도 (do) - Also/Too

The particle 도 (do) means "also," "too," or "even." It marks inclusion—indicating that something or someone is added to what was previously mentioned or applies in the same way.

Form

도 (do) - invariable form (doesn't change)

Basic Function

Marks inclusion, addition, or sameness.

Translations: "also," "too," "even," "as well"

Basic Usage

Also/Too

Indicating that something applies in the same way:

With people:

• 저도 학생이에요. (Jeo-do haksaeng-ieyo.) - I'm also a student.
• 친구도 왔어요. (Chingu-do wasseoyo.) - Friend also came.
• 동생도 공부해요. (Dongsaeng-do gongbuhaeyo.) - Younger sibling also studies.

With things:

• 이것도 좋아요. (Igeos-do joayo.) - This is also good.
• 커피도 마셔요. (Keopi-do masyeoyo.) - Also drink coffee.
• 책도 읽어요. (Chaek-do ilgeoyo.) - Also read books.

Replacing Other Particles

도 replaces subject (이/가) and object (을/를) particles:

Subject marker replacement:

• 친구가 왔어요. (Friend came.)
• 동생도 왔어요. (Younger sibling also came.) - 도 replaces 이/가

Object marker replacement:

• 빵을 먹어요. (Eat bread.)
• 우유도 마셔요. (Also drink milk.) - 도 replaces 을/를

Can combine with other particles:

• 친구에게도 (to friend also) - 도 after 에게
• 학교에서도 (at school also) - 도 after 에서

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Person + 도

[Person + 도] + [Verb/Adjective]

• 저도 가요. (I also go.)
• 친구도 좋아해요. (Friend also likes it.)
• 선생님도 계세요. (Teacher is also here.)

Pattern 2: Thing + 도

[Thing + 도] + [Verb/Adjective]

• 이것도 비싸요. (This is also expensive.)
• 사과도 맛있어요. (Apples are also delicious.)
• 한국어도 어려워요. (Korean is also difficult.)

Pattern 3: Multiple 도

Can use multiple times in one sentence:

• 저도 친구도 학생이에요. (Both I and friend are students.)
• 빵도 우유도 샀어요. (Bought both bread and milk.)

Emphasis: "Even"

When 도 appears in negative or extreme contexts, it emphasizes "even":

With negatives:

• 하나도 없어요. (Don't have even one. / Don't have any at all.)
• 한국어를 한 마디도 못 해요. (Can't speak even one word of Korean.)

With extremes:

• 물도 안 마셔요. (Don't even drink water.)
• 친구도 몰라요. (Even friend doesn't know.)

도 with Different Particles

도 After Location Particles

Can add 도 to location particles:

에 + 도 = 에도:

• 학교에도 갔어요. (Also went to school.)
• 집에도 있어요. (Also at home.)

에서 + 도 = 에서도:

• 도서관에서도 공부해요. (Also study at library.)
• 식당에서도 먹어요. (Also eat at restaurant.)

로 + 도 = 로도:

• 버스로도 갈 수 있어요. (Can also go by bus.)

도 After Person Particles

에게/한테 + 도:

• 친구에게도 말했어요. (Also told friend.)
• 엄마한테도 이야기했어요. (Also talked to mom.)

께 + 도 = 께도 (honorific):

• 선생님께도 여쭤봤어요. (Also asked teacher.)

Negative Emphasis with 도

아무것도 (nothing)

아무것 (anything) + 도 + negative verb:

• 아무것도 없어요. (There's nothing. / Don't have anything.)
• 아무것도 안 먹었어요. (Didn't eat anything.)

아무도 (no one)

아무 (anyone) + 도 + negative verb:

• 아무도 없어요. (There's no one. / No one is here.)
• 아무도 안 왔어요. (No one came.)

전혀 안/못 (not at all)

전혀 (at all) + 도 + negative:

• 전혀 몰라요. (Don't know at all.)
• 하나도 없어요. (Don't have any at all.)

Position in Sentence

도 attaches directly to the word it modifies:

Subject position:

• 저도 학생이에요. (I also am a student.)
• 친구도 왔어요. (Friend also came.)

Object position:

• 이것도 샀어요. (Also bought this.)
• 한국어도 배워요. (Also learn Korean.)

Multiple positions:

• 저도 친구도 공부해요. (Both I and friend study.)

Common Expressions

저도 (jeo-do)

"Me too" or "I also":

• A: 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.)
• B: 저도요! (Me too!)

나도 (na-do)

Casual version of "me too":

• A: 나 배고파. (I'm hungry.)
• B: 나도. (Me too.)

그것도 (geugeot-do)

"That too" or "even that":

• 그것도 비싸요? (Is that expensive too?)

아니, 그것도 (ani, geugeot-do)

"No, that too" (surprise):

• 아니, 그것도 안 돼? (What? That doesn't work either?)

Inclusive Lists

Using 도 repeatedly creates inclusive lists:

Both/All:

• 사과도 배도 좋아요. (Like both apples and pears.)
• 한국어도 일본어도 배워요. (Learn both Korean and Japanese.)
• 어제도 오늘도 바빠요. (Busy both yesterday and today.)

Emphasis through repetition:

• 밥도 안 먹고 물도 안 마셔요.
• (Neither eat food nor drink water.)

Comparison Emphasis

도 can emphasize unexpected sameness:

• 선생님도 몰라요. (Even teacher doesn't know.)
• 아기도 할 수 있어요. (Even a baby can do it.)
• 이것도 비싸요. (This is expensive too. / Even this is expensive.)

Context determines whether 도 means simple inclusion or emphasized "even."

Questions with 도

뭐도 (what also)

• 뭐도 먹었어요? (What else did you eat? / What did you also eat?)

누구도 (who also)

• 누구도 왔어요? (Who also came?)

Note: In negative contexts, becomes "no one":

• 누구도 안 왔어요. (No one came.)

도 vs 와/과/하고

도 (also/too)

Indicates sameness or addition:

• 사과도 배도 (both apples and pears - same quality/action)

와/과/하고 (and)

Simply connects items:

• 사과와 배 (apples and pears - neutral connection)

Difference:

• 도도: Emphasizes they share the same quality
• 와/과/하고: Just lists them together

Surprising Inclusion

도 can express surprise when someone/something unexpected is included:

• 아이도 알아요. (Even a child knows.)
• 개도 안 먹어요. (Even a dog won't eat it.)
• 그 사람도 왔어요? (Even that person came?)

Tone and context determine if it's neutral inclusion or surprising inclusion.

With Time Expressions

Specific times

• 오늘도 (today also/even today)
• 어제도 (yesterday also)
• 내일도 (tomorrow also)

Examples:

• 어제도 비가 왔어요. (It rained yesterday too.)
• 오늘도 바빠요. (Busy today too.)
• 내일도 일해요. (Work tomorrow too.)

Frequency

• 항상도 (always even)
• 가끔도 (sometimes even)

Used for emphasis in certain contexts.

도 in Conditional Contexts

Can express "even if":

• 비가 와도 가요. (Go even if it rains.) - 도 in -아/어도
• 아파도 일해요. (Work even if sick.)

Note: This 도 is part of the -아/어도 ending, not a standalone particle.

Common Mistakes

Using 도 with 이/가 or 을/를

❌ 친구가도 왔어요. (Wrong - double subject marker) ✅ 친구도 왔어요. (Correct - 도 replaces 가)

❌ 빵을도 먹어요. (Wrong - double object marker) ✅ 빵도 먹어요. (Correct - 도 replaces 을)

Position Error

❌ 저 학생도이에요. (Wrong position) ✅ 저도 학생이에요. (Correct - 도 after subject)

Summary Table

Function	Example	Translation
Also/Too	저도 가요	I also go
Even	물도 안 마셔요	Don't even drink water
Both...and	빵도 우유도	Both bread and milk
Nothing (negative)	아무것도 없어요	Have nothing
With location	학교에도 가요	Also go to school

Key Points

• ✅ Form: 도 (invariable)
• ✅ Meaning: Also, too, even
• ✅ Function: Marks inclusion or addition
• ✅ Replaces: 이/가 and 을/를
• ✅ Combines with: 에, 에서, 에게, (으)로 + 도
• ✅ Negative emphasis: With 아무, 하나 = "nothing/no one"
• ✅ Multiple 도: Can repeat for inclusive lists

Understanding 도 is essential for expressing inclusiveness and addition in Korean. It's one of the most frequently used particles in everyday conversation.