V+(으)렴 / (으)려무나

Overview

The sentence ending -(으)렴 (and its more affectionate variant -(으)려무나) is used to express a gentle command or suggestion. It's primarily used in informal contexts and signifies a close relationship between the speaker and the listener, often with the speaker being older or in a position of mild authority (e.g., parent to child, teacher to student, or between very close friends/family).

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Usage

-(으)렴 functions as a soft imperative, less direct and forceful than -(으)세요 or -아/어라. It conveys a sense of warmth, care, or mild encouragement rather than a strict order. It's commonly heard when an adult is speaking to a child, offering advice or telling them to do something in a kind manner. For example, a parent might tell their child to "go play" (놀렴) or "eat your food" (먹으렴).

The form -(으)려무나 is an even softer and more endearing version of -(으)렴. It carries a stronger nuance of affection and is almost exclusively used by adults when speaking to young children, expressing deep care and tenderness.

It is important to note that using -(으)렴 with someone of higher status or in a formal situation would be considered impolite, as it implies a level of intimacy or hierarchy that is inappropriate.

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Conjugation Rules

-(으)렴 and -(으)려무나 follow the same conjugation patterns:

1. If the verb stem ends in a vowel: Add -렴 or -려무나.

   • 가다 (to go) -> 가렴 / 가려무나
   • 오다 (to come) -> 오렴 / 오려무나
   • 하다 (to do) -> 하렴 / 하려무나

2. If the verb stem ends in a consonant: Add -으렴 or -으려무나.

   • 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹으렴 / 먹으려무나
   • 읽다 (to read) -> 읽으렴 / 읽으려무나
   • 앉다 (to sit) -> 앉으렴 / 앉으려무나

3. If the verb stem ends in ㄹ (ㄹ-final consonant): Add -으렴 or -으려무나. (The ㄹ is treated as a consonant).

   • 살다 (to live) -> 살으렴 / 살으려무나
   • 만들다 (to make) -> 만들으렴 / 만들으려무나

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Knowledge Plus

• Comparison with other command forms:
  • -(으)세요: Polite and formal command, suitable for most situations and with strangers or superiors.
  • -아/어라: Direct and strong command, often used by adults to children, or in very informal settings among close peers, but can sound harsh.
  • -(으)렴: A softer, gentler command than -아/어라, conveying care and warmth, typically from older to younger or between very close individuals.
• Context is key: The appropriateness of -(으)렴 heavily depends on the relationship and context. It's best reserved for situations where there's a clear understanding of intimacy or a benevolent hierarchical relationship.
• Spoken language: This ending is much more common in spoken Korean than in written Korean.
• -(으)려무나 is particularly affectionate and almost exclusively used when speaking to young children, emphasizing a deep, loving tone.