TOPIK II · LEVEL 4
-(으)로서
-(으)로서 means 'as (in the role or capacity of)'.
조사ParticlesHan: 'By means of talking' is a means, so -(으)로써, not -(으)로서 (role).
Examples
그는 대표로서 회의에 참석했다.He attended the meeting as the representative.
부모로서 아이의 건강이 제일 중요해요.As a parent, my child's health matters most.
학생으로서 수업에 늦으면 안 돼요.As a student, you shouldn't be late for class.
Don’t mix up
-(으)로서vs-(으)로써-(으)로서 = role ('as a teacher'); -(으)로써 = means ('by talking'): 교사로서 vs 대화로써.How to build it
N(vowel or ㄹ)+로서
N(consonant)+으로서
부모 → 부모로서, 학생 → 학생으로서
- Only for roles, positions or qualifications (people or institutions).
- Don't confuse with -(으)로써 'by means of'.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 대화로서 문제를 해결했어요.
Right: 대화로써 문제를 해결했어요.
'By means of talking' is a means, so -(으)로써, not -(으)로서 (role).
Practise -(으)로서 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(이)나마(이)나마 marks something as small or not quite enough, while showing that the speaker still accepts or values it: "even if it's only this, at least…"
- -(으)로부터-(으)로부터 is a formal 'from' for a source or starting point (people, places, time).
- -(이)라든지-(이)라든지 lists examples or alternatives: 'such as A or B / A, B or something'.
- -은/는 물론이고N은/는 물론이고 means 'not to mention N / N, of course, and also …'.
- -마저-마저 means 'even (the last remaining one)': on top of other bad things, even this.
- -조차-조차 means 'even (something so basic)', stressing that not even the minimum happened.
- -치고N치고 means 'for a N / considering it is a N', and the result is different from what you would expect of that kind of thing; with a negative ending it means 'no N at all, without exception'.
- N만 하다N만 하다 compares size or degree: 'as big as N / about the size of N'.
- -(으)나-(으)나 is a formal written 'but / however', linking two contrasting clauses.