-거니와
-거니와: Not Only That — Formal Written Addition
Connective: grant the first fact and continue with a related second — formal/archaic flavour.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb / adjective / 이다 | -거니와 | 넓거니와 / 좋거니와 / 학생이거니와 |
| Past / honorific | -었거니와 · -으시거니와 | 넓었거니와 / 하시거니와 |
-거니와 is a formal, somewhat archaic connective: you grant the first fact and continue with a related second.
Curriculum gloss: not only that, but also — formal and written. 우리말샘 -거니와 「001」: (예스러운 표현으로) acknowledge the front clause and link a related following fact. English “not only…but also” is a teaching convenience — the Korean move is 인정 + 이어 주기, not a locked correlative pair.
What it does — and why speech ignores it
Housing write-ups and careful essays sometimes want a measured “A holds, and related B also holds.” -거니와 can carry that. Everyday talk usually does not.
위치는 좋거니와 월세도 부담이 적어요.
교통이 편하거니와 주변이 조용해요.If those lines feel stiff in your mouth, that is the register working correctly. Prefer -고 or a split sentence in conversation.
Forms
Attaches after verb/adjective/이다 stems, and after -으시- / -었- / -겠- per the dictionary entry.
| Shape | Note |
|---|---|
| stem + -거니와 | core |
| -었거니와 | past available |
| register | 예스러움 marked in the dictionary |
Do not treat it as a banmal softener. Softening is the wrong instinct.
Near neighbours
| Form | Feel |
|---|---|
| -고 | plain and / list |
| -지만 | but / contrast |
| -거니와 | grant A, add related B (formal) |
Dictionary 「002」 (imminent first situation + related follow-up) is a separate archaic reading. Keep 「001」 as the teaching default unless a text clearly wants the other.
When to use — and when to avoid
Use it when reading formal Korean, or writing a deliberately elevated list of related virtues/flaws.
Avoid producing it in café talk, messaging, and most 해요체 explanations — it will sound costume-drama.
Practice rule: if a plain -고 would do the same job without sounding antique, use -고. Save -거니와 for recognition and rare formal writing.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 월세가 비싸지 않은 빌라나 오피스텔을 찾고 있어요 (I'm looking for a villa or officetel where monthly rent is not expensive.) — Intermediate Korean 2, Unit 3, on the theme of dwelling. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. Dictionary marks -거니와 as…
2. Everyday spoken substitute is often…
3. Gloss ‘not only…but also’ is closest to sense…
Common questions
Is there a second sense?
Dictionary 「002」 is another archaic reading (imminent first event + related follow-up). Courses usually start with 「001」.
Must I produce it in speech?
Recognition in reading matters more. Spoken Korean rarely needs it.
vs -고?
go-connective lists neutrally. -거니와 grants the first clause more explicitly, in formal dress.
Supplementary slot?
Yes — Intermediate 4 marks it as extra. Treat as written recognition grammar.