4 · Further patterns
While you are at it: -는 김에
taking the opportunity
-는 김에 says that one action is the occasion for doing a second, extra one.
-는 김에 links two actions in a particular way: the first is what you are doing anyway, the second is something extra you do because the first gives you the chance. 마트에 가는 김에 우유도 사 올게요 — “since I am going to the supermarket anyway, I will get some milk too”. English says “while I'm at it” or “since I'm going anyway”.
The ending depends on whether the first action is under way or already done. For something happening or about to happen, use -는 김에: 가는 김에, 청소하는 김에. For something already done, use -(eu)n gime: 온 김에, 시작한 김에, 나간 김에. A stem in l loses it before both: 만드는 김에, 만든 김에.
Only action verbs can stand before 김에; an adjective gives no occasion for anything. The second clause, on the other hand, is free: a statement, a plan, a promise, even a request — 우체국에 가는 김에 이것도 부쳐 주세요, “since you're going to the post office, could you post this too?”.
The order of the two actions matters. The main, planned action stands before 김에; the small extra one comes after. English speakers sometimes reverse them because English can say either half first.
The form
| ongoing or planned action | 가는 김에 |
| action already done | 온 김에 |
| after a consonant, done | 먹은 김에 |
| stem ending in l | 만드는 김에 / 만든 김에 |
| a fixed phrase | 말이 나온 김에 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
For an action under way or about to happen, use -는 김에.
청소하는 김에 창문도 닦았어요.While I was cleaning, I washed the windows too.
For an action already done, use -(eu)n gime.
서울에 온 김에 친구도 만났어요.Since I was in Seoul anyway, I met a friend too.
The planned action comes first; the extra one comes after 김에.
마트에 가는 김에 우유도 사 올게요.Since I'm going to the supermarket anyway, I'll get some milk too.
The second clause may be a request or a suggestion.
커피를 만드는 김에 제 것도 한 잔 만들어 주세요.Since you're making coffee, could you make me a cup too?
Only action verbs stand before 김에, never adjectives.
밖에 나간 김에 산책도 좀 했어요.Since I was out anyway, I went for a bit of a walk.
A closer look
Three ways to combine errands
Three patterns in this area connect two activities, and they differ in what they assume. -는 김에 takes an opportunity: the second action was not the reason for the first. -(eu)l gyeom names two or more purposes planned from the start: 운동도 할 겸 걸어서 가요. -는 길에 is about the route: something happens on the way somewhere.
So 시장에 가는 김에 means “since I am going to the market (for my own reasons)”, 시장도 볼 겸 means “partly to do the shopping”, and 시장에 가는 길에 means “on my way to the market”.
How to spot it
- -는 김에
- -(으)ㄴ 김에
- 도
Example sentences
말이 나온 김에 하나 물어볼게요.Since the subject has come up, let me ask you something.
우체국에 가는 김에 이 편지도 부쳐 주세요.Since you're going to the post office, please post this letter too.
머리를 자르는 김에 염색도 했어요.While I was having my hair cut, I had it dyed too.
부산에 출장 간 김에 바다를 보고 왔어요.Since I was in Busan on business, I went to see the sea.
컴퓨터를 켠 김에 메일도 확인했어요.Since I had the computer on, I checked my email as well.
일어난 김에 물 좀 줄래요?Since you're up, could you get me some water?
8 more example sentences
장을 보는 김에 내일 먹을 과일도 샀어요.While I was doing the shopping, I also bought fruit for tomorrow.
시작한 김에 끝까지 해 봐요.Now that we've started, let's see it through.
이사하는 김에 안 쓰는 물건을 다 정리했어요.Since I was moving anyway, I sorted out everything I don't use.
은행에 간 김에 환전도 했어요.Since I was at the bank, I changed some money too.
세탁기를 돌리는 김에 수건도 같이 빨아요.Since the washing machine is running anyway, let's wash the towels too.
부모님 댁에 들른 김에 저녁도 먹고 왔어요.Since I dropped in at my parents', I stayed for dinner too.
사진을 정리하는 김에 앨범도 하나 만들었어요.While I was sorting the photos, I made an album too.
펜을 꺼낸 김에 메모도 좀 했어요.Since I had a pen out, I jotted down a few notes too.
Worth knowing (1)
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Since we are on the subject
말이 나온 김에, literally “since the words have come out”, is the fixed way to raise a related point: “since we're on the subject”. It is always in the past form, because the subject has already been raised.
말이 나온 김에 다음 모임 날짜도 정해요.Since we're on the subject, let's fix the date of the next meeting too.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
Going to the supermarket is the main action; buying milk is the extra you fit in. The main action has to stand before 김에. The wrong version says that you were buying milk anyway and happened to visit a supermarket while doing so.
The trip you are making anyway goes before gime; the errand you add goes after it.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.