-당
Per, For Each
-당 is a suffix attached to nouns that means 'per' or 'for each'. It's commonly used to express rates, such as price per item, wage per hour, or speed per second.
How It Works
-당 is a very useful suffix for talking about rates and prices in a standardized way. It functions just like the English word 'per'.
Usage:
It attaches directly to nouns, typically those that can be counted or measured. There is no space between the noun and -당.
- Time: 시간당 (per hour), 분당 (per minute), 일당 (per day - often for wages, 'daily wage')
- Quantity/Items: 한 개당 (per item), 한 명당 (per person), 킬로그램당 (per kilogram)
- Other units: 미터당 (per meter), 리터당 (per liter)
This pattern is extremely common in economic contexts like shopping, discussing wages, or talking about fuel efficiency.
Comparison with -마다:
While both can mean 'each', they have different nuances.
- -당 is used for rates and averages. It implies a standardized unit of calculation. (e.g., 시간당 10,000원 - 10,000 won per hour)
- -마다 means 'every single one' and is used more broadly. (e.g., 사람마다 성격이 달라요 - Every person's personality is different).
For prices, -당 is generally more natural than -마다.
Examples (4)
- 이 사과는 한 개당 1,000원입니다.
These apples are 1,000 won per apple.
Word by Word: This apple one item-per 1,000 won is.
- 여기 아르바이트는 시간당 만 원을 받아요.
This part-time job pays 10,000 won per hour.
Word by Word: Here part-time job hour-per 10,000 won receive.
- 피자를 사람당 두 조각씩 나눠 먹었어요.
We divided the pizza and ate two slices per person.
Word by Word: Pizza person-per two slices-each divided ate.
- 이 차는 1리터당 15킬로미터를 갈 수 있어요.
This car can go 15 kilometers per liter.
Word by Word: This car 1 liter-per 15 kilometers can go.
Common Mistakes
Using -마다 instead of -당 for prices or rates.
Different Meaning이 사과는 한 개마다 1,000원입니다.Better이 사과는 한 개당 1,000원입니다.While -마다 means 'each' or 'every', -당 is more commonly and naturally used when specifying a price or rate per unit. Use -당 for contexts like 'price per item' or 'wage per hour'.
Attaching -당 to verbs or adjectives.
Not Quite빠르당 100킬로미터로 달려요.Better시간당 100킬로미터로 달려요.-당 must be attached to a noun that represents a unit (e.g., 시간 - hour, 사람 - person, 개 - item). It cannot be attached to verbs or adjectives.
Related Patterns
- -마다Every, Each
-당 and -마다 both can mean 'per' or 'each'. However, -당 is more specific to rates and prices (e.g., 시간당 - per hour), while -마다 is used more broadly for every instance (e.g., 날마다 - every day).
- -짜리Worth, Costing
While -당 indicates a rate ('per item'), -짜리 indicates the value or price of a single item (e.g., 천 원짜리 지폐 - a 1,000 won bill). They are both used in contexts of money and value.
- -어치Worth of, Amount of
Both are used with money/value. -당 sets a price per unit (천 원당 한 개 - one item per 1,000 won), whereas -어치 indicates the quantity you get for a certain amount of money (천 원어치 사과 - 1,000 won worth of apples).
- -쯤About, Around
Both are attached to nouns related to quantity. -쯤 is used to approximate a quantity (e.g., 10명쯤 - about 10 people), while -당 is used to set a rate based on a specific quantity (e.g., 1인당 - per person).