[Korean grammar] -노라면 Expressing Conditions and Decisions

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가: 무슨 생각을 그렇게 깊이 하고 있어요? 몇 번이나 불러도 못 듣고…
What are you thinking about so deeply? You didn’t even hear me when I called your name several times.
나: 아, 그랬어요? 잠깐 생각에 잠겼었나 봐요. 이 음악을 듣고 있노라면 고향 생각이 나거든요.
Oh, really? I must have been lost in thought. I am reminded of home whenever I hear this music.
가: 요즘 생각에 잠겨 있을 때가 많은 것 같은데 무슨 일이 있는 건 아니지요? 외국에서 혼자 생활하노라면 힘들 때도 있을 거예요. 외롭기도 하고요.
It seems you’ve been lost in reflection a lot these days. Are you sure there’s not anything wrong? When you live abroad alone, there will be times when things are difficult. You’ll sometimes feel lonely, too.
나: 네, 그렇긴 하지만 소희 씨 같은 친구들이 있어서 괜찮아요.
Yes, that’s true, but since I have friends like you, Sohee, I’m okay.

This expression indicates that if the subject continues or maintains the action or state of affairs described in the preceding clause, then the situation or state of affairs described in the following clause will occur. It only attaches to verbs.


• 고민이 있을 때 친구와 이야기를 나누노라면 의외로 쉽게 해결될 때가 있어요.
If I talk to my friends whenever I’m worried about something, sometimes I can resolve the issue surprisingly easily.

• 세상을 사노라면 기쁜 날도 있고 슬픈 날도 있게 마련이 에요.
If you’re living in the world, then it’s only natural that you will have both happy days as well as sad ones.

• 학생들을 가르치노라면 보람도 느끼고 배우는 것도 많아요.
Whenever I’m teaching students, I find the experience to be worthwhile, and I learn a lot of things, too.

While this expression can be replaced with -다(가) 보면 with no major change in meaning, -노라면 has a little more old-fashioned nuance compared to -다(가) 보면.
• 세상을 살다가 보면 기쁜 날도 있고 슬픈 날도 있게 마련이에요.
• 학생들을 가르치다 보면 보람도 느끼고 배우는 것도 많아요.

>> You can click on the title of each grammar below to see other grammars which also express 'Conditions and Decisions'

1. -는 한
2. -(으)ㄹ라치면
3. -노라면
4. -느냐에 달려 있다
5. -기 나름이다

>> Full of 'Korean grammar in use - Advanced': Click here
>> Full of 'Korean grammar in use - Intermediate': Click here

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