Formal Basis: -을/를 바탕으로 (Based On, On The Basis Of)

You are basically saying "Using [Noun] as a foundation, I did [Action]." It is like a recipe. You take a base material and turn it into something else. In English, we often just say "based on." But in Korean, we use the noun 바탕 (foundation). Because 바탕 is a noun, it needs an object particle. You will use 을 or 를 depending on the noun before it. After 바탕, you add 으로. This indicates the direction or method of the action. Usually, a verb follows this phrase to complete the thought. For example, 사실을 바탕으로 영화를 만들었어요 means "I made a movie based on facts." The facts are the foundation. The movie is the result. It is like building a Lego set using the instructions as your base. Without the base, the structure might fall apart! Use this when you want to show your work or credit your sources.

1. 1Using this grammar is as easy as 1-2-3. You do not need to worry about complex verb conjugations here. You only need to look at the noun you are using as your base.
2. 2Pick your foundation noun (e.g., 경험 - experience).
3. 3Add the correct object particle. Use 을 if the noun ends in a consonant. Use 를 if it ends in a vowel.
4. 4Add 바탕으로 right after the particle.
5. 5Let's look at two quick examples. If your base is 데이터 (data), it ends in a vowel. So, you say 데이터를 바탕으로. If your base is 실습 (practice/training), it ends in a consonant. So, you say 실습을 바탕으로. After that, just finish your sentence with what you did. For example, 데이터를 바탕으로 보고서를 썼어요 (I wrote a report based on the data). It is like a grammar sandwich! The noun is the filling, the particles are the bread, and the rest of the sentence is the plate.

This pattern is perfect for several real-world situations. First, use it for creative inspirations. If a song is based on a poem, use 시를 바탕으로. Second, use it for professional decisions. If you chose a candidate based on their interview, use 면접을 바탕으로. Third, it is great for academic or logical explanations. "Based on my research" becomes 연구를 바탕으로.

Imagine you are in a job interview. The interviewer asks why you want to work there. You could say your decision is "based on the company's vision." That sounds much more impressive than just saying "I like the vision." It shows you have a solid reason. It is also common in daily life when discussing movies or books. "Is this movie based on a webtoon?" is a very common question in Korea these-days. Use it whenever you want to point to a specific source of information. It adds a layer of credibility to what you are saying. It is like showing your ID before entering a club—it proves you have the right background!

Do not use this for physical foundations. If you are talking about a house literally sitting on a rock, this is not the right choice. Use physical location markers for that. Also, avoid using it for simple cause-and-effect. If you are late because of traffic, do not use 바탕으로. Traffic is not the "foundation" of your lateness; it is just the reason. Use ~때문에 for that.

Think of it this way: 바탕으로 implies a process of building or creating. If there is no "building" or "creative process" involved, pick a different rule. It is also a bit too stiff for very casual talk with close friends. If you are telling your best friend you bought a shirt because it was cheap, 바탕으로 will make you sound like a talking textbook. Keep it for times when you want to sound a bit more thoughtful or serious. It is like wearing a suit—great for a wedding, but maybe too much for a quick grocery run.

The most common trip-up is forgetting the object particle 을/를. Some people just say 명사 바탕으로, but that is grammatically naked! Always dress your noun with a particle. Another mistake is mixing up 바탕 with 기초. While 기초 also means foundation, ~을/를 바탕으로 is the set idiomatic expression for "based on."

Sometimes people use it with people. You cannot really say "Based on my mom, I am a good person." That sounds like your mom is a piece of data! Instead, you would say you were influenced by her. Also, watch out for the spelling of 바탕. It is not 바당 or 바탄. Yes, even native speakers might typo this in a fast text message, but in your writing, keep it crisp. Think of the particle 으로 as a arrow pointing from your source to your result. If the arrow is missing, the sentence loses its direction.

You might know ~에 따르면 (according to). These are cousins, but not twins. ~에 따르면 is used when you are just repeating information. "According to the news, it will rain." You aren't building anything; you're just a messenger. ~을/를 바탕으로 is about using that info to do something new.

Another one is ~에 기초하여. This is almost identical but even more formal. You will find ~에 기초하여 in legal documents or very heavy academic papers. For 95% of your needs, ~을/를 바탕으로 is the perfect middle ground. It is formal enough for a presentation but natural enough for a polite conversation. It is like the "smart casual" of Korean grammar. Not too slouchy, not too stiff. Use 바탕으로 when you are the creator or the decision-maker using a base. Use 따르면 when you are just quoting someone else.