The Korean pattern 는 김에 expresses taking advantage of an opportunity or doing something convenient while you're already doing another action. It's equivalent to "while you're at it," "since you're doing," or "while I'm here" in English.
는 김에 Pattern
intermediate
Formation:
- Verb stem + 는 김에
- Used when taking advantage of an opportunity
- Expresses convenience or efficiency
Meaning:
- "While you're at it"
- "Since you're doing..."
- "While I'm here"
Formation and Structure
마트에 가는 김에 우유도 사 오세요.
Mateue ganeun gime uyudo sa oseyo.
While you're going to the mart, please buy milk too.
Word breakdown:
마트에mateueto the martnoun + particle
가는ganeungoingverb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
우유도uyudomilk toonoun + particle
사 오세요sa oseyoplease buy and bringverb + request
Formation Rules:
- Present: Verb stem + 는 김에
- All verbs use the same pattern regardless of ending
청소하는 김에 이것도 정리해 주세요.
Cheongsohaneun gime igeotdo jeongri-hae juseyo.
While you're cleaning, please organize this too.
Word breakdown:
청소하는cheongsohaneuncleaningverb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
이것도igeotdothis toopronoun + particle
정리해 주세요jeongri-hae juseyoplease organizeverb + request
Taking Advantage of Opportunities
서울에 가는 김에 친구도 만날 거예요.
Seoure ganeun gime chingudo mannal geoyeyo.
While I'm going to Seoul, I'll meet my friend too.
Word breakdown:
서울에seoureto Seoulnoun + particle
가는ganeungoingverb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
친구도chingudofriend toonoun + particle
만날 거예요mannal geoyeyowill meetverb + future
요리하는 김에 내일 도시락도 만들어요.
Yorihaneun gime naeil dosirageun mandeureyo.
While I'm cooking, I'll make tomorrow's lunch box too.
Word breakdown:
요리하는yorihaneuncookingverb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
내일naeiltomorrownoun
도시락도dosirageunlunch box toonoun + particle
만들어요mandeureyomakeverb
Common Practical Uses
Common 는 김에 Expressions
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가는 김에 | ganeun gime | while going/since you're going | Intermediate |
| 하는 김에 | haneun gime | while doing/since you're doing | Intermediate |
| 온 김에 | on gime | since you came/while you're here | Intermediate |
| 말하는 김에 | malhaneun gime | while talking/since we're talking | Intermediate |
4 words
Everyday Convenience Situations
화장실 가는 김에 쓰레기도 버려 주세요.
Hwajangsil ganeun gime sseuregido beoryeo juseyo.
While you're going to the bathroom, please throw out the trash too.
Word breakdown:
화장실hwajangsilbathroomnoun
가는ganeungoingverb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
쓰레기도sseuregidotrash toonoun + particle
버려 주세요beoryeo juseyoplease throw awayverb + request
온 김에 차나 한 잔 하고 가세요.
On gime chana han jan hago gaseyo.
Since you're here, have a cup of tea before you go.
Word breakdown:
온oncameverb + modifier
김에gimesince you're herepattern marker
차나chanatea or somethingnoun + particle
한 잔han janone cupnumber + counter
하고 가세요hago gaseyohave and goverb + request
Business and Social Contexts
회의하는 김에 이 문제도 얘기해 봅시다.
Hoeuihaneun gime i munjedo yaegihae bopsida.
While we're having a meeting, let's talk about this issue too.
Word breakdown:
회의하는hoeuihaneunhaving a meetingnoun + verb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
이 문제도i munjedothis issue toodeterminer + noun + particle
얘기해 봅시다yaegihae bopsidalet's talkverb + suggestion
전화하는 김에 약속 시간도 확인해 주세요.
Jeonhwahaneun gime yaksok sigando hwaginhaes juseyo.
While you're calling, please confirm the appointment time too.
Word breakdown:
전화하는jeonhwahaneuncallingnoun + verb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
약속 시간도yaksok sigandoappointment time toonoun + noun + particle
확인해 주세요hwaginhaes juseyoplease confirmverb + request
Shopping and Errands
시장에 가는 김에 과일도 좀 사 와요.
Sijange ganeun gime gwaildo jom sa wayo.
While going to the market, buy some fruit too.
Word breakdown:
시장에sijangeto the marketnoun + particle
가는ganeungoingverb + modifier
김에gimewhile at itpattern marker
과일도gwaildofruit toonoun + particle
좀jomsome/a littleadverb
사 와요sa wayobuy and bringverb
Practice Exercises
Complete with 는 김에
1 of 4
While going to the store, buy bread too: 가게에 ___ 빵도 사세요.
Related Patterns
Similar expressions:
- -(으)면서 - while doing simultaneously
- -자 - upon doing/as soon as
- -는 동안 - during the time of
Difference from -(으)면서:
- 는 김에: taking advantage of opportunity
- -(으)면서: simultaneous actions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Using with completed actions incorrectly
- ✅ 온 김에 (since you came)
- ❌ 가는 김에 when someone already arrived
-
Confusing with simultaneous actions
- 는 김에: opportunistic convenience
- -(으)면서: doing two things at once
-
Wrong verb form
- Always use present modifier form: 는
Real-World Usage
You'll hear 는 김에 in:
- Daily household conversations
- Shopping trips and errands
- Office discussions
- Social gatherings
- Planning efficient activities
Summary
는 김에 expresses:
- Opportunity: taking advantage of a situation
- Convenience: doing something efficiently
- Addition: adding another action to an existing one
Perfect for expressing practical, efficient thinking in Korean.
Master Korean Opportunity Expressions
Practice 는 김에 with real-life situations from Korean dramas and webtoons. Learn efficient Korean communication.
