IIITOPIK 5-6

(V-(으)ㄹ 겸) V-(으)ㄹ 겸 (해서)

partly to … and partly to …; while you're at it

When one action serves two purposes, this lists both side by side, with a "two birds with one stone" feel. A single -(으)ㄹ 겸 is also fine and means roughly "while I'm at it." Between nouns, 겸 links them directly, as in 아침 겸 점심 (breakfast and lunch in one, i.e. brunch).

접속 conjugation

  • Verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ take -ㄹ 겸; stems ending in a consonant take -을 겸: 보다 → 볼 겸 / 만들다 → 만들 겸 / 먹다 → 먹을 겸
  • To list two purposes, the usual frame is A도 -(으)ㄹ 겸 B도 -(으)ㄹ 겸 해서, followed by the action actually taken
  • Between two nouns, use N 겸 N: 회의 겸 식사 / 사무실 겸 창고

예문

EXAMPLES
현황도 파악할 겸 담보 서류도 받을 겸 해서 내일 지점에 들르겠습니다.
I'll stop by the branch tomorrow, both to get a picture of where things stand and to pick up the collateral documents.from 2026.09.14 Mon the examples
그럼 내일 현장 점검도 할 겸 공장장님 의견도 들을 겸 해서 같이 공장에 가 봐요.
Then let's go to the factory together tomorrow, both to do an on-site inspection and to hear what the plant manager thinks.from 2026.09.14 Mon the business dialogue
※Tense goes only on the final clause; before 겸 you always use the future modifier -(으)ㄹ: 친구도 볼 겸 해서 갔어요 (✗ 봤을 겸). What follows 겸 must be an action taken for those purposes, not a mere state or result.

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