Formal Connectors

Korean Grammar 4

Course 4 · Chapter 2 · Formal and Written Connectors

🔗 Formal and Written Connectors — 문어체 연결

Korean Grammar 4 1 (Written and Spoken Korean) showed that writing uses plain endings and fuller words. The same goes for connectors. In speech you join clauses with -고, -지만, -아/어서; in articles, reports and essays you meet a more formal set: -(으)며, -(으)나, -(으)므로, -(으)ㄹ뿐더러, -는 동시에. You also need the connecting words that link whole sentences (그러나, 따라서, 또한, 한편, 반면에, 게다가). Together they let you build a paragraph that reads like Korean writing, not translated English.

The rule in one box Clause connectors: -(으)며 and / while; -(으)나 but; -(으)므로 because; -(으)ㄹ뿐더러 not only … but also; -는 동시에 at the same time as. Sentence connectors: 그러나 however; 따라서 therefore; 또한 / 게다가 also, moreover; 한편 / 반면에 meanwhile, whereas. All of these suit the plain written style; most sound stiff in casual speech.

Formal clause connectors

-(으)며: and, while

Stem + -(으)며 (vowel stem: -며; consonant stem: -으며; noun: (이)며) links two actions or qualities. It replaces -고 (listing) and -(으)면서 (simultaneous actions) in formal writing.

Use	Example	Meaning
listing qualities	이 도시는 아름다우며 조용하다.	This city is beautiful and quiet.
two actions at once	그는 음악을 들으며 걸었다.	He walked while listening to music.
noun	그는 교수이며 작가이다.	He is a professor and a writer.

-(으)나: but

The written equivalent of -지만. It takes tense markers.

Example	Meaning
문제는 어려우나 해결할 수 있다.	The problem is hard, but it can be solved.
비가 왔으나 행사는 계속되었다.	It rained, but the event went on.

-(으)므로: because

The written equivalent of -기 때문에 and -아/어서. It states an objective reason and is followed by a statement, not a command. Past: -았/었으므로; noun: (이)므로.

Example	Meaning
비가 오므로 행사를 취소한다.	Because it is raining, the event is cancelled.
시간이 부족했으므로 계획을 바꾸었다.	Because time was short, the plan was changed.

Watch out: -(으)므로 against -(으)ㅁ으로(써) -(으)므로 means "because". Written together with the noun ending -(으)ㅁ, the pattern -(으)ㅁ으로(써) means "by doing": 노력함으로써 성공했다 "he succeeded by making an effort". The two look alike, so check the meaning.

-(으)ㄹ뿐더러: not only … but also

The formal equivalent of -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 (Korean Grammar 3 8).

Example	Meaning
이 제품은 값이 쌀뿐더러 품질도 좋다.	This product is not only cheap but of good quality.

-는 동시에: at the same time as

Verb + -는 동시에, adjective + -(으)ㄴ 동시에, noun + 인 동시에. It says two things are true or happen together, often a pair of roles or two sides of a situation.

Example	Meaning
그는 학생인 동시에 사업가이다.	He is a student and a businessman at the same time.
정부는 세금을 줄이는 동시에 복지를 늘렸다.	The government cut taxes while also increasing welfare.

Connecting words between sentences

Word	Function	Example
그러나	however (formal)	값이 비싸다. 그러나 품질이 좋다.
따라서	therefore (written conclusion)	비가 많이 왔다. 따라서 경기는 취소되었다.
또한	also, in addition	이 방법은 간단하다. 또한 비용도 적게 든다.
게다가	moreover (adds a further point)	길이 막혔다. 게다가 비까지 왔다.
한편	meanwhile; turning to another matter	한편, 정부는 새 정책을 발표했다.
반면에	whereas, on the other hand (contrast)	도시는 편리하다. 반면에 시골은 조용하다.
즉	that is	한국의 수도, 즉 서울
예를 들어	for example	예를 들어, 버스는 요금이 싸다.

Choosing between similar connectors

Pair	Difference
그러나 / 하지만	Both mean "however". 그러나 is more formal and typical of writing; 하지만 is common in both speech and writing.
따라서 / 그래서	따라서 gives a logical conclusion in formal writing; 그래서 is the everyday "so" and appears in speech.
또한 / 게다가	또한 adds a neutral extra point; 게다가 adds a further, often stronger or more surprising point.
한편 / 반면에	한편 shifts to a new topic or another side; 반면에 sets two sides of the same subject against each other.

Building a paragraph

A short Korean paragraph usually follows a simple order: a topic sentence, support (with 또한 / 게다가), a contrast (그러나 / 반면에) and a conclusion (따라서). Notice how each connector marks the job of the sentence that follows.

Sample paragraph (plain written style)

대중교통은 도시 생활에 꼭 필요하다. 우선 요금이 싸며 시간도 정확하다. 또한 환경에도 도움이 된다. 그러나 출퇴근 시간에는 매우 붐빈다. 따라서 시간대를 나누어 이용하는 방법이 필요하다. Public transport is essential to city life. First, the fares are cheap and the timetable is reliable. It also helps the environment. However, it is very crowded at commuting times. Therefore a way of spreading use across different times is needed.

Sentence	Job	Marker
1	topic	—
2	first support	우선, -(으)며
3	second support	또한
4	contrast	그러나
5	conclusion	따라서

Watch out: do not use these connectors in casual speech 따라서, -(으)므로 and -(으)나 in a friendly chat sound like a news reader. Use them for essays, reports and formal emails; in conversation keep to 그래서, -아/어서, -지만.

🗣️ In Use — 실제 예문

Three short passages.

① A report (-(으)므로)

자료가 부족하므로 결론을 내리기 어렵다. Because the data is insufficient, it is difficult to reach a conclusion.

② A review (반면에)

이 식당은 음식이 맛있다. 반면에 서비스는 아쉽다. The food at this restaurant is tasty. The service, on the other hand, is disappointing.

③ A profile (-는 동시에)

그녀는 의사인 동시에 작가로도 활동한다. She is a doctor and, at the same time, works as a writer.

📋 Quick Reference — 요약표

Spoken	Written	Meaning
-고 / -(으)면서	-(으)며	and, while
-지만	-(으)나	but
-아/어서 / -기 때문에	-(으)므로	because
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라	-(으)ㄹ뿐더러	not only … but also
-(으)면서 / 동시에	-는 동시에	at the same time
하지만	그러나	however
그래서	따라서	therefore

✏️ Try It Yourself — 연습

Work out the answer first, then click to check.

1. Join with -(으)며: 이 노래는 쉽다. 이 노래는 재미있다.

Show answer

이 노래는 쉬우며 재미있다.

2. Say "He walked while listening to music" in written style.

Show answer

그는 음악을 들으며 걸었다.

3. Make a "but" sentence with -(으)나: 값이 비싸다 / 품질이 좋다.

Show answer

값이 비싸나 품질이 좋다.

4. Say "Because it rained, the match was cancelled" with -(으)므로.

Show answer

비가 왔으므로 경기가 취소되었다.

5. Say "The room is not only large but also bright" with -(으)ㄹ뿐더러.

Show answer

방이 클뿐더러 밝다.

6. Say "He is a teacher and, at the same time, a singer" with 동시에.

Show answer

그는 교사인 동시에 가수이다.

7. Fill in with 그러나, 따라서 or 또한: "The method is cheap. ___ it is fast. ___ we choose it."

Show answer

또한 (adds a point), 따라서 (conclusion): 이 방법은 싸다. 또한 빠르다. 따라서 이 방법을 선택한다.

8. Choose 한편 or 반면에: "City life is convenient. ___ country life is peaceful."

Show answer

반면에, because two sides of one subject are being contrasted.

9. Why does 친구와 이야기하다가 따라서 늦었어요 sound strange?

Show answer

따라서 is a stiff written connector; in speech use 그래서 (and note that 따라서 also needs a logical conclusion, not just a cause).

Coming up in Chapter 3: Newspaper and Headline Korean. You will learn noun endings and headline style, common abbreviations, typical news verbs (밝히다, 알려지다, 전망되다) and reported speech in news, as in -(이)라고 밝혔다.