TOPIK II · LEVEL 5
-(으)ㅁ으로써
-(으)ㅁ으로써 presents the first action as the means or method that brings about the result in the second clause: 'by doing A, B happens'.
격식 표현Formal & written phrasesHan: Having no time is a reason, not a method someone uses, so the reason ending -(으)므로 is needed instead of -(으)ㅁ으로써.
Examples
그는 잘못을 솔직하게 인정함으로써 동료들의 신뢰를 되찾았다.He regained his colleagues' trust by honestly admitting his mistake.
꾸준히 책을 읽음으로써 어휘력을 높일 수 있다.By reading books regularly, you can improve your vocabulary.
정부는 세금을 낮춤으로써 소비를 늘리려고 했다.The government tried to boost spending by lowering taxes.
에너지를 절약함으로써 환경 보호에 기여할 수 있습니다.By saving energy, we can contribute to protecting the environment.
Don’t mix up
-(으)ㅁ으로써vs-(으)므로-(으)므로 gives a reason ('because'), while -(으)ㅁ으로써 gives a means ('by doing'): 비가 왔으므로 경기가 취소되었다 (reason) vs 연습함으로써 실력을 키웠다 (means).-(으)ㅁ으로써vsN(으)로서(으)로서 attaches to a noun and marks a role or status ('as'), not a means: 교사로서 책임을 느낀다 vs 가르침으로써 배운다.
-(으)ㅁ으로써vs-아서/어서 (means)-아서/어서 can also link a method to a result but sounds conversational; -(으)ㅁ으로써 is formal and stresses the method: 운동해서 살을 뺐어요 vs 규칙적으로 운동함으로써 체중을 줄였다.
How to build it
V+(으)ㅁ으로써 (vowel stem: + ㅁ으로써; ㄹ-stem: ㄹ stays and takes ㅁ → 만듦으로써; consonant stem: + 음으로써)
노력하다 → 노력함으로써, 읽다 → 읽음으로써, 만들다 → 만듦으로써
- It belongs to formal written style, speeches and news; in everyday conversation Koreans usually say -아서/어서 or -는 것으로 instead.
- Time is usually marked only in the main clause; past -았/었- is normally not attached before -(으)ㅁ으로써: 인정함으로써 신뢰를 되찾았다 (correct), not 인정했음으로써.
- The first clause must be a means that someone uses, not a simple reason or state; for 'because' use -(으)므로 or -기 때문에.
- Spell it 으로써 (means), not 으로서, which marks a role or status ('as a ...').
Classic mistake
Wrong: 시간이 없음으로써 회의를 다음 주로 미뤘다.
Right: 시간이 없으므로 회의를 다음 주로 미뤘다.
Having no time is a reason, not a method someone uses, so the reason ending -(으)므로 is needed instead of -(으)ㅁ으로써.
Practise -(으)ㅁ으로써 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)ㅁ에 따라Use -(으)ㅁ에 따라 in formal writing to say that as one situation changes or progresses, another change follows from it.
- -다 (표제·제목)In headlines, titles, captions and chapter headings, a verb in its bare dictionary form (stem + 다) states an event briefly and impersonally, usually one that has just happened: 'X wins', 'X opens'.
- -에 걸쳐-에 걸쳐 shows that an action or state stretches over a whole span of time, an area, or a series of occasions.
- -에 달려 있다N에 달려 있다 means that the outcome in the subject is decided by N: 'it all depends on N'.
- -에 이르기까지N에 이르기까지 marks the far end of a wide range, stressing that everything from one point all the way to N is included.
- -을/를 두고N을/를 두고 marks the issue that people argue about, debate, worry over or judge, like 'over / concerning N'.
- -을/를 계기로N을/를 계기로 means that an event or experience became the turning point that started a new action, decision or change.
- -을/를 비롯해N을/를 비롯해 puts the most important or representative member of a group first and then includes the others: 'including, above all, from N to the rest'.
- -을/를 바탕으로N을/를 바탕으로 means using N as the foundation or source material for creating, developing or judging something.