purposeful. For example:
친구를 만날 겸 영화도 볼 거예요
= I’m going to see a movie and also meet my friend

2) To indicate that one action is done in addition to other, unstated actions. For example:
운동할 겸 밖에 나갔어요
= I went outside, partly to exercise

In the second usage, it is particularly common to finish the sentence with words like 가다, 오다, 나가다 and 나오다 (and similar motion-related words).

At first glance, you might think that simply using ~(으)면서 (Lesson 61) would suffice in these situations. However, there is a slightly different nuance to using 겸. For example, in the first sentence if ~(으)면서 were used:

친구를 만나면서 영화도 볼 거예요
= I’m going to see a movie while meeting my friend

In this situation, the focus is on two actions happening at the same time or as part of the same event. They would literally be watching a movie while meeting their friend. In the situation using 겸, both are separate purposes — you’re meeting the friend, and will also watch a movie (as a second purpose).

Below are many more examples:

앞으로의 진로를 의논할 겸 오랜만에 친구를 만나기로 했어요
= I decided to meet my friend, both to catch up and to discuss my future path

낡은 코트를 수선할 겸 옷 수선을 전문으로 하는 가게에 들렀어요
= I stopped by a tailor’s shop, both to get my old coat fixed

그 팀은 전반전에서 전략을 시험해 볼 겸 일부러 고전하는 모습을 보이기도 했어요
= The team deliberately appeared to struggle in the first half, partly to test a strategy

강 바람을 쐴 겸 둔치를 따라 산책을 나섰어요
= I went for a walk along the riverside, partly to get some fresh air

 

 

Adverb: 겸사겸사

겸사겸사 is an adverb that is used in sentences for the speaker to indicate that one does an action as part of doing other things together. It suggests that the speaker is “killing two birds with one stone.” For example:

친구 만나러 나갔다가 겸사겸사 산책도 했어요
= I went out to meet a friend, and while I was at it, I also took a walk

In this sentence, the speaker killed two birds with one stone, in a sense. They went out to meet their friend and, while doing that, got a nice walk out of it as well. As with many adverbs, 겸사겸사 is optional, but including it emphasizes that multiple actions were done at once, often casually or opportunistically. Below are some examples:

겸사겸사 들른 전시회였는데, 작품들이 정말 탁월했어요
= I dropped by the exhibition while I was at it, and the artworks were truly outstanding

겸사겸사 책 정리를 하다가 미완 원고도 다시 꺼내 봤어요
= While I was tidying up my books as part of doing a few things, I also pulled out some unfinished manuscripts

겸사겸사 건강검진도 받을 겸 병원에 갔는데 발작 위험은 없다고 했어요
= I went to the hospital, also thinking I might get a health check while I was at it, and they said there’s no risk of seizures

That’s it for this lesson!

Okay, take me to the next lesson!