urineun seoro doumyeonseo iksukhaji anheun ireul yeonseuphae.

We help each other while practicing things we’re not used to.

Breakdown of urineun seoro doumyeonseo iksukhaji anheun ireul yeonseuphae.

• ~을: object particle
• ~는: topic particle
• 우리: we
• 않다: to not do
• 연습하다: to practice
• ~면서: while
• 돕다: to help
• 서로: each other
• 익숙하다: be used to
• 일: thing

Questions & Answers about urineun seoro doumyeonseo iksukhaji anheun ireul yeonseuphae.

What does 서로 mean, and how is it different from 같이/함께?

• 서로 means “each other/one another.” It marks reciprocity between members of the subject (here, “we”), i.e., they help one another.
• 같이/함께 mean “together,” focusing on doing something jointly, not necessarily for each other. Examples:
• 우리는 서로 도와요 = We help each other. (reciprocal)
• 우리는 같이 일해요 = We work together. (joint action, not necessarily reciprocal help)

Why is it 도우면서 and not 돕면서 or 도와면서?

Because 돕다 is a ㅂ-irregular verb. When a vowel-initial ending attaches (as in -(으)면서), the ㅂ changes to 우 and the 으 drops.

• 돕다 + -(으)면서 → 도우면서 Other common forms:
• 도와요 (present polite)
• 도와서 (so/and then)
• 도우면 (if)
• 도울 (attributive future)
• 도운 (attributive past) So 돕면서/도와면서 are incorrect; 도우면서 is the right form.

What exactly does -(으)면서 express here?

-(으)면서 most often means “while/as,” indicating two actions happening at the same time by the same subject. Here: “We practice unfamiliar tasks while helping each other.” Note: -(으)면서 can also show mild contradiction in other contexts (e.g., 알면서 왜 그래? “You know it, so why act like that?”), but here it’s pure simultaneity/manner.

Why use 우리는 (topic marker) instead of 우리가 (subject marker)?

• 우리는 sets “we” as the topic (“as for us”), giving background and sounding neutral/natural.
• 우리가 highlights “we” specifically as the doer, often used for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “We (not others) practice…”). Both are grammatical; the nuance differs.

What politeness level is 연습해, and how do I make it polite or more formal?

• 연습해: casual/informal (banmal).
• Polite: 연습해요.
• Formal: 연습합니다.
• Plain/written declarative: 연습한다. So the whole sentence can be:
• 우리는 서로 도우면서 익숙하지 않은 일을 연습해요. (polite)
• 우리는 서로 도우면서 익숙하지 않은 일을 연습합니다. (formal)

How is 익숙하지 않은 formed, and what is it doing before 일?

• Base descriptive verb: 익숙하다 (“to be familiar/used to”).
• Negation: 익숙하지 않다 (“to not be used to”).
• Attributive form modifying a noun: 익숙하지 않은
  • 일 → “work/tasks that (we are) not used to.” Alternatives:
• 낯선 일 (“unfamiliar/strange tasks”)
• 익숙하지 않은 것(들) (“things we’re not used to”)

Can I say 안 익숙한 or 익숙치/익숙지 않은 instead?

Yes:

• 안 익숙한: natural and conversational.
• 익숙하지 않은: neutral and slightly more formal/explicit.
• 익숙지 않은 (contracted from 익숙하지 않은): standard but a bit more concise.
• 익숙치 않은: colloquial/older-sounding; still understood. All mean roughly the same; choose based on tone/register.

Doesn’t 익숙하다 usually take 에 (A에 익숙하다)? Why is there no 에 here?

As a predicate, it takes 에: 이 일에 익숙하지 않다 (“not used to this work”).
When used attributively to modify a noun, you typically don’t include 에: 익숙하지 않은 일 (“work [we’re] not used to”).
You can also make a fuller relative clause: 우리가 아직 익숙하지 않은 일 (“work that we’re not yet used to”).

Why is it 일을 (with 을), not 일를?

Object particle choice depends on the final sound of the noun:

• Ends with a consonant → 을 (일 → 일을)
• Ends with a vowel → 를 (예: 책상 → 책상을; 차 → 차를)

Can I omit the object particle 을 in speech?

Yes. In casual speech, object particles are often dropped if the meaning is clear:

• 익숙하지 않은 일 연습해 is natural in conversation. Keeping 일을 adds clarity, especially in longer sentences or formal writing.

Can I move 서로 도우면서 or other parts around?

Korean word order is flexible as long as the verb comes at the end. Variations include:

• 우리는 익숙하지 않은 일을 서로 도우면서 연습해.
• 익숙하지 않은 일을 우리는 서로 도우면서 연습해.
• 서로 도우면서 우리는 익숙하지 않은 일을 연습해. The nuance emphasis changes slightly with order, but all are acceptable.

Should it be 서로 도우면서 or 서로를 도우면서?

Both are grammatical:

• 서로 도우면서: Very common. 서로 functions adverbially (“mutually”).
• 서로를 도우면서: Explicitly marks 서로 as the object; slightly heavier style. With 돕다, omitting the object when using 서로 is extremely common and natural.

What’s the difference between 돕다 and 도와주다, especially with 서로?

• 돕다: “to help” (basic verb).
• 도와주다: “to help (someone) as a favor/for someone’s benefit,” adds a “give/do for” nuance. With 서로, both are fine:
• 서로 돕다 and 서로 도와주다 are both natural. 서로 도와주다 can feel a bit warmer/more colloquial.

Could I use -며 or -고 instead of -면서?

• -며 (도우며): More formal/literary; often used in writing or news.
• -고 (돕고): Lists/links actions; can imply sequence or simple addition rather than clear simultaneity. To emphasize “while/as,” -면서 is the most natural in everyday speech.

Does 연습해 mean “we are practicing now” or “we practice (habitually)”?

Korean present can be either, depending on context.

• Right now: add -고 있다 or 지금 → 우리는 … 연습하고 있어(요).
• Habitually: add adverbs like 자주/늘/항상/보통 → 우리는 … 자주 연습해(요).

What does 일 mean here—“work,” “task,” or “thing”?

일 is broad: “work,” “task(s),” “matter(s),” “stuff.”
In 익숙하지 않은 일을 연습해, it’s best read as “unfamiliar tasks/things.” If you want to stress “various tasks,” you can say 일들, but Korean often leaves plurals unmarked.

Can I drop 우리는?

Yes. Subjects are frequently omitted when obvious:

• 서로 도우면서 익숙하지 않은 일을 연습해요. Context will usually make it clear that the subject is “we.” If you need to contrast or introduce the subject, keep 우리는/우리가.