-(으)ㅁ
(eu)m
Grammar · 3 senses
the act of, the state of
Examples
죽음이 두렵다.
Death is frightening.
믿음은 중요한 가치이다.
Faith is an important value.
잠이 부족하면 건강에 해로움이 생긴다.
Lack of sleep causes harm to health.
When you'd hear it
This form is common in formal writing, academic or official prose, and established nouns such as 죽음 and 믿음. In everyday conversation, speakers often use a lexical noun or -는 것 instead.
What learners get wrong
Learners often treat it as interchangeable with -는 것. -(으)ㅁ suits abstract concepts and formal noun phrases, while -는 것 is more natural for discussing an action or situation.
indicates statement
Examples
이상으로 보고를 마치겠음.
I will conclude the report here.
모든 준비가 완료되었음.
All preparations have been completed.
When you'd hear it
This terse sentence ending appears in written reports, notices, logs, and official or military-style communication, as in 이상으로 보고를 마치겠음. It can sound blunt or impersonal in ordinary conversation, where polite endings are more usual.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistake it for a normal polite sentence ending like -습니다. -(으)ㅁ presents a statement in a clipped report-like style, while -습니다 is a spoken or written formal-polite ending addressed to an audience.
-ing, the act of
Examples
공부함이 즐겁다.
Studying is enjoyable.
참석하지 못했음을 알려드립니다.
I inform you that I couldn't attend.
문제를 해결했음을 보고합니다.
I report that the problem has been solved.
When you'd hear it
This nominalizer is especially common in formal writing, official notices, reports, and bureaucratic language, as in 참석하지 못했음을 알려드립니다. It can appear in literary or formal speech, but everyday conversation usually uses other noun-clause patterns.
What learners get wrong
Learners often treat it as interchangeable with -기, but -(으)ㅁ commonly presents a fact or completed matter in formal writing, while -기는 more broadly used in ordinary speech for actions, plans, and activities.
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