TOPIK II Grammar · Ch.6 Contrast, Concession & Futility 02

TOPIK II Grammar · Ch.6 Contrast, Concession & Futility 02

'반면에 · -(으)면서도' - "Whereas" and "And Yet"

이 도시는 물가가 비싼 반면에 교통이 편리해요 - prices are high; on the other hand, getting around is easy. 그 사실을 알면서도 모른 척했어요 - I knew, and yet I pretended not to. Two patterns for showing the two opposite sides of one thing.

Key point Noun-modifying form + 반면(에) = "whereas / on the other hand" - an objective contrast of two facts, more common in writing. -(으)면서도 = "while also, and yet" - one subject doing two contradictory things at once.

How to use it

반면에 stands on the noun-modifying form: verb present -는 반면 (수출이 늘어나는 반면), adjective -(으)ㄴ 반면 (값이 싼 반면), and past verbs take the same -(으)ㄴ 반면. It's the standard pattern for weighing two facts in writing and presentations - English "whereas" belongs to the same style.

-(으)면서도 is -(으)면서 (= while, the simultaneity pattern) plus 도 (= even/also). Together they make contradictory simultaneity - English "and yet": 무서워하면서도 공포 영화를 봐요 (= she's scared and yet watches horror movies). 알면서도 실수를 반복해요 (= I keep repeating the mistake even while knowing better).

The split: 반면에 puts two different facts side by side; -(으)면서도 puts the contradiction inside one person.

At a glance

Pattern	Kind of contrast	Example
-는/(으)ㄴ 반면(에)	two facts contrasted (more common in writing)	형은 활발한 반면 동생은 조용해요
-(으)면서도	one person's contradiction	피곤하다고 하면서도 늦게까지 놀아요
noun + 인 반면	contrast between nouns	언니는 회사원인 반면 저는 학생이에요

Exam connection  In reading passages, 반면(에) signals that what follows reverses what came before. Use it as a structure marker while you read - it tells you the passage's shape before you finish the sentence.

Examples

이 일은 월급이 많은 반면에 시간이 부족해요. This job pays well; on the other hand, it leaves you short of time. - the pros and cons of one job.

한국어는 읽기가 쉬운 반면 말하기는 어려워요. For me, reading Korean is easy, whereas speaking is hard. - the 에 can drop; 반면 alone is common.

건강을 걱정하면서도 운동을 안 해요. He worries about his health and yet doesn't exercise. - words and actions in contradiction, inside one person.

Common mistakes

❌ 값이 싸는 반면에 품질이 좋아요. → ⭕ 값이 싼 반면에 품질이 좋아요. 싸다 is an adjective, so its noun-modifying form is -(으)ㄴ. The connection before 반면 follows the noun-modifying rules you already use.

❌ 제가 요리하면서도 동생이 설거지해요. → ⭕ 저는 요리하고 동생은 설거지해요. -(으)면서도 needs one subject doing both things. Two different people doing parallel actions call for plain -고.

Quick check

Fill each blank with 반면(에) or -(으)면서도 in the right form.

1. 이 식당은 맛있는 (      ) 값이 좀 비싸요.
2. 다이어트를 한다고 하(      ) 야식을 먹어요.
3. 언니는 매운 것을 잘 먹는 (      ) 저는 전혀 못 먹어요.

Show answers

1. 반면에 (two facts about one restaurant)   2. 면서도 (one person - words vs. late-night snacks)   3. 반면(에) (two people contrasted)

💡 Study tip - Upgrade how you state pros and cons. One frame - ~은/는 ~한 반면, ~합니다 - instantly makes any comparison sound more formal. Save it as your standard frame for TOPIK writing question 54 and for every "compare A and B" speaking task.