-조차 is a particle meaning "even," used to emphasize that something extends to an extreme or unexpected case. It's more formal and emphatic than the casual -도.
Structure
Noun + -조차
Meaning: "even [noun]"
Characteristics:
- More formal than -도
- Emphasizes extreme cases
- Often used in written/formal contexts
- Stronger emphasis than -까지
Basic Usage
Emphasizing Extreme Cases
Unexpected inclusion:
- 이름조차 몰라요 (Don't even know the name)
- 물조차 없어요 (There's not even water)
- 한마디조차 못 했어요 (Couldn't say even a word)
Nuance: Emphasizes the extreme or unexpected nature
With Negatives
Most common with negative verbs:
- 한국어조차 못 해요 (Can't even speak Korean)
- 시작조차 못 했어요 (Couldn't even start)
- 생각조차 못 했어요 (Didn't even think of it)
Pattern: Often appears with 못/안/없다
Comparison with Similar Particles
-도 vs -조차
-도 (casual/neutral "even"):
- 이것도 몰라요 (Don't even know this)
- Everyday usage
- Neutral tone
-조차 (formal/emphatic "even"):
- 이것조차 몰라요 (Don't even know this)
- Formal/written
- Strong emphasis
-까지 vs -조차
-까지 (up to/until/even):
- 밤까지 일했어요 (Worked even until night)
- Less extreme emphasis
- More neutral
-조차 (even - extreme):
- 밤조차 없어요 (Don't even have night)
- Stronger emphasis
- More dramatic
-마저 vs -조차
-마저 (even - last remaining):
- 친구마저 떠났어요 (Even friends left - the last ones)
- Emphasizes "the last remaining thing"
-조차 (even - extreme case):
- 친구조차 없어요 (Don't even have friends)
- Emphasizes unexpected extreme
Subtle difference: -마저 implies "the last thing too," -조차 implies "not even this"
Common Patterns
With Inability: 못 + Verb
Can't even...:
- 걷조차 못 해요 (Can't even walk)
- 먹조차 못 해요 (Can't even eat)
- 보조차 못 했어요 (Couldn't even see)
With Negation: 안 + Verb
Don't even...:
- 듣조차 안 해요 (Don't even listen)
- 시도조차 안 해요 (Don't even try)
With Non-existence: 없다
Don't even have...:
- 돈조차 없어요 (Don't even have money)
- 시간조차 없어요 (Don't even have time)
- 집조차 없어요 (Don't even have a house)
With Not knowing: 모르다
Don't even know...:
- 이름조차 몰라요 (Don't even know the name)
- 의미조차 몰라요 (Don't even know the meaning)
Formality and Context
Written Language
Common in writing:
- 그는 자신의 이름조차 기억하지 못했다 (He couldn't even remember his own name)
- 희망조차 없었다 (There wasn't even hope)
Formal Speech
Formal/Literary speech:
- 물조차 구하기 어렵습니다 (It's difficult to even find water)
- 시작조차 할 수 없습니다 (Cannot even start)
Less Common in Casual Speech
Rarely in casual conversation:
- Casual: 이것도 몰라 (Don't even know this)
- Formal: 이것조차 모릅니다 (Don't even know this)
Emphasizing Minimum Expectations
Not Meeting Basic Standards
Even the minimum...:
- 기본조차 못 해요 (Can't even do the basics)
- 인사조차 안 해요 (Don't even greet)
- 시도조차 안 했어요 (Didn't even try)
Implication: Failing to meet even the lowest expectation
With Abstract Nouns
Emotions and States
Even feelings...:
- 희망조차 없어요 (There's not even hope)
- 관심조차 없어요 (There's not even interest)
- 기대조차 안 해요 (Don't even expect)
Concepts
Even concepts...:
- 가능성조차 없어요 (There's not even possibility)
- 의미조차 없어요 (There's not even meaning)
Extreme Situations
Desperate Circumstances
Emphasizing severity:
- 물조차 없는 상황 (Situation where there's not even water)
- 잠조차 못 자는 생활 (Life where can't even sleep)
Total Lack
Complete absence:
- 친구조차 없어요 (Don't have even friends)
- 도움조차 받지 못했어요 (Couldn't even receive help)
With Time Expressions
Not Even Time
No time for basics:
- 먹을 시간조차 없어요 (Don't even have time to eat)
- 쉴 시간조차 없어요 (Don't even have time to rest)
Literary and Dramatic Usage
In Literature
Dramatic effect:
- 그녀는 돌아보조차 않았다 (She didn't even look back)
- 한마디조차 남기지 않았다 (Didn't even leave a word)
In News/Formal Reports
Emphasizing severity:
- 기본 시설조차 갖추지 못했다 (Didn't even have basic facilities)
- 최소한의 안전조차 보장되지 않았다 (Even minimum safety wasn't guaranteed)
Negative Contexts
Most Common Usage
Primarily with negatives:
- 조차 + 못/안 (can't/don't even)
- 조차 + 없다 (don't even have)
- 조차 + 아니다 (isn't even)
Rare with positives:
- Positive contexts are uncommon for -조차
Double Emphasis
Combining with Other Emphatics
Extra emphasis:
- 한 번조차 (not even once)
- 하나조차 (not even one)
- 조금조차 (not even a little)
Examples:
- 한 번조차 만나지 못했어요 (Couldn't even meet once)
- 하나조차 맞지 않았어요 (Not even one was correct)
Position in Sentence
Before Verb
Typical position:
- Subject + Object-조차 + Negative Verb
Example:
- 나는 이름조차 몰라요 (I don't even know the name)
Historical/Classical Usage
Classical Korean
More common in classical texts:
- Modern Korean uses -도 more
- -조차 remains in formal writing
Comparison Table
Similar Particles
| Particle | Meaning | Formality | Emphasis | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -도 | Even/also | Casual | Neutral | 이것도 몰라요 |
| -조차 | Even | Formal | Strong | 이것조차 몰라요 |
| -까지 | Even/up to | Neutral | Medium | 밤까지 일해요 |
| -마저 | Even (last) | Formal | Strong | 친구마저 떠났어요 |
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 조차도 (double particle)
Redundant combination
✅ Correct: 조차
Use alone, not with -도
❌ Incorrect: Using in casual conversation constantly
Too formal for casual speech
✅ Correct: Use -도 in casual contexts
Save -조차 for formal/written contexts
❌ Incorrect: 물을조차 (adding object particle)
Redundant particle
✅ Correct: 물조차
-조차 replaces particles
Summary Table
| Pattern | Example | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| N-조차 못 V | 걷조차 못 해요 | Can't even walk | Inability |
| N-조차 안 V | 시도조차 안 해요 | Don't even try | Refusal |
| N-조차 없다 | 돈조차 없어요 | Don't even have money | Absence |
| N-조차 모르다 | 이름조차 몰라요 | Don't even know name | Ignorance |
| N-조차 아니다 | 사람조차 아니에요 | Isn't even human | Extreme negative |
Key Differences Summary
When to use -조차:
- Formal writing ✓
- Emphasizing extreme cases ✓
- Dramatic effect ✓
- News/reports ✓
- Literary works ✓
When NOT to use -조차:
- Casual conversation ✗
- Everyday speech ✗
- With friends ✗
- Informal contexts ✗