The Korean nominalizer -(으)ㅁ is a useful grammar structure that turns verbs and adjectives into nouns. It is commonly used in writing, official documents, and abstract expressions. Understanding how to use -(으)ㅁ correctly will help you improve your Korean reading and writing skills. In this guide, we’ll explore its meaning, grammar rules, and practical examples to help you master this concept easily.
Contents
1. Definition
-(으)ㅁ is a nominalization suffix that turns verbs, adjectives, and nouns (with 이다) into nouns. In English, it is similar to adding “-ing” or “-tion” to a verb, or “-ness” to an adjective, depending on the context.
For example:
- “먹다” (to eat) → “먹음” (eating, the act of eating)
- “좋다” (to be good) → “좋음” (goodness)
- “학생이다” (to be a student) → “학생임” (being a student)
2. Form (Structure)
Formation rules:
- If the verb or adjective stem ends in a vowel → add -ㅁ
- 가다 → 감 (going)
- 보다 → 봄 (seeing)
- If the verb or adjective stem ends in a consonant → add -음
- 읽다 → 읽음 (reading)
- 작다 → 작음 (smallness)
- Irregular Conjugation:
- ᄃ Irregularity: Stem’s final ‘ᄃ’ changes to ‘ᄅ’ before a vowel-ending suffix
- 듣다 → 들음 (listening)
- 걷다 → 걸음 (walking)
- ᄇ Irregularity: Stem’s final ‘ᄇ’ changes to ‘우’
- 덥다 → 더움 (heat)
- 굽다 → 구움 (baking)
- ᄉ Irregularity: Stem’s final ‘ᄉ’ is dropped before a vowel-ending suffix
- 긋다 → 그음 (drawing)
- 붓다 → 부음 (painting)
- ᄅ Irregularity (1) : Stem’s final ‘르’ changes to ‘ㄹ’ before adding -(으)ㅁ
- 흐르다 → 흐름 (flowing)
- 모르다 → 모름 (not knowing)
- ᄅ Irregularity (2) :Stem’s final ‘ㄹ’ is dropped before adding -ㅁ
- 살다 → 삶 (life)
- 팔다 → 팜 (selling)
- ᄒ Irregularity: Stem’s final ‘ᄒ’ is dropped before adding -ㅁ
- 파랗다 → 파람 (blueness)
- 하얗다 → 하얌 (whiteness)
- ᄃ Irregularity: Stem’s final ‘ᄃ’ changes to ‘ᄅ’ before a vowel-ending suffix
- Noun + 임 (Nominalized Copula): The Noun ‘이다’ (to be) becomes ‘임’ when nominalizedUsed with nouns: 명사 (noun) + 임
- 목표이다 → 목표임 (being a goal)
- 학생이다 → 학생임 (being a student)
Here’s a table to help you understand the structure:
| Verb/Adjective/Noun | Nominalized Form |
| Ⓥ 듣다 (to listen) | 들음 (listening) |
| Ⓥ 살다 (to live) | 삶 (life) |
| Ⓐ 춥다 (to be cold) | 추움 (coldness) |
| Ⓥ 믿다 (to believe) | 믿음 (belief) |
| Ⓥ 돕다 (to help) | 도움 (help) |
| Ⓥ 짓다 (to build) | 지음 (building) |
| Ⓝ 의사이다 (to be a doctor) | 의사임 (being a doctor) |
3. Meaning & Usage
The -(으)ㅁ form is versatile and used in various contexts. Here are the main uses:
1. Describing a state or condition
The -(으)ㅁ form can describe a state or condition by nominalizing adjectives, turning them into nouns that represent a quality or state.
Examples:
- 춥다 → 날씨가 추움. (The weather is cold.)
- 좋다 → 그의 기분이 좋음. (His mood is good.)
- 맛있다 → 이 음식은 맛있음. (This food is delicious.)
- 어둡다 → 그 방은 어두움. (That room is dark.)
- 조용하다 → 학교가 조용함. (The school is quiet.)
2. Expressing an action as a noun
-(으)ㅁ can be used to nominalize a verb, turning actions into concepts or events. This allows you to treat actions as nouns in formal or written contexts.
Examples:
- 읽다 → 책을 읽음이 중요하다. (Reading books is important.)
- 많다 → 운동을 하는 것의 이점은 많음. (There are many benefits of exercising.)
- 목표이다 → 나의 꿈을 이루는 것이 나의 목표임. (Achieving my dream is my goal.)
- 공부하다 → 그는 공부함. (He studies.)
- 배우다 → 우리는 새로운 기술을 배움. (We learn new technology.)
3. Used in written or formal language
The -(으)ㅁ form is often used in more formal, written contexts, such as essays, reports, or news articles. It conveys a more detached and objective tone.
Examples:
- 읽다 → 보고서를 읽음. (Reading the report.)
- 진행되다 → 회의가 진행됨. (The meeting is in progress.)
- 발표되다 → 연구 결과가 발표됨. (The research results were announced.)
- 연구되다 → 프로젝트가 완료됨. (The project is completed.)
- 도출되다 → 결론이 도출됨. (The conclusion was reached.)
4. Common in headlines or short notes
This structure is frequently seen in headlines, notices, or other short forms of written communication, where brevity is important.
Examples:
- 종료되다 → 경기가 종료됨. (The game is over.)
- 발생하다 → 사고 발생함. (An accident occurred.)
- 변경되다 → 발표 일정 변경됨. (The schedule for the announcement has changed.)
- 완료되다 → 이사가 완료됨. (The move is completed.)
- 취소되다 → 프로그램이 취소됨. (The program is canceled.)
5. As a subject or object in a sentence
The -(으)ㅁ form can function as a subject or object in a sentence. It allows the action or state to become the focus of the sentence.
Examples:
- 성공하다 → 그의 성공함이 모두를 놀라게 했다. (His success surprised everyone.)
- 떠나다 → 나는 그의 떠남을 받아들일 수 없었다. (I couldn’t accept his departure.)
- 노력하다 → 그녀의 노력함이 결실을 맺었다. (Her efforts bore fruit.)
- 해결되다 → 이 문제의 해결됨을 확인했다. (I confirmed that this problem has been solved.)
- 배우다 → 그의 빠른 배움이 모두를 감탄하게 했다. (His quick learning impressed everyone.)
📍Note: The -(으)ㅁ form is primarily used in formal written Korean and is less common in everyday speech. In spoken Korean, other structures like -기 or -는 것 are more frequently used for similar purposes.
4. Key Points to Remember
- -(으)ㅁ is mainly used in written and formal contexts.
- It nominalizes verbs and adjectives to function as nouns.
- -ㅁ is used after vowel-ending stems, and -음 is used after consonant-ending stems.
- This structure is often seen in documents, diaries, or news headlines.
- In spoken Korean, -(기) is more commonly used for nominalization.
5. Practice Exercises
Transform the following verbs or adjectives using the ‘-(으)ㅁ’ ending and create a sentence:
- 쓰다 (to write) →
- 달다 (to be sweet) →
- 슬프다 (to be sad) →
- 이해하다 (to understand) →
- 성공하다 (to succeed) →
- 발전하다 (to develop) →
- 깨닫다 (to realize) →
- 존재하다 (to exist) →
- 포기하다 (to give up) →
- 좋다(to be good)/ 나쁘다(to be bad) →
6. Answers
- 씀
- 담
- 슬픔
- 이해함
- 성공함
- 발전함
- 깨달음
- 존재함
- 포기함
- 좋음, 나쁨
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using -(으)ㅁ in spoken conversation
Incorrect: 친구랑 밥을 먹음. ❌
Correct: 친구랑 밥을 먹었어요. ✅ (I ate with my friend.)
💡 Tip: -(으)ㅁ is more common in writing.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Forgetting vowel/consonant distinction
Incorrect: 가다 → 가음 ❌
Correct: 가다 → 감 ✅
💡 Tip: If the stem ends in a vowel, use -ㅁ; if it ends in a consonant, use -음.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using -(으)ㅁ instead of -기 for informal speech
Incorrect: 나는 한국어 공부를 함. ❌
Correct: 나는 한국어 공부하기를 좋아해요. ✅ (I like studying Korean.)
💡 Tip: Use -기 for casual speech and -(으)ㅁ for formal writing.
⚠️ Mistake 4: Not knowing when to use -다 instead
Incorrect: 영화 보는 것이 재미있음. ❌
Correct: 영화 보는 것이 재미있다. ✅ (Watching movies is fun.)
💡 Tip: Use -다 in descriptive sentences instead of -(으)ㅁ.
The suffix -(으)ㅁ is a useful tool for nominalizing verbs, adjectives, and nouns in Korean, particularly in formal writing. Understanding its structure and usage, including “명사 + 임,” enhances comprehension and written skills. Practice with real-life examples to master this grammar effectively.