目錄
The Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 appears in formal notices, work records, and chats with friends. 「회의가 취소되었음을 알려 드립니다」 treats “the meeting was canceled” as the content of a notice, 「오늘 재택근무함」 resembles a status entry on a work board, and 「나 먼저 감」 becomes a very casual chat message. Although these three situations look quite different, all involve nominalizing the preceding action or state. The first things to distinguish are how 「-음／-ㅁ」 attaches, whether it counts as a sentence-final ending when placed at the end, and exactly how it differs from 「-기」 and 「것」.
What is the Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」? Its nominalizing function and basic meaning
「-음／-ㅁ」 is a nominalizing ending in Korean. It follows a verb, adjective, or 「이다」 and gives the preceding content a nominal function. Content that could originally only serve as a statement can therefore take particles such as 「이／가」 and 「을／를」 and become the subject or object of a sentence.
For example:
- 회의가 취소되었다: The meeting was canceled.
- 회의가 취소되었음: The fact that the meeting was canceled.
- 회의가 취소되었음을 알려 드립니다: We hereby notify you that the meeting was canceled.
- Example: 회의가 취소되었음을 알려 드립니다.
Romanization: hoe-ui-ga-chwi-so-doe-eoss-eum-eul-al-lyeo-deu-rim-ni-da.
Translation: We hereby notify you that the meeting has been canceled.
「취소되었음」 nominalizes the entire fact that “the meeting has already been canceled,” then takes the object particle 「을」 and becomes the content communicated by 「알려 드립니다」. - Example: 예약 시간이 변경되었음이 확인되었습니다.
Romanization: ye-yak-si-gan-i-byeon-gyeong-doe-eoss-eum-i-hwak-in-doe-eoss-seum-ni-da.
Translation: It has been confirmed that the reservation time was changed.
This time, 「변경되었음」 takes the subject particle 「이」, so the entire fact that a change occurred becomes the object of confirmation. - Example: 오늘은 재택근무함.
Romanization: o-neul-eun-jae-taek-geun-mu-ham.
Translation: Working from home today.
「재택근무하다」 becomes 「재택근무함」, as if today’s work status were being registered as a record. It suits an internal memo, board, or concise written entry, but it is not an ordinary complete honorific sentence addressed to a customer.
Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 attachment rules: final consonants, no final consonant, and ㄹ-final stems
「-음」 and 「-ㅁ」 are not freely interchangeable. First remove 「다」 and look at the final form of the stem. In general, use 「-음」 when the stem has a final consonant other than 「ㄹ」. Use 「-ㅁ」 when there is no final consonant and also after a 「ㄹ」 final consonant. In addition, use 「-음」 after the past-tense forms 「-았／었-」 and after 「-겠-」.
| Stem type | Attachment | Examples | Result |
| No final consonant | -ㅁ | 가다、보다、하다 | 감、봄、함 |
| Regular final consonant | -음 | 먹다、받다、있다 | 먹음、받음、있음 |
| ㄹ final consonant | -ㅁ | 알다、만들다、줄다 | 앎、만듦、줆 |
| Past tense -았／었- | -음 | 갔다、먹었다 | 갔음、먹었음 |
| 「이다」 | -ㅁ | 학생이다、담당자이다 | 학생임、담당자임 |
「-음／-ㅁ」 attachment ①｜Add 「-ㅁ」 to stems without a final consonant
When the stem has no final consonant, place 「ㅁ」 directly beneath the last syllable.
- 가다 → 가-＋ㅁ → 감
- 보다 → 보-＋ㅁ → 봄
- 하다 → 하-＋ㅁ → 함
- Example: 신청서를 제출함.
Romanization: sin-cheong-seo-reul-je-chul-ham.
Translation: Application form submitted.
The stem of 「제출하다」 is 「제출하-」 and has no final consonant, so it takes 「-ㅁ」 and becomes 「제출함」. - Example: 내일 다시 봄.
Romanization: nae-il-da-si-bom.
Translation: See you again tomorrow. 「보다」 becomes 「봄」.
This wording has a very obvious chat-note feel and is not the same as the ordinary polite sentence 「내일 다시 봐요」. - Example: 현재 담당자 확인 중임.
Romanization: hyeon-jae-dam-dang-ja-hwak-in-jung-im.
Translation: Currently being checked by the person in charge.
The 「이다」 in 「중이다」 becomes 「임」. This form often appears on work boards, internal status fields, and concise records.
「-음／-ㅁ」 attachment ②｜Add 「-음」 to stems with a regular final consonant
When a stem ends in a final consonant other than 「ㄹ」, it normally takes 「-음」.
- 먹다 → 먹음
- 받다 → 받음
- 있다 → 있음
- 없다 → 없음
- Example: 서류를 받았음을 확인했습니다.
Romanization: seo-ryu-reul-bad-ass-eum-eul-hwak-in-haess-seum-ni-da.
Translation: We confirmed that the documents were received.
「받았-」 takes 「-음」 to form 「받았음」, then adds 「을」 to become the content being “confirmed.” - Example: 변경 사항 없음.Romanization: byeon-gyeong-sa-hang-eop-seum.
Translation: No changes.
「없다」 becomes 「없음」, a form commonly seen in tables, systems, reports, and work records. - Example: 비가 왔음에도 행사는 예정대로 진행되었다.
Romanization: bi-ga-wass-eum-e-do-haeng-sa-neun-ye-jeong-dae-ro-jin-haeng-doe-eoss-da.
Translation: Although it rained, the event proceeded as scheduled.
「왔음」 takes 「에도」, placing the fact that “it had rained” into a concessive relationship.
「-음／-ㅁ」 attachment ③｜Keep the ㄹ final consonant and add 「-ㅁ」
When a stem ends in 「ㄹ」, add 「-ㅁ」 rather than 「-음」. The resulting spelling contains 「ㄻ」.
- 알다 → 앎
- 만들다 → 만듦
- 줄다 → 줆
- 멀다 → 멂
- Example: 문제를 잘 앎이 반드시 좋은 설명으로 이어지는 것은 아니다.
Romanization: mun-je-reul-jal-am-i-ban-deu-si-jo-eun-seol-myeong-eu-ro-i-eo-ji-neun-geot-eun-a-ni-da.
Translation: Understanding a problem well does not necessarily lead to a good explanation.
The nominal form of 「알다」 is 「앎」, not 「알음」. However, this kind of 「앎」 has a written feel, and everyday conversation often uses 「잘 아는 것」 instead. - Example: 자료를 직접 만듦으로써 구조를 더 잘 이해하게 되었다.
Romanization: ja-ryo-reul-jik-jeop-man-deul-meu-ro-sseo-gu-jo-reul-deo-jal-i-hae-ha-ge-doe-eoss-da.
Translation: By making the materials personally, I came to understand the overall structure better.
「만들다」 takes 「-ㅁ」 to form 「만듦」, which is then followed by 「으로써」. - Example: 두 지역 사이의 거리가 멂을 확인했다.
Romanization: du-ji-yeok-sa-i-ui-geo-ri-ga-meol-meul-hwak-in-haet-da.
Translation: It was confirmed that the distance between the two areas was great.
「멀다」 becomes 「멂」. Forms like this are uncommon in ordinary chats; actual conversation normally uses 「거리가 멀다는 것을 확인했다」 instead.
Why are they 「갔음、먹었음」? Adding 「-음」 after the past tense
When the past-tense form 「-았／었-」 is already present, add 「-음」 after it.
Therefore:
- 가다 → 갔다 → 갔음
- 먹다 → 먹었다 → 먹었음
- 하다 → 했다 → 했음
- 확인하다 → 확인했다 → 확인했음
The commonly seen chat forms 「밥 먹었음」 and 「확인했음」 also follow this rule.
- Example: 자료 확인했음.
Romanization: ja-ryo-hwak-in-haess-eum.
Translation: Materials checked.
「확인했다」 indicates completion, and 「-음」 turns it into a concise record. It may appear in a work group, but whether it is appropriate still depends on the team’s speech habits and the relationships involved. - Example: 밥 먹었음?
Romanization: bap-meog-eoss-eum?
Translation: Have you eaten?
In messages between friends, a question mark can turn a nominal-form short sentence into a question. The tone is very casual and should not be used as-is to ask a customer or supervisor. - Example: 회의 일정 변경되었음.
Romanization: hoe-ui-il-jeong-byeon-gyeong-doe-eoss-eum.
Translation: Meeting schedule changed.
This resembles a work memo or status record. In a formal email notice, 「회의 일정이 변경되었습니다」 or 「변경되었음을 알려 드립니다」 would be more complete.
Three uses of the Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」: formal nominalization, work records, and 음슴체
Both 「-음／-ㅁ」 forms nominalize content, but their nuance differs greatly in different registers. In formal writing, they can turn an entire sentence into a “fact” to be handled; in records, they compress information; and in chats with friends, they create quick, casual short sentences.
Use ① of 「-음／-ㅁ」｜Nominalize an entire fact in a formal sentence
Notices, confirmations, reports, and explanations often use 「-음／-ㅁ」 to nominalize an entire proposition.
This use does not “shorten” a sentence. On the contrary, it often appears in fairly formal, long sentences.
Common combinations include:
- 음을 알리다: notify that…
- 음을 확인하다: confirm that…
- 음을 밝히다: state that…
- 음이 확인되다: it is confirmed that…
- 음을 인정하다: acknowledge that…
- Example: 예약이 변경되었음을 안내드립니다.
Romanization: ye-yag-i-byeon-gyeong-doe-eoss-eum-eul-an-nae-deu-rim-ni-da.
Translation: We hereby inform you that the reservation was changed.
「변경되었음」 is not the end of the sentence; it is the object content of 「안내드립니다」. - Example: 문제가 해결되었음이 확인되었습니다.
Romanization: mun-je-ga-hae-gyeol-doe-eoss-eum-i-hwak-in-doe-eoss-seum-ni-da.
Translation: It has been confirmed that the problem was resolved.
「해결되었음」 takes the subject marker 「이」, so the entire fact that “the problem was resolved” becomes the subject. - Example: 추가 확인이 필요함을 알려 드립니다.
Romanization: chu-ga-hwak-in-i-pil-yo-ham-eul-al-lyeo-deu-rim-ni-da.
Translation: We hereby inform you that further confirmation is required.
「필요하다→필요함」 nominalizes the judgment that something “is necessary,” making the complete sentence sound more like a formal notice than the everyday 「추가 확인이 필요해요」.
Use ② of 「-음／-ㅁ」｜End work records and reports with a nominal form
Work logs, meeting notes, checklists, and internal memos often place 「-음／-ㅁ」 directly at the end.
For example:
- 자료 확인함: Materials checked
- 이상 없음: No abnormalities
- 일정 변경됨: Schedule changed
- 추가 논의 필요함: Further discussion required
These forms make a sentence look like a record rather than a complete utterance addressed to someone.
- Example: 오전 중 담당자에게 연락함.
Romanization: o-jeon-jung-dam-dang-ja-e-ge-yeon-rak-ham.
Translation: Contacted the person in charge in the morning.
This suits a work record. When reporting to a supervisor by email, 「연락했습니다」 is more natural. - Example: 검토 결과 이상 없음.
Romanization: geom-to-gyeol-gwa-i-sang-eop-seum.
Translation: Review result: no abnormalities.
「없음」 resembles a result entered in a table and communicates the information very directly. - Example: 추가 논의 필요함.
Romanization: chu-ga-non-ui-pil-yo-ham.
Translation: Further discussion required.
「필요하다」 becomes 「필요함」, making it well suited to meeting records or a to-do item.
Use ③ of 「-음／-ㅁ」｜음슴체 in chats: 「감、먹음、못 감」
Online chats and messages among people who know each other may also end directly in 「-음／-ㅁ」, as in 「나 감」「밥 먹음」「오늘 못 감」.
This use is sometimes informally called 「음슴체」. Although it looks like a sentence-final ending, grammatically it can still be understood as ending the sentence with a nominal form. The tone is usually casual and concise, and it may deliberately sound curt, humorous, or like a memo.
- Example: 나 먼저 감.
Romanization: na-meon-jeo-gam.
Translation: I’m leaving first. 「가다→감」.
This is natural in a familiar group chat. Compared with the complete 「나 먼저 갈게」, it sounds more like a quick status update. - Example: 오늘 약속 있어서 못 감.
Romanization: o-neul-yak-sok-i-sseo-seo-mot-gam.
Translation: I have plans today, so I can’t go.
「못 가다」 is compressed into 「못 감」. It suits a chat with friends but not a formal absence notice. - Example: 방금 밥 먹었음.
Romanization: bang-geum-bap-meog-eoss-eum.
Translation: I just ate.
「먹었음」 presents a completed action as concise information, creating a clear chat-like feel.
Is 「-음／-ㅁ」 a sentence-final ending? The relationship between its sentence-final use and nominal form
Not entirely. 「나 먼저 감」「밥 먹었음」 can indeed end a sentence directly, but the 「-ㅁ／-음」 in them remains essentially a nominalizing ending. It does not appear only at the end; it can also occur in a sentence such as 「회의가 취소되었음을 알려 드립니다」, continue into a particle, and become a sentence constituent.
A more accurate interpretation is therefore:
The nominal form 「-음／-ㅁ」 is used to end the sentence; 「-음／-ㅁ」 is not simply treated as an ordinary sentence-final ending.
How do the Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」「-기」 and 「것」 differ? Comparing nominalization uses
All three forms can turn an action or state into content that can be discussed, but their directions of use are not completely the same.
「-음／-ㅁ」 readily appears in factual confirmation, formal writing, records, and information-oriented expressions. 「-기」 often treats the action itself as a behavior, goal, habit, or item. 「것」 is a very broad and neutral nominalization method in everyday Korean.
| Comparison | -음／-ㅁ | -기 | -(으)ㄴ／는 것 |
| Core feel | Treats content as a fact, state, or record | Treats an action as behavior or an item | Neutrally brings out the whole matter for discussion |
| Common registers | Notices, reports, records, brief chat notes | Goals, rules, habits, titles | Everyday conversation, explanations, general statements |
| Common example | 변경되었음을 알리다 | 매일 운동하기 | 운동하는 것이 좋다 |
| Brief sentence-final record | Very common | Common in lists and titles | Not normally abbreviated this way |
| Formal factual confirmation | Very suitable | Less common | Possible, but more neutral |
「-음／-ㅁ」 vs 「-기」｜Fact／record vs action／item
「-기」 commonly appears in to-do lists, goals, rules, and general actions.
- 물 많이 마시기: Drink plenty of water
- 매일 운동하기: Exercise every day
- 늦지 않기: Do not be late
It is closer to listing “what to do” as an item.
「-음／-ㅁ」 is better suited to recording that something has already happened, currently exists, or needs to be confirmed.
- 물 마셨음: Drank water
- 운동함: Exercised／exercise carried out
- 지각했음: Was late
- Example: 매일 책 읽기.
Romanization: mae-il-chaek-il-gi.
Translation: Read every day.
This resembles a goal, habit list, or to-do item and does not yet indicate whether the action has been completed. - Example: 오늘 책 읽었음.
Romanization: o-neul-chaek-il-geoss-eum.
Translation: Read a book today.
After the past tense is added, the sentence becomes a completion record. - Example: 자료 제출하기.
Romanization: ja-ryo-je-chul-ha-gi.
Translation: Submit the materials.
This suits a to-do item. After completion, the record can be updated to 「자료 제출함」.
「-음／-ㅁ」 vs 「것」｜Written fact／record vs neutral everyday nominalization
「-(으)ㄴ／는 것」 is a very common way to nominalize in everyday Korean. When discussing preferences, difficulty, facts, and thoughts, it is more natural than forcing 「-음／-ㅁ」 in most cases.
- 한국어를 배우는 것이 재미있어요: Learning Korean is interesting.
- 혼자 여행하는 것이 익숙해요: I am used to traveling alone.
- 늦는 것이 걱정돼요: I am worried about being late.
If these sentences are directly changed to 「-음／-ㅁ」, the register may suddenly become written and compressed, or even unnatural.
- Example: 한국어를 배우는 것이 재미있어요.
Romanization: han-gu-geo-reul-bae-u-neun-geos-i-jae-mi-i-sseo-yo.
Translation: Learning Korean is interesting.
「것」 is natural in ordinary conversation, and there is no need to deliberately change it to 「배움」. - Example: 그가 약속을 지켰음을 확인했습니다.
Romanization: geu-ga-yak-sok-eul-ji-kyeoss-eum-eul-hwak-in-haess-seum-ni-da.
Translation: It was confirmed that he kept his promise.
This formally confirms an established fact, so 「-음」 is natural. - Example: 그가 약속을 지켰다는 것을 알았어요.
Romanization: geu-ga-yak-sok-eul-ji-kyeot-da-neun-geos-eul-al-ass-eo-yo.
Translation: I learned that he had kept his promise.
Using 「것」 in a general statement is closer to everyday speech.
Are 「배움、웃음」 both nominalizations with 「-음／-ㅁ」? Judge by syntactic function
Not necessarily. Some Korean forms that look like “verb＋-음／-ㅁ” have already become established general nouns, including 「웃음」「배움」「삶」. In these cases, you cannot see the ending and automatically analyze every form as temporary grammatical nominalization. You can judge by whether the whole word already behaves like an ordinary noun and whether it retains the verb’s original syntactic properties, such as taking an object or adverb.
For example:
- 아이의 웃음: a child’s laughter
- 깊은 배움: deep learning
- 사람의 삶: a person’s life
These all resemble ordinary nouns.
By contrast:
- 회의가 취소되었음을 알리다
- 자료를 받았음을 확인하다
The preceding verbal structure remains complete, and only the entire clause receives a nominal function through 「-음」. These are the clearest examples when learning the nominalizing ending.
「신청 마감」 vs 「신청을 마감함」｜Ordinary noun vs nominalization with 「-ㅁ」
The 「마감」 in 「신청 마감」 is itself a noun and can mean a deadline, finishing, or the end of a period. Therefore:
- 신청 마감
Application deadline
This is not a grammatical example formed from 「마감하다＋-ㅁ」.
If changed to:
- 신청을 마감함
Application intake ended／applications closed
It can now be analyzed as:
마감하다 → 마감하-＋ㅁ → 마감함
Another common record-style form is:
- 신청이 마감되었음
Applications have closed.
「마감되었음」 includes the passive 「마감되다」, the past-tense 「-었-」, and the nominal form 「-음」.
When learning, it is best to distinguish “what was already a noun” from “a form produced by adding a nominalizing ending to a verb.” Otherwise, every 「ㅁ」 can easily be misinterpreted.
Where Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 is used: formal notices, workplace records, and 음슴체
▌Situation ①｜A formal notice that a meeting was canceled
A：회의 일정이 변경되었나요?
hoe-ui-il-jeong-i-byeon-gyeong-doe-eoss-na-yo?
Was the meeting schedule changed?
B：네. 회의가 취소되었음을 알려 드립니다.
ne-hoe-ui-ga-chwi-so-doe-eoss-eum-eul-al-lyeo-deu-rim-ni-da.
Yes. We hereby notify you that the meeting has been canceled.
📌 Grammar Point: 「취소되었음」 is not used directly as a sentence ending addressed to someone. It takes 「을」 and becomes the content of the formal notice.
▌Situation ②｜Updating processing status on a work board
A：고객 문의 확인함.
go-gaek-mun-ui-hwak-in-ham.
Customer inquiry checked.
B：추가 답변 필요함.
chu-ga-dap-byeon-pil-yo-ham.
Further response required.
📌 Grammar Point: Both sentences resemble record items on a work board. They are not complete honorific sentences that a customer service representative would address directly to a customer.
▌Situation ③｜Suddenly being unable to attend plans in a friend group
A：오늘 저녁에 올 수 있어?
o-neul-jeo-nyeok-e-ol-su-i-sseo?
Can you come tonight?
B：오늘 약속 생겨서 못 감. 다음에 봄.
o-neul-yak-sok-saeng-gyeo-seo-mot-gam-da-eum-e-bom.
Something came up today, so I can’t go. See you next time.
📌 Grammar Point: 「못 감」「봄」 are both brief chat endings among friends. Their tone is deliberately concise and cannot be transferred directly to a formal absence notice.
Cultural Notes:
- The appearance of 「-음／-ㅁ」 in a formal notice does not make it honorific by itself. The actual level of politeness is still determined by the full sentence. 「취소되었음을 알려 드립니다」 is formal because the following 「알려 드립니다」 fully handles the honorific relationship with the addressee.
- In work records, 「확인함」「이상 없음」「추가 검토 필요함」 focus on storing information quickly and do not necessarily require conversational endings. If the same content is sent by email to an external recipient, it will normally return to a complete 「-습니다」 style.
- 「나 감」「밥 먹었음」 in messages between friends carry an online-chat and familiar tone. Being short does not make them neutral honorifics or suitable for every workplace group.
How does the Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 correspond to the Japanese 「〜こと／〜の」?
The Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 and Japanese 「〜こと」「〜の」 can all nominalize an action, state, or entire content, allowing it to serve as a subject, object, or another sentence constituent. For example, after “the meeting was canceled” is nominalized, it can be inserted into a sentence such as “notify someone that the meeting was canceled.”
However, Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 has a more obvious formal written, report, and record-like tone, and it can also form concise sentence endings in online chats. Japanese 「〜こと」「〜の」 primarily nominalize and do not have completely identical stylistic functions. When translating Korean announcements, records, or short chat messages, Japanese may use 「〜旨」「〜済み」「〜なし」 or may write a complete sentence instead.
◆ Similar grammar ①: Japanese 「〜こと」
Japanese 「〜こと」 can treat a preceding action, state, or fact as a single matter. It commonly appears in formal notices, explanations, judgments, and more abstract content. These uses are relatively close to 「-음／-ㅁ」 in formal Korean.
- Example: 会議が中止となったことをお知らせいたします。
Kana: かいぎがちゅうしとなったことをおしらせいたします。
Translation: We hereby notify you that the meeting has been canceled.
This corresponds to the Korean 「회의가 취소되었음을 알려 드립니다」. 「こと」 nominalizes the entire content that “the meeting was canceled,” functioning similarly to 「취소되었음을」 formed from 「취소되었음＋을」. - Example: 申請内容に誤りがあったことを確認しました。
Kana: しんせいないようにあやまりがあったことをかくにんしました。
Translation: It was confirmed that the application contained an error.
This corresponds to the Korean 「신청 내용에 오류가 있었음을 확인했습니다」. Both place the confirmed fact before “confirm” as its object; Korean uses 「-음」, while Japanese uses 「こと」. - Example: この制度が必要であることを認めます。
Kana: このせいどがひつようであることをみとめます。
Translation: We acknowledge that this system is necessary.
This corresponds to the Korean 「이 제도가 필요함을 인정합니다」. Both 「必要であること」 and 「필요함」 turn a state into nominalized content that can precede 「認める／인정하다」.
◆ Similar grammar ②: Japanese 「〜の」
Japanese 「〜の」 can also nominalize an action or state. It appears more often than 「〜こと」 in everyday conversation and is frequently used to describe concrete situations that someone saw, heard, or experienced. Korean normally uses 「것」 or 「-기」 in these everyday sentences and is more likely to use 「-음／-ㅁ」 only in formal writing.
- Example: 映画を見るのが好きです。
Kana: えいがをみるのがすきです。
Translation: I like watching movies.
Korean normally says 「영화 보는 것을 좋아해요」 or 「영화 보기를 좋아해요」 and does not directly say 「영화를 봄을 좋아해요」 in ordinary conversation. For this kind of preference expression, Japanese 「の」 and Korean 「것／-기」 are closer than 「-음／-ㅁ」. - Example: 子どもが走ってくるのが見えました。
Kana: こどもがはしってくるのがみえました。
Translation: I saw a child running toward me.
Korean can say 「아이가 달려오는 것이 보였어요」 or the conversational 「아이가 달려오는 게 보였어요」. Japanese often uses 「の」 before perception expressions such as 「見る」「見える」「聞く」, while Korean usually presents a concrete seen or heard situation with 「것／게」. - Example: 電車が遅れているのを知りませんでした。
Kana: でんしゃがおくれているのをしりませんでした。
Translation: I did not know the train was delayed.
Formal Korean can use 「전철이 지연되고 있음을 몰랐습니다」, while everyday conversation more often says 「전철이 늦고 있는 줄 몰랐어요」. Japanese 「の」 is natural here, but using 「-음을」 in Korean makes the entire sentence noticeably more written.
◆ Register difference: 「-음／-ㅁ」 in records and chats
Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 can appear not only within a sentence but directly at the end, creating concise records, notes, or chat-style wording. Japanese normally does not reproduce it word for word with 「こと／の」 but chooses another expression according to the register.
- Example: 異常なし。
Kana: いじょうなし。
Translation: No abnormalities.
This corresponds to Korean 「이상 없음」. Korean uses 「없음」 to create a record-style short sentence, while Japanese directly uses 「なし」 rather than 「異常がないこと」. - Example: 確認済み。
Kana: かくにんずみ。
Translation: Confirmed.
This corresponds to Korean 「확인 완료함」 or 「확인했음」. Japanese 「済み」 marks a completed action and better fits work notes and lists than 「確認したこと」. - Example: 先に帰るね。
Kana: さきにかえるね。
Translation: I’m heading home first.
This corresponds to the Korean chat expression 「나 먼저 감」. Korean creates concise and casual 「음슴체」 with 「감」, whereas Japanese simply uses the plain form with the sentence-final particle 「ね」 and does not need to imitate the Korean form through nominalization.
◆ Core differences from the Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」:
Korean 「-음／-ㅁ」 can be a standard nominalizing ending. For example, 「취소되었음을 알리다」 means notifying someone of a cancellation, while 「필요함을 인정하다」 means acknowledging necessity. It can also directly create record-style endings such as 「이상 없음」「확인했음」 and even enter online-chat expressions such as 「나 먼저 감」. These uses share the form of “recording an action or state as established content,” but their formality varies greatly by context.
Japanese 「〜こと」 is suited to abstract content, statements of fact, and formal explanations, while 「〜の」 appears more often in everyday conversation, concrete situations, and perception expressions. 「-음／-ㅁ」 in a formal Korean sentence can correspond to Japanese 「こと」, but everyday nominalization is normally closer to Korean 「것」 or 「-기」. For sentence endings in records and chats, Japanese generally uses 「なし」「済み」 or a complete plain-form sentence, so they cannot be translated consistently as 「こと／の」.
When you see 「-음／-ㅁ」, do not look only at the final character. If a complete verb or adjective structure remains in front, it is normally performing nominalization. In an announcement, report, or confirmation sentence, it often treats the entire matter as a piece of content; when it stops at the end, it may be a concise form common in work records or chats among friends. Forms such as 「마감」「웃음」「배움」 require another look at their function in the sentence because the same outward form may be a nominal form or may already function as an ordinary noun. Considering both the attachment rules and the register makes actual usage easier to judge than memorizing one fixed English translation.
FAQs
No. They are different forms of the same nominalizing ending, selected mainly according to the preceding stem. A stem with a regular final consonant takes 「-음」; stems without a final consonant and stems with a 「ㄹ」 final consonant take 「-ㅁ」.
For example: 「먹다→먹음」「가다→감」「알다→앎」.
Yes. They appear in work records, memos, and online chats. However, this does not mean that 「-음／-ㅁ」 has become an ordinary sentence-final ending. It remains a nominal form in essence, and the complete nominalized form is being used to end the sentence.
It belongs to a very casual messaging style among people who know one another. It is natural among friends but not suitable for direct use with customers, supervisors, teachers, elders, or strangers.
A formal version is 「먼저 가겠습니다」, while ordinary polite conversation can use 「저 먼저 갈게요」.
No. 「마감」 is itself a noun that can mean a deadline or finishing.
To use nominalization with 「-ㅁ」, you can write 「신청을 마감함」. To record the fact that applications have already closed, you can use 「신청이 마감되었음」.
Because 「-음」 follows the past-tense 「-었-」. Thus: 「먹었다→먹었음」「갔다→갔음」「했다→했음」.
Do not look only at whether the final syllable of the full word has a final consonant; first check whether a tense ending has already been attached.
Because 「알-」 is a stem with a 「ㄹ」 final consonant. 「-ㅁ」 is used after 「ㄹ」, producing 「앎」.
The same rule applies to 「만들다→만듦」「줄다→줆」.
Not necessarily. Some forms have become established ordinary dictionary nouns and may involve noun derivation rather than a nominalizing ending temporarily added within a sentence.
When studying 「-음／-ㅁ」, examples such as 「취소되었음을 알리다」「받았음을 확인하다」 that retain a complete verbal structure make the nominalizing function easier to see.
Both can nominalize, but their common focus differs. 「-기」 is well suited to treating an action as a goal, rule, habit, or to-do item; 「-음／-ㅁ」 more often treats content as a fact, state, or record.
「매일 운동하기」 resembles the goal “exercise every day,” while 「오늘 운동함」 resembles the record “exercised today.”
In ordinary complete everyday sentences, 「것」 generally has a broader and more neutral range.
For example, 「한국어를 배우는 것이 재미있어요」 sounds more like natural everyday conversation than deliberately using 「배움」. 「-음／-ㅁ」 appears particularly readily in formal writing, factual confirmation, records, and concise chat endings.
If the whole expression already functions as a complete statement, Korean punctuation rules permit a period in principle while also allowing it to be omitted. Both forms can therefore be seen in actual reports, work boards, and chats.