-는 물론(이고) (Not to mention)

-는 물론(이고) means "not to mention," "let alone," or "of course... and also." It's used to emphasize that something obvious is included, plus something additional.

Structure

Full pattern: Noun/Verb + -는 물론(이고)

Breakdown:

• -는: Modifier (for verbs)
• 물론: Of course / Naturally
• 이고: And (copula + connector)

Literal meaning: "Of course [noun/verb], and also..."

Formation

With Nouns

Pattern: Noun + 은/는 물론(이고)

Examples:

• 한국어 → 한국어는 물론(이고) (not to mention Korean)
• 학생 → 학생은 물론(이고) (not to mention students)
• 음식 → 음식은 물론(이고) (not to mention food)
• 서울 → 서울은 물론(이고) (not to mention Seoul)

With Verbs

Pattern: Verb stem + -는 물론(이고)

Examples:

• 먹다 → 먹는 물론(이고) (not to mention eating)
• 공부하다 → 공부하는 물론(이고) (not to mention studying)
• 가다 → 가는 물론(이고) (not to mention going)

Note: More commonly used with nouns than verbs

With Adjectives (Rare)

Pattern: Adjective + -(으)ㄴ 물론(이고)

Less common usage

Basic Usage

Emphasizing Obvious + Additional

Pattern: [Obvious thing] 물론(이고) [Additional thing]도

Examples:

• 한국어는 물론이고 영어도 잘해요 (Not to mention Korean, [they] also speak English well)
• 서울은 물론이고 부산도 가요 (Not to mention Seoul, [we] also go to Busan)
• 학생은 물론이고 선생님도 왔어요 (Not to mention students, teachers also came)

Including Everything

Showing comprehensiveness:

Examples:

• 아침은 물론이고 점심도 안 먹었어요 (Didn't eat not to mention breakfast, but also lunch)
• 집은 물론이고 차도 있어요 (Have not to mention a house, but also a car)
• 책은 물론이고 노트도 필요해요 (Need not to mention books, but also notebooks)

Common Patterns

[Subject] 은/는 물론

Starting with topic:

Examples:

• 나는 물론이고 친구들도 가요 (Not to mention me, friends are also going)
• 이것은 물론이고 저것도 좋아요 (Not to mention this, that is also good)
• 한국은 물론이고 일본도 가봤어요 (Not to mention Korea, [I]'ve also been to Japan)

With 도 (Also/Too)

Emphasizing addition:

Pattern: A는 물론(이고) B도

Examples:

• 돈은 물론이고 시간도 필요해요 (Need not to mention money, but also time)
• 공부는 물론이고 운동도 해요 (Not to mention studying, [I] also exercise)
• 부모님은 물론이고 친구들도 걱정해요 (Not to mention parents, friends also worry)

Omitting 이고

Can shorten to just 물론:

Examples:

• 한국어는 물론 영어도 해요 (Not to mention Korean, also speak English)
• 서울은 물론 부산도 가요 (Not to mention Seoul, also go to Busan)

Same meaning, slightly less formal

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

Examples:

• 학생은 물론이고 교수님도 참석하십니다 (Not to mention students, professors also attend)
• 이론은 물론이고 실습도 필요합니다 (Not to mention theory, practice is also necessary)

Polite (해요체)

Examples:

• 한국어는 물론이고 중국어도 배워요 (Not to mention Korean, also learn Chinese)
• 서울은 물론이고 제주도도 가요 (Not to mention Seoul, also go to Jeju)

Casual (반말)

Examples:

• 나는 물론이고 친구들도 가 (Not to mention me, friends are also going)
• 이거는 물론이고 저것도 좋아 (Not to mention this, that is also good)

Comparing Scope

From Specific to General

Pattern: [Specific] 물론 [General]도

Examples:

• 서울은 물론이고 한국 전체가 유명해요 (Not to mention Seoul, all of Korea is famous)
• 이 반은 물론이고 전교생이 알아요 (Not to mention this class, all students know)

From General to Specific

Pattern: [General] 물론 [Specific]도

Examples:

• 한국 음식은 물론이고 김치도 좋아해요 (Not to mention Korean food, also like kimchi)
• 과일은 물론이고 사과도 먹어요 (Not to mention fruits, also eat apples)

Time Expressions

Periods

Examples:

• 평일은 물론이고 주말도 바빠요 (Not to mention weekdays, weekends are also busy)
• 아침은 물론이고 저녁도 운동해요 (Not to mention morning, also exercise in evening)
• 여름은 물론이고 겨울도 좋아요 (Not to mention summer, winter is also nice)

People and Groups

Multiple Groups

Examples:

• 어른은 물론이고 아이들도 좋아해요 (Not to mention adults, children also like it)
• 남자는 물론이고 여자도 참여해요 (Not to mention men, women also participate)
• 한국인은 물론이고 외국인도 와요 (Not to mention Koreans, foreigners also come)

Abilities and Skills

Multiple Skills

Examples:

• 수영은 물론이고 달리기도 잘해요 (Not to mention swimming, also good at running)
• 영어는 물론이고 불어도 해요 (Not to mention English, also speak French)
• 요리는 물론이고 청소도 잘해요 (Not to mention cooking, also good at cleaning)

Negative Contexts

Neither... Nor Pattern

Both items negated:

Examples:

• 돈은 물론이고 시간도 없어요 (Have neither money nor time - not to mention money, no time either)
• 집은 물론이고 차도 없어요 (Have neither house nor car)
• 아침은 물론이고 점심도 안 먹었어요 (Ate neither breakfast nor lunch)

Positive Accumulation

Multiple Positive Attributes

Examples:

• 예쁜 것은 물론이고 똑똑하기까지 해요 (Not to mention pretty, even smart)
• 맛은 물론이고 가격도 좋아요 (Not to mention taste, price is also good)
• 품질은 물론이고 디자인도 훌륭해요 (Not to mention quality, design is also excellent)

With Quantity

Numbers and Amounts

Examples:

• 한 개는 물론이고 두 개도 샀어요 (Not to mention one, also bought two)
• 백 명은 물론이고 천 명도 왔어요 (Not to mention one hundred, a thousand people came)

Comparing Similar Patterns

물론 vs. 뿐만 아니라

물론(이고):

• Emphasizes "of course this, plus that"
• Takes for granted first item
• "Not to mention"

뿐만 아니라:

• Emphasizes "not only this, but also that"
• Neutral presentation
• "Not only... but also"

Examples:

• 한국어는 물론이고 영어도 해요 (Of course Korean, also English - taking Korean for granted)
• 한국어를 할 뿐만 아니라 영어도 해요 (Not only Korean but also English - neutral)

물론 vs. 게다가

물론(이고):

• Takes first item as obvious
• Shows completeness
• "Not to mention"

게다가:

• Adds new information
• Moreover/furthermore
• "Moreover"

Examples:

• 공부는 물론이고 운동도 해요 (Of course study, also exercise)
• 공부해요. 게다가 운동도 해요 (Study. Moreover, also exercise)

Formal Writing

Academic and Professional

Common in formal contexts:

Examples:

• 국내는 물론이고 해외에서도 인정받고 있습니다 (Recognized not to mention domestically, but also overseas)
• 이론은 물론이고 실무 경험도 필요합니다 (Need not to mention theory, but also practical experience)

Emphasis Patterns

With 까지 (Even)

Adding extra emphasis:

Examples:

• 한국어는 물론이고 일본어까지 해요 (Not to mention Korean, even speak Japanese)
• 집은 물론이고 건물까지 있어요 (Not to mention a house, even have a building)

Cultural Notes

Showing Humility

When describing achievements:

Examples:

• 대학은 물론이고 대학원도 졸업했어요 (Graduated not to mention college, but also graduate school)

Emphasizing Completeness

Korean communication style:

• Show thorough consideration
• Include all aspects
• Demonstrate comprehensiveness

Examples:

• 맛은 물론이고 영양, 가격까지 완벽해요 (Perfect not to mention taste, but also nutrition and price)

Summary Table

Pattern	Emphasis	Example	Meaning
Noun은/는 물론(이고)	Standard	한국어는 물론이고 영어도	Not to mention Korean, also English
Noun은/는 물론	Shortened	한국어는 물론 영어도	Not to mention Korean, also English
A 물론 B도	Addition	돈은 물론 시간도	Not to mention money, also time
With negative	Neither/nor	집은 물론이고 차도 없어요	Have neither house nor car
With 까지	Extra emphasis	한국어는 물론이고 일본어까지	Not to mention Korean, even Japanese

Key point: -는 물론(이고) emphasizes that the first item is obvious or taken for granted, while adding additional information. It's commonly used to show comprehensiveness and is more formal than similar expressions, frequently appearing in written Korean and formal speech.