Welcome to the last session of the particles!
You have been studying enough particles that you need as a beginner. There might be some particles you already know but It is also important to keep memorizing other particles to understand reading and listening better. You would need to know many other particles for an advanced level, but the other particles will be discussed later in other sessions. The purpose of learning each part of speech first is to give you an idea of how to study the Korean language in order with a structured way. You can study more in-depth after learning the basic knowledge. So, please focus on being familiar with the function of the particles.
Let’s finish studying the particles in this session and move on to the session of the other part of speech.
1. Considering that : -치고(는)
Form : -치고, -치고는 (after a final consonant or a vowel)
Example : 친구치고는, 자동차치고는, 저녁치고는
“-치고, -치고는” means that something is out of the ordinary for being a noun. It can be used to compare a thing or a person to other things or people in the same category. It can mean “considering that” or “for (being a noun)” in English.
내 여동생은 열 살치고(는) 키가 크다. (My younger sister is kind of tall considering that she is ten years old)
한국사람치고(는) 영어를 잘 하시네요. (You can speak English well for a Korean)
가영이는 운동선수치곤 몸이 통통합니다. (Gayoung is kind of chubby considering that she is an athlete)
겨울치곤 날씨가 따뜻했다. (The weather was warm for winter)
*It is also written as “-치곤” as a shortened form. “-치곤” is a combination of “-치고” and “-는”.
2. Either A or B : -(이)나
Form : -이나 (after a final consonant), -나 (after a vowel)
Example : 친구나, 물이나, 저녁이나
“-이나, -나” is used when you make a choice (you have two choices to select) because the speaker doesn’t have a preference. It can also be applied to each and every element listed in a sentence. You can translate it as “Either ~ or ~ ” in English.
삼성 갤럭시나 아이폰이나 아무거나 괜찮아요. (Anything will be fine whether it is either a Samsung Galaxy or an iPhone)
오늘이나 내일 만날까요? (Shall we meet either today or tomorrow?)
물이나 콜라나 상관 없습니다. (I don’t care whether it’s either water or a Coke)
수진이는 아는 사람한테나 모르는 사람한테나 항상 친절하다. (Sujin is always kind either to her acquaintances or to strangers)
학교나 집이나 즐겁고 행복한 곳이 될 수 있어요. (Either school or home can become a fun and happy place)
*Exception
When you are using this form with only one choice, it has to be something that you are going to do. It is not like “I want to”, but more like “I will do”.
할 것도 없는데 커피나 마실까요? (We don’t have anything to do, should we drink a cup of coffee or something?)
미국이나 갈까? (Shall we go to the US?)
3. Or the like : -(이)든지, -(이)든가, -(이)라든지, -(이)라든가
Form : -이든지, 이든가, 이라든지, 이라든가 (after a final consonant), -든지, -든가, -라든지, -라든가 (after a vowel)
Example : 친구든지, 남이든지, 물이든가, 콜라든가, 저녁이라든지
“-(이)든지, -(이)든가” indicates that there are many options that can be chosen as long as they belong to the category. It does not matter whether it is A or B, it would be acceptable since it is in the same category that includes the specified options. It can be translated as “or the like” in English.
포크든지 젓가락이든지 편한 것을 사용하세요. (Please use a fork, chopsticks, or the like that is more comfortable)
콜라든가 사이다든가 마실 것좀 주세요. (Please give me some drink, a Coke, a Sprite, or the like)
오늘 가든지 내일 가든지 알아서 하세요. = 오늘 가든가 내일 가든가 알아서 하세요.
(Please do whatever you want whether you go today or tomorrow)
우리는 학교에서든지 집에서든지 잘 잔다. = 우리는 학교에서든가 집에서든가 잘 잔다.
(We sleep well at school, at home, or at some other place)
엄마한테든지 아빠한테든지 빨리 전화 해라. = 엄마한테든가 아빠한테든가 빨리 전화 해라.
(Call right now to your mom, dad, or other person)
It can also be used with the expressions that one would take action no matter what. However, “-(이)든가” does not sound suitable to natives in this case. “-(이)든지” is commonly used in Korea.
무엇이든지 하겠습니다. (I will do whatever it is)
어디든지 함께 하겠습니다. (I will be with you wherever it is)
누구든지 지나갈 수 있습니다. (Anyone can pass here whoever maybe)
4. At least, the bottom line is : -만큼은
Form : -만큼은 (after a final consonant or a vowel)
Example : 친구만큼은, 이것만큼은, 오늘만큼은
“-만큼은” can be used to limit something from other things, so the preceding noun is the bottom line that the speaker cannot let go in the given situation. You cannot give up on something no matter what. It is translated as “at least, the bottom line is”, and it is different from “-만큼 (as ~ as~)”.
내 친구만큼은 꼭 지키고 싶다. (At least I want to keep my friend)
다른 건 몰라도 축구만큼은 자신있어. (I don’t know anything else, but I am confident in soccer at least)
이번 시험만큼은 꼭 합격해야 한다. (The bottom line is that I must pass this exam)
내 아들은 나한테만큼은 거짓말을 안 한다. (At least my son doesn’t tell a lie to me)
이것만큼은 절대 양보할 수 없다. (The bottom line is that I absolutely cannot give up this thing)
5. Not at all : -만큼도
Form : -만큼도 (after a final consonant or a vowel)
Example : 손톱만큼도, 눈곱만큼도, 저녁만큼도
“-만큼도” is usually used to exaggerate the situation in a negative sentence and to indicate that there is no possibility of having more than that. It is translated as “not at all” in English.
그것의 맛은 위스키만큼도 못했다. (It did not even taste like whisky)
너는 양심이라고는 손톱만큼도 없다. (You have no conscience at all)
*Literally : You do not even have a conscience that is less than the size of a fingernail.
소리는 코딱지만큼도 그 돈에 손대지 않았습니다. (Sori did not touch the money at all)
*Literally : Sori did not even touch the size of a booger of the money.
저는 먼지만큼도 부끄러운 것이 없어요. (There is nothing at all that I am ashamed of)
*Literally : It is even less than the size of dust that I am ashamed of)
6. Not necessary to do something : -까지야, -까지는
Form : -까지야, -까지는 (after a final consonant or a vowel)
Example : 나까지는, 물까지는, 저녁까지야
“-까지야, -까지는” can be used when something is too excessive to do in the situation, so it is not necessary to do the thing. It is usually used with a negative sentence in written text and daily conversation.
거기서 싸울 필요까지는 없었어요. (It was not necessary to fight there)
그렇게 하실 필요까지는 없죠. (It is not necessary to do that)
당연한 건데 굳이 사과까지야. (It is something obvious, it is not needed to apologize to the person…)
나까지는 안 가도 돼. (It is not necessary for me to go)
7. Other than, only : -밖에
Form : -밖에 (after a final consonant or a vowel)
Example : 나밖에, 물밖에, 학생밖에
“-밖에” can be used with the particle “-에” and a negative verb to mean “only”. It is attached directly after a noun and finishes the sentence with a negative verb. You can use this form as literal meaning “outside of,” “other than” or “nothing but,” depending on the negative verb. “-밖에” can be freely used in written text and conversation.
창수는 영어밖에 모릅니다. (Changsoo doesn’t know anything other than English = Changsoo only speak English)
저는 만 원밖에 없어요. (I don’t have anything other than 10,000 won = I only have 10,000 won)
그 학생밖에 아무도 그 일을 못합니다. (No one can do it other than the student)
선생님은 소희한테밖에 그 이야기를 안 했습니다. (The teacher did not tell the story to anyone other than Sohee)
규현이는 김치밖에 안 먹어요. (Gyuhyun does not eat anything other than Kimchi)
“-밖에” can be used only in a negative sentence.
선생님은 수정이밖에 학생이 있습니다. (X)
학생밖에 아무도 그 일을 할 수 있습니다. (X)
이것밖에 알아요. (X)
Note
1. “-밖에” can be used instead of “-만 (only)” whenever possible for more natural-sounding sentences.
2. “-밖에” cannot be used with commands or suggestions such as “only do (something)” or “can you only do (something)”.
3. “-밖에” cannot be used with the descriptive verb (아니다) like “I am only ~”.
8. At least : -(이)라도, -(이)나마
Form : -이라도 (after a final consonant), -라도 (attached to a noun that ends with a vowel)
Example : 친구라도, 물이라도, 학생이라도
Form : -이나마 (after a final consonant), -나마 (attached to a noun that ends with a vowel)
Example : 친구나마, 물이나마, 학생이나마
“-(이)라도” works in place of a marker. It is used whenever a speaker is choosing something. You are making a choice, but it is not what you want the most. Instead, it is something else you can pick among the options you have because all other preferred options are unavailable.
심심한테, 영화라도 봐야겠다. (It is bording, I should at least watch a movie)
음료수가 없으면 물이라도 좀 주세요. (Please give me some water at least if you don’t have any drinks)
제가 시간이 없으니 빨리라도 해 주세요. (Since I don’t have time, at least wrap it up quickly)
“-(이)나마” is a postpositional particle used to accept something as it is, though it is displeasing or in an insufficient condition. It is emphasized that the conditions are a little insufficient for acceptance.
늦게나마 약속장소에 도착했다. (I arrived here at least, although I was late)
이번 휴가는 짧은 시간이나마 가족과 함께 보낼 수 있었다. (I was able to spend this vacation with my family at least, even if it was for a short time)
On the other hand, “-(이)라도” can be used in any type of sentence, whereas “-(이)나마” can only be used in a statement.
물이라도 있으니 다행이다. (We are lucky because at least we have some water) / Statement
물이라도 있습니까? (Do you happen to have at least some water?) / Question
물이라도 주세요. (At least give me some water) / Imperative
물이라도 마시자. (Let’s drink at least some water) / Proposition
물이나마 있으니 다행이다. (We are lucky because at least we have some water) / Statement
물이나마 주세요. (At least give me some water) / Imperative, Inappropriate
물이나마 마시자. (Let’s drink at least some water) / Proposition, Inappropriate