🚨 Korean Emergency Numbers and What to Do

Have you ever wanted to say “If I have money, I will buy that bag” or “If it rains, I will stay home” in Korean? The grammar pattern -면/으면 is perfect for expressing hypothetical conditions and results. Let’s learn how to use it naturally!

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

• Understand how -면/으면 forms conditional sentences
• Use it to talk about future plans or possibilities
• Combine it with polite or casual speech naturally
• Distinguish it from similar expressions like -면 좋겠다

📚 Table of Contents

• Key Concept: -면/으면
• Example Sentences
• Practice Dialogue
• Grammar Insight
• Pop Quiz
• Did You Know?
• Final Thoughts

💡 Key Concept: -면/으면

The ending -면/으면 means “if” or “when” and is used to talk about conditions:

• Attach -면 to verbs/adjectives ending in vowels (e.g., 가다 → 가면)
• Attach -으면 to verbs/adjectives ending in consonants (e.g., 먹다 → 먹으면)

Example: 시간이 있으면 같이 영화 볼까요? – “If you have time, shall we watch a movie together?”

📝 Example Sentences

• 돈이 많으면 세계 여행을 하고 싶어요.
  Doni man-eumyeon segye yeohaengeul hago sipeoyo.
  If I have a lot of money, I want to travel the world.
• 시간이 있으면 도와줄게요.
  Sigani isseumyeon dowajulgeyo.
  If I have time, I’ll help you.
• 비가 오면 우산을 가져가세요.
  Biga omyeon usaneul gajyeogaseyo.
  If it rains, take an umbrella.

🗣 Practice Dialogue

A: 내일 날씨가 좋으면 어디 가고 싶어요?
Naeil nalssiga joeumyeon eodi gago sipeoyo?
If the weather is nice tomorrow, where do you want to go?

B: 날씨가 좋으면 한강에서 자전거를 타고 싶어요.
Nalssiga joeumyeon Hangang-eseo jajeongeoreul tago sipeoyo.
If it’s nice, I want to ride a bike along the Han River.

A: 비가 오면 뭐 할 거예요?
Biga omyeon mwo hal geoyeyo?
If it rains, what will you do?

B: 집에서 영화 볼 거예요.
Jibeseo yeonghwa bol geoyeyo.
I’ll watch a movie at home.

📘 Grammar Insight

Students often confuse -면/으면 with expressions like -면 좋겠다 (“I wish…”) or -면 돼요 (“it’s okay if…”). Remember: -면/으면 simply shows the condition and result, not a wish or permission.

Pro tip: Combine with future tense (e.g., 할 거예요) to talk about plans, and with imperatives (e.g., 하세요) to give conditional advice.

🎯 Pop Quiz

1. How do you say “If it rains, I won’t go out” in Korean?

Answer

비가 오면 안 나가요.

2. How do you say “If I’m tired, I drink coffee” in Korean?

Answer

피곤하면 커피를 마셔요.

3. How do you say “If I study hard, I will pass the test” in Korean?

Answer

열심히 공부하면 시험에 합격할 거예요.

🌏 Did You Know?

In Korean proverbs, conditional forms like -면/으면 appear often. Example: “가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다” (If the words you send are kind, the words you receive will be kind). This reflects the cultural value of reciprocity and politeness in speech.

📦 Final Thoughts

Mastering -면/으면 allows you to talk about possibilities and conditions naturally. Try making sentences about your daily life: “If I wake up early, I will go jogging,” or “If it’s cold, I’ll drink hot tea.”

📘 More Posts You’ll Find Helpful!

❶ Making Comparisons in Korean – Intermediate Level

❷ Talking About Food You Like – Beginner Level

❸ How to Commute in Korea (Subway, Buses, and Apps)

Keep exploring more posts like these and grow your Korean skills step by step!

📚 Want to practice using -면/으면 in real conversation?
Book a lesson with me on italki and get personalized feedback on your sentences. Let’s make your Korean sound natural!

If you enjoyed this post, please save it, share it, or leave a comment below. Your small action means a lot and motivates me to keep creating helpful content for your Korean learning journey! 🙏

Related Posts