doseogwaneun joyonghan banmyeon, sikdangeun sikkeureowoyo.

The library is quiet, whereas the restaurant is noisy.

Breakdown of doseogwaneun joyonghan banmyeon, sikdangeun sikkeureowoyo.

• 도서관: library
• ~은: topic particle
• 식당: restaurant
• 조용하다: quiet
• 시끄럽다: noisy
• 반면: on the other hand

Questions & Answers about doseogwaneun joyonghan banmyeon, sikdangeun sikkeureowoyo.

What does the particle 은 after 도서관 and 식당 do? Why 은 and not 는?

• 은/는 marks the topic; here it sets up a contrast between the library and the cafeteria.
• 은 is used after a consonant (도서관, 식당 both end with consonants). 는 comes after a vowel.
• Repeating 은 on both nouns highlights the contrast.

Why is 조용한 used instead of 조용해요?

• 조용하다 is a descriptive verb “to be quiet.”
• Before 반면, adjectives take the adnominal form -(으)ㄴ, so 조용하다 → 조용한.
• You can’t put a sentence ending like -아요/어요 directly before 반면 in this structure.

What exactly does 반면 mean? Do I need the 에?

• 반면(에) means “on the other hand / whereas,” marking contrast.
• -에 is optional; 반면에 is a bit more common and smoother in speech. 반면 can feel slightly more formal.
• Both are correct here.

Why is only the second clause polite (시끄러워요) while the first isn’t?

• Korean usually applies the speech level to the final verb only.
• The first clause is a modifier ending in -ㄴ before 반면, so it doesn’t take -요.
• This is normal: the overall sentence’s politeness is set by the last predicate.

Can I replace 반면(에) with 지만?

• Yes: 도서관은 조용하지만 식당은 시끄러워요.
• 지만 is a general “but/although”; 반면(에) emphasizes a clearer, more balanced contrast.
• In casual speech, 지만 sounds more neutral; 반면(에) feels a bit formal/written.

How do I use this pattern with other parts of speech?

• With adjectives: A-(으)ㄴ 반면(에) → 조용한 반면
• With action verbs: V-는 반면(에) → 사람이 많이 모이는 반면
• With nouns + 이다: N-인 반면(에) → 학생인 반면
• For past contrast: -았/었/했던 반면(에) → 어제는 조용했던 반면, 오늘은 시끄러워요.

What’s going on with 시끄러워요? Why not 시끄럽어요?

• 시끄럽다 is ㅂ-irregular.
• Before a vowel, ㅂ changes to 우: 시끄럽 + 어요 → 시끄러워요.
• Adnominal (before a noun) is 시끄러운: 시끄러운 식당.

Could I flip the order of the two parts?

• Yes: 식당은 시끄러운 반면, 도서관은 조용해요.
• Note the adnominal again: 시끄럽다 → 시끄러운 before 반면.

Is the comma required?

• No. It’s stylistic. You can write: 도서관은 조용한 반면 식당은 시끄러워요.
• A comma often helps readability by signaling the contrast.

Can I drop the topic particle on one of the nouns?

• You’ll hear omissions in casual speech, but with contrasts it’s clearer to keep both.
• Best: 도서관은 … 식당은 …
• Dropping both (도서관 조용한 반면 식당 시끄러워요) can sound sloppy in careful writing.

Can I say 도서관은 조용한데 식당은 시끄러워요?

• Yes. -는데/한데 can set up contrast or background: “The library is quiet, and/but the cafeteria is loud.”
• -는데 is more conversational and less formal than 반면(에).
• Nuance: 반면(에) frames a neat “on the other hand” pairing; -는데 is looser.

Does 반면 have to compare two different subjects?

• No. It can contrast two aspects of the same subject:
  • 이 책은 내용이 어려운 반면, 매우 유익해요.
• In your sentence, two topics are contrasted (library vs. cafeteria), which is also common.

How would I make the whole sentence more formal?

• Use the -습니다 style: 도서관은 조용한 반면, 식당은 시끄럽습니다.
• Or in very formal writing: 도서관은 조용한 반면에 식당은 시끄럽다.

Could I use 반면(에) as a separate connector between two full sentences?

• Yes, by starting a new sentence with it:
  • 도서관은 조용해요. 반면에 식당은 시끄러워요.
• Here, 반면에 works like “on the other hand” as a sentence connector.

Is there any difference between 도서관은 조용해요. 반면(에) 식당은 시끄러워요 and the original?

• Meaning is the same. The two-sentence version is slightly easier and more conversational.
• The original single-sentence version is tighter and a bit more formal.

Any synonyms for 반면(에)?

• 그에 반해/반하여 (formal): 도서관은 조용한데 그에 반해 식당은 시끄러워요.
• 한편 (“on the other hand,” often topic-shifting): 도서관은 조용해요. 한편, 식당은 시끄러워요.
• 하지만/그러나 (“but/however,” general contrast).