-(으)ㅁ으로써
by means of, through
Names the method by which something is achieved. And it sits next to a form learners confuse constantly — -(으)로서, which means something else entirely.
Build it
Pick a verb
When to use it
Vowel stems take -ㅁ으로써, consonant stems -음으로써. Stems in ㄹ keep the ㄹ and add ㅁ: 만듦으로써.
The first clause is the method, the second the result: 적극적으로 참여함으로써 문제를 해결할 수 있었다. Substituting a cause here would be wrong — for causes, the form is -(으)로 인해.
Now the pair worth fixing early. -(으)로써 marks a means or instrument; -(으)로서 marks a status or role. 대화로써 해결했다 means it was solved through dialogue; 대표로서 참석했다 means he attended as a representative.
The register is written and institutional — policy documents, reports, formal speeches.
How to attach it
| Situation | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -ㅁ으로써 | 참여하다 → 참여함으로써 |
| Ends in a consonant | -음으로써 | 믿다 → 믿음으로써 |
| Ends in ㄹ | ㄹ + ㅁ | 만들다 → 만듦으로써 |
| With a noun | (으)로써 | 대화로써 해결했다 |
| Status, not means | (으)로서 | 대표로서 참석했다 |
| Cause, not means | -(으)로 인해 | 폭우로 인해 지연됐다 |
In use
적극적으로 참여함으로써 문제를 해결할 수 있었다.
By taking an active part, we were able to solve the problem.
규칙을 지킴으로써 사고를 예방할 수 있습니다.
Accidents can be prevented by observing the rules.
꾸준히 연습함으로써 실력이 향상되었다.
Skills improved through steady practice.
직접 만듦으로써 원가를 낮출 수 있었습니다.
By making it in-house, we were able to lower costs.
이 문제는 대화로써 해결해야 합니다.
This matter should be resolved through dialogue.
그는 대표로서 회의에 참석했다.
He attended the meeting as a representative.
Compared with
-(으)로서
The pair that matters. 로써 is the means; 로서 is the capacity in which someone acts. One letter apart, and the difference is not stylistic.
대화로써 해결했다. (through dialogue) / 대표로서 참석했다. (as a representative)
-(으)로 인해
인해 gives the cause of something; 으로써 gives the method used to achieve it. Cause versus instrument.
폭우로 인해 지연됐다. (because of rain) / 대화로써 해결했다. (by means of dialogue)
-아서/어서
-아서 links two actions loosely; 으로써 explicitly presents the first as the instrument of the second.
연습해서 늘었어요. (practised, and improved) / 연습함으로써 향상되었다. (improved through practice)
Watch out
그는 대표로써 회의에 참석했다.
그는 대표로서 회의에 참석했다.
Attending in a capacity takes 로서. 로써 would mean he was the instrument used to attend.
직접 만들음으로써 원가를 낮췄습니다.
직접 만듦으로써 원가를 낮췄습니다.
A ㄹ stem keeps the ㄹ and adds ㅁ, giving 만듦 rather than 만들음.
폭우가 내림으로써 행사가 취소되었다.
폭우로 인해 행사가 취소되었다.
Rain is a cause, not a method. 으로써 requires a deliberate means.
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