Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 4 - Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 91 to 120) ᚛ Lesson 100 - During, while in Korean #1 [-는 동안]

During, while in Korean #1 [-는 동안]

In this course: 동안 / 는 동안

During + noun with 동안

In Korean, to express the simultaneity of two events, we generally use the word 동안 which, in English, could be translated as "during" or "for". It is placed after the event during which an action takes place.

2시간 동안
→ for 2 hours

크리스마스 동안
→ during Christmas

여름 동안
→ during the summer

나는 30분 동안 달렸어.
→ I ran for 30 minutes.

학생들은 1시간 동안 공부할 거예요.
→ The students are going to study for 1 hour.

저는 10년 동안 담배를 피웠어요.
→ I smoked cigarettes for 10 years.

While + verb with -는 동안

General rule

In Korean, we can express the fact that an event happens during an action that lasts over time with the -는 동안 form, in the following manner:
[Action 1: … Present adjectival form] 동안 [Action 2]

Reminder: the adjectival form

In English, this would correspond to "while".

먹는 동안
→ while I eat

자는 동안
→ while I sleep

공부하는 동안
→ while I study

읽는 동안
→ while I read

여동생이 공부하는 동안 내가 책을 읽고 있었어.
→ I was reading a book while my little sister was studying.

내가 노는 동안 뭐 했어?
→ What were you doing while I was playing?

그는 일하는 동안 음악을 듣는 것을 좋아해요.
→ He likes listening to music while he works.

널 기다리는 동안 비디오를 봤어.
→ I watched a video while I was waiting for you.

제주도 가는 동안 태블릿 피씨로 영화를 볼 거야.
→ While going to Jeju Island, I’m going to watch a movie on my tablet.

Using 동안 in the future

Summary table of structure

Exercises

Traveling to South Korea can be an unforgettable experience. But when you don’t speak Korean, everything gets more complicated: ordering in a restaurant or café becomes stressful, you can’t understand signs or directions, asking for help in case of trouble is nearly impossible, and most importantly, you miss out on the very essence of a successful trip to Korea: connecting with the locals.

Since English - Korean machine translators can’t always be trusted (the two languages work in completely different ways), it’s essential to prepare yourself in advance to fully enjoy your trip to South Korea!

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