I just learned a new korean grammar: N 동안 I was wondering if this grammar could be used with 쯤. I'm sorry if this is incomprehensible I'm really confused haha 😅
Hello! Another great question!
For those wondering, V + 는 동안 is used to express an action while another action was or is usually completed and N + 동안 is used to express an amount of time. Note: Tense cannot be expressed on the verb attached to -는 동안, but is expressed on the verb in the second clause! This grammar is used to express a period of time where an action occurred. Here are some examples:
V + 는 동안; while, during
Conversation:
A: 오늘 뭐 했어? - what did you do today?
B: 오늘 요리를 많이 했어! - I cooked a lot
A: 요리하는 동안 보통 뭐 해? - what do you usually do while cooking?
B: 요리하는 동안 보통 음악을 들어서 춤 춰 - while cooking, I usually listen to music and dance
A: 재밌었네~ 그럼, 어떤 음식을 요리했어? - It must have been fun~ then, what kind of food did you cook?
B: 김치볶음밥과 떡볶이를 요리 했어 - I made kimchi fried rice and spicy rice cake
A: 오 맛있겠다! - oh, sounds delicious!
B: 응! 여기에 먹어 보러 빨리 와! - yeah, hurry up and come here so you can try it!
N + 동안; during, for
A: 희주 씨, 방학 동안 뭐 할 거예요? - Heeju, what will you do during the break?
B: 방학 동안 한국에 가려고요 - during the break, I wanna go to Korea
한국에 2년 동안 있고 지냈어요 - I've been in Korea for two years
Note: in your answer, you don't usually have to restate "(V는; N) 동안", instead you can just answer without it
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BUT!!! To answer your question: a solid no. For example, you cannot say:
(X) 한국에 2년쯤 동안 있고 지냈어요 - I've stayed in Korea for about two years*
However, you can use 정도 which has the same meaning of "roughly, about, around". Illustrated below:
(O) 한국에 2년 정도 있고 지냈어요 - I've stayed in Korea for about/roughly/around two years
More Examples:
먹는 동안 한국 드라마를 봐요 - While eating, I watch K-dramas
어제 2시간 동안 한국어를 공부했어요 - I studied Korean for 2 hours yesterda
회사에 3년 정도 일했어요 - I've worked at the company for about 3 years
Hope that helped answer your question! If not, lemme know and we can go through it together!
Happy Learning :)
~ SK101
