This is the 5972nd most frequent Korean word.
살면서
"While living" or "as one lives."
The word '살면서' is composed of '살다' (to live) and '-면서' (while), indicating experiences accumulated during one's lifetime.
살면서 많은 친구들을 만났어요.
I've met many friends in my lifetime.
'살면서' here reflects the duration of one's life where both positive and negative experiences occur.
살면서 힘든 일도 있었지만 잘 극복했어요.
Although there were hardships during my life, I overcame them well.
In this sentence, '살면서' is used to preface one's collective life experiences, emphasizing learning over time.