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Lv 5Grammar expressionAdvanced · TOPIK II

-은 채로

-eun chaero

while still in the state of

Attaches to verb stems to indicate that an action's resulting state continues unchanged while another action occurs — 'while remaining as X, ...', as in leaving something on or unfinished.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-ㄴ 채로

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate that the state remains the same as when a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement occurred.

    앞말이 나타내는 어떤 행위를 한 상태 그대로 있음을 나타내는 표현.

    ※ ‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓰고, ‘로’가 생략된 ‘-은 채’로도 쓴다.

Examples

  • 승규는 눈이 나빠서 안경을 쓴 채로 목욕탕에 들어간다.

    Seunggyu has poor eyesight, so he goes into the bathhouse still wearing his glasses.

  • 거리 공연에서는 가수들이 사람들에게 둘러싸인 채로 노래를 한다.

    At street performances, singers sing while surrounded by people.

  • 민준이는 시간이 부족해서 문제를 다 풀지 못한 채로 시험지를 제출해야 했다.

    Minjun didn't have enough time, so he had to submit his test still unfinished.

  • 승규는 피곤해서 외투를 입은 채로 잠들어 버렸다.

    Seunggyu was so tired that he fell asleep still wearing his coat.

  • 갑자기 비가 와서 비에 젖은 채로 집에 돌아왔다.

    It suddenly rained, so I came home still soaked from the rain.

  • 지수는 버스에서 아기를 업은 채로 서 있는 아주머니께 자리를 양보했다.

    On the bus, Jisu gave up her seat to a woman who was standing while still carrying a baby on her back.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-은 채로’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “while still in the state of”?