-도
Also, Too, Even
-도 is a particle that attaches to nouns and means 'also' or 'too'.
How It Works
The particle -도 is one of the most common particles in Korean. Its primary function is to add the meaning of 'also' or 'too' to the noun it attaches to.
How to Use:
Simply attach -도 to the end of a noun or pronoun. It doesn't matter if the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- 학생 (student) → 학생도 (student also)
- 사과 (apple) → 사과도 (apple also)
Important Rule:
-도 replaces the subject particles 이/가 and the object particles 을/를. You do not use them together.
- Incorrect: 제가도 학생이에요. (X)
- Correct: 저도 학생이에요. (I am also a student.)
- Incorrect: 저는 사과를도 먹어요. (X)
- Correct: 저는 사과도 먹어요. (I eat apples, too.)
However, -도 can be attached after other particles, like the location particles 에 and 에서.
- 학교에 가요. (I go to school.) → 학교에도 가요. (I go to school, too.)
- 도서관에서 공부해요. (I study at the library.) → 도서관에서도 공부해요. (I also study at the library.)
While its main meaning is 'also' or 'too', it can sometimes carry the nuance of 'even', especially to show surprise or emphasis.
Examples (4)
- 저도 학생이에요.
I am also a student.
Word by Word: I also student am.
This implies that someone else is a student, and the speaker is one as well.
- 저는 사과를 좋아해요. 그리고 배도 좋아해요.
I like apples. And I like pears, too.
Word by Word: I apples like. And pears also like.
Notice how -도 replaces the object particle -를 on the word '배' (pear).
- 저는 주말에 영화관에 가요. 도서관에도 가요.
On the weekend, I go to the movie theater. I also go to the library.
Word by Word: I on the weekend to the movie theater go. To the library also go.
Here, -도 is added after the location particle -에 to mean 'to the library also'.
- 비가 와요. 바람도 불어요.
It's raining. The wind is blowing, too.
Word by Word: Rain comes. Wind also blows.
This can also carry the nuance of 'even the wind is blowing', adding emphasis to the situation.
Common Mistakes
Related Patterns
- 은/는Topic Marker
-도 adds an item ('also', 'too'), while 은/는 marks the topic of the sentence. They have different functions. '저는 학생이에요' (As for me, I'm a student) vs. '저도 학생이에요' (I am also a student).
- 이/가Subject Marker
-도 replaces the subject particle. '친구가 와요' (A friend is coming) becomes '친구도 와요' (A friend is coming, too).
- 을/를Object Marker
-도 replaces the object particle. '영화를 봐요' (I watch a movie) becomes '영화도 봐요' (I watch a movie, too).
- 와/과And, With
Both can list nouns, but 와/과 simply means 'and' (e.g., 사과와 배 - apples and pears), while -도 adds an item with the nuance of 'in addition to something else'.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.