…로써
…rosseo
In Korean, the phrase 'by' can be expressed using …로써 (…rosseo) or …로.
Meaning: indicates a means (prep)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …로써 | …rosseo |
| …로 | …ro |
These particles indicate a means.
Which one should you use?
The form …로 is the more common, everyday way to express 'by' or 'using' a means. In contrast, …로써 is more formal and is often used in written or official contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
…로써 is used specifically to emphasize the tool, method or means used to achieve a result. The particle …로 has an additional function: it can also mean 'to' or 'toward' when attached to a noun of place, a meaning that …로써 does not possess.
How do you pronounce it?
…rosseo
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse …로 (meaning 'by/with/as') with …로써 (meaning 'by means of'). While …로 is almost always safe, remember that …로써 is strictly for tools/methods and cannot be used for direction or destination.
Did you know?
- The form 로써 is frequently confused even by native speakers with 로서, which indicates a status or identity. Mixing these up is one of the most common spelling errors in written Korean.
- The particle 로 is used to describe the 'means' of travel, but if you are going 'by foot', Koreans use the phrase 걸어서, which is a verb form rather than the particle 로.
- In spoken Korean, the distinction between 로 and 로써 is often ignored, and 로 is used for almost every situation. Using 로써 in a casual conversation can make a speaker sound like they are reading from a legal textbook.
Examples in context
- 사업은 정부에 의해 관리됩니다.The business is managed by the government.
- 편지를 이메일로 보냈습니다.I sent the letter by email.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “by” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
