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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 3: Even... (조차)

We already know that the particle -도 means "also" or "even" (e.g., 나도 = me too / even me). In advanced Korean, when we want to say "even" to express an extreme, unexpected, or negative situation, we use the particle 조차 (jo-cha).

How to use 조차

조차 attaches directly to a noun. It replaces subject or object markers (이/가, 을/를).

  • 이름 (name) -> 이름조차 (Even the name)
  • 가족 (family) -> 가족조차 (Even my family)
  • 너 (you) -> 너조차 (Even you)

The Nuance of 조차

조차 implies: "Out of all things, even the most basic or unexpected one..." Because it emphasizes a worst-case scenario or a complete lack of something, it is almost ALWAYS followed by a negative sentence (못하다, 없다, 안 하다, 모르다).

  • Positive: 선생님도 그 문제를 풀었어요. (Even the teacher solved that problem. -> Use -도).
  • Negative: 선생님조차 그 문제를 못 풀었어요. (Even the teacher couldn't solve that problem. -> Use 조차).

Example Sentences

  1. 너무 아파서 물조차 마실 수 없었어요. (I was so sick that I couldn't even drink water.) Nuance: Water is the most basic thing, but I couldn't even manage that.

  2. 이제는 그의 얼굴조차 기억이 안 나요. (Now, I can't even remember his face.)

  3. 가장 친한 친구조차 저를 안 믿었어요. (Even my best friend didn't believe me.)

  4. 바빠서 뉴스조차 볼 시간이 없어요. (I'm so busy I don't have time to even watch the news.)