The particle 마다 (mada) means "every" or "each," expressing that something applies to all members of a group without exception or occurs at regular intervals.
Form
마다 (mada) - invariable form (doesn't change)
Basic Function
Indicates that something applies to every single item in a category or happens at regular intervals.
Translation: "every," "each," "per"
Basic Usage
Every Single Item
Indicating all members of a group:
- 사람마다 다르다. (Saram-mada dareuda.) - Every person is different.
- 학생마다 책이 있어요. (Haksaeng-mada chaeg-i isseoyo.) - Each student has a book.
- 나라마다 문화가 달라요. (Nara-mada munhwa-ga dallayo.) - Every country has different culture.
Regular Intervals
Indicating frequency or periodicity:
- 매일마다 운동해요. (Maeil-mada undonghaeyo.) - Exercise every single day.
- 1시간마다 쉬어요. (Han-sigan-mada swieoyo.) - Rest every hour.
- 주말마다 만나요. (Jumal-mada mannayo.) - Meet every weekend.
Time Expressions with 마다
Days
- 매일마다 (every single day)
- 하루마다 (every day)
- 이틀마다 (every two days)
- 사흘마다 (every three days)
Examples:
- 매일마다 공부해요. (Study every day.)
- 이틀마다 운동해요. (Exercise every two days.)
Weeks
- 매주마다 (every week)
- 주말마다 (every weekend)
- 일주일마다 (every week)
Examples:
- 매주마다 친구를 만나요. (Meet friend every week.)
- 주말마다 쉬어요. (Rest every weekend.)
Months and Years
- 매달마다 (every month)
- 매년마다 (every year)
- 한 달마다 (every month)
Examples:
- 매달마다 책을 사요. (Buy book every month.)
- 매년마다 여행해요. (Travel every year.)
Hours and Minutes
- 1시간마다 (every hour)
- 30분마다 (every 30 minutes)
- 10분마다 (every 10 minutes)
Examples:
- 1시간마다 약을 먹어요. (Take medicine every hour.)
- 30분마다 휴식해요. (Rest every 30 minutes.)
마다 with Counters
Can be used with various counters:
People
- 한 명마다 (each person)
- 두 명마다 (every two people)
Example:
- 학생 한 명마다 연필이 있어요. (Each student has a pencil.)
Items
- 한 개마다 (each item)
- 세 개마다 (every three items)
Example:
- 사과 한 개마다 1000원이에요. (Each apple is 1,000 won.)
Pages/Chapters
- 페이지마다 (every page)
- 장마다 (every chapter)
Example:
- 페이지마다 그림이 있어요. (Every page has pictures.)
Categories and Groups
Countries/Places
- 나라마다 (every country)
- 도시마다 (every city)
- 집마다 (every house)
Examples:
- 나라마다 법이 달라요. (Every country has different laws.)
- 도시마다 분위기가 다르다. (Every city has different atmosphere.)
People/Entities
- 사람마다 (every person)
- 학생마다 (every student)
- 가족마다 (every family)
Examples:
- 사람마다 취향이 달라요. (Every person has different taste.)
- 학생마다 꿈이 있어요. (Each student has dreams.)
마다 vs 매 (every)
마다 (every single one)
Emphasizes each individual:
- 사람마다 (every person - each individual)
- 나라마다 (every country - each one)
매 (every - regular)
More general "every":
- 매일 (every day)
- 매년 (every year)
- 매주 (every week)
Can combine: 매일마다 (every single day - very emphatic)
Common Patterns
Pattern 1: Category + 마다
[Noun + 마다] + [Different characteristic]
- 사람마다 다르다. (Every person is different.)
- 나라마다 문화가 달라요. (Every country has different culture.)
Pattern 2: Time Interval + 마다
[Time + 마다] + [Repeated action]
- 매일마다 운동해요. (Exercise every day.)
- 1시간마다 먹어요. (Eat every hour.)
Pattern 3: Counter + 마다
[Number + Counter + 마다]
- 한 명마다 (each person)
- 세 개마다 (every three items)
Emphasizing Universality
마다 emphasizes that something applies without exception:
Strong Emphasis
- 모든 사람마다 (every single person - double emphasis)
- 하나하나마다 (each and every one)
Examples:
- 모든 학생마다 숙제가 있어요. (Every single student has homework.)
- 하나하나마다 확인해요. (Check each and every one.)
Regularity and Intervals
Expressing periodic occurrence:
Regular Intervals
- 10분마다 버스가 와요. (Bus comes every 10 minutes.)
- 한 시간마다 쉬어요. (Rest every hour.)
- 이틀마다 청소해요. (Clean every two days.)
Seasonal
- 계절마다 날씨가 달라요. (Weather is different every season.)
- 봄마다 꽃이 펴요. (Flowers bloom every spring.)
With Different Verbs
State Verbs
Describing characteristics:
- 사람마다 성격이 달라요. (Every person has different personality.)
- 나라마다 언어가 있어요. (Every country has a language.)
Action Verbs
Describing repeated actions:
- 매일마다 공부해요. (Study every day.)
- 주말마다 쉬어요. (Rest every weekend.)
Negative Sentences
Can appear in negative contexts:
- 사람마다 좋아하지는 않아요. (Not every person likes it.)
- 매일마다 일하지는 않아요. (Don't work every single day.)
Questions with 마다
Frequency Questions
-
얼마나 자주 운동해요? (How often do you exercise?)
- 매일마다 운동해요. (Exercise every day.)
-
언제 만나요? (When do you meet?)
- 주말마다 만나요. (Meet every weekend.)
Position in Sentence
마다 typically appears mid-sentence, attached to what it modifies:
Standard position:
- 사람마다 생각이 달라요. (Every person thinks differently.)
- 매일마다 운동해요. (Exercise every day.)
Common Expressions
사람마다 (saram-mada) - every person
- 사람마다 다르다. (Every person is different.)
나라마다 (nara-mada) - every country
- 나라마다 법이 달라요. (Every country has different laws.)
매일마다 (maeil-mada) - every single day
- 매일마다 공부해요. (Study every day.)
때마다 (ttae-mada) - every time
- 갈 때마다 생각나요. (Think of it every time I go.)
Special Constructions
때마다 (every time)
Very common construction:
- 볼 때마다 예뻐요. (Pretty every time I see.)
- 갈 때마다 비가 와요. (Rains every time I go.)
- 만날 때마다 행복해요. (Happy every time we meet.)
-ㄹ 때마다 (every time that)
- 한국에 갈 때마다 김치를 먹어요. (Eat kimchi every time I go to Korea.)
- 친구를 만날 때마다 이야기해요. (Talk every time I meet friend.)
Distributive Meaning
마다 can indicate distribution across items:
-
학생 한 명마다 책 한 권씩 있어요.
-
(Each student has one book. - distributed)
-
방마다 침대가 있어요.
-
(Every room has a bed. - distributed)
Frequency vs Distribution
Frequency (temporal)
- 매일마다 (every day - time frequency)
- 1시간마다 (every hour - time interval)
Distribution (categorical)
- 사람마다 (every person - distributed across people)
- 나라마다 (every country - distributed across countries)
Both use 마다, but context determines meaning.
Emphasis with 하나
하나하나마다 (each and every one)
Very emphatic:
- 하나하나마다 확인했어요. (Checked each and every one.)
- 하나하나마다 중요해요. (Each and every one is important.)
Summary Table
| Type | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Time frequency | 매일마다 | Every day |
| Time interval | 1시간마다 | Every hour |
| People | 사람마다 | Every person |
| Places | 나라마다 | Every country |
| Events | 때마다 | Every time |
| Items | 하나마다 | Each one |
Key Points
- ✅ Form: 마다 (invariable)
- ✅ Meaning: Every, each, per
- ✅ Two main uses: Universality (all items) and regularity (intervals)
- ✅ With time: Regular intervals (매일마다, 1시간마다)
- ✅ With categories: All members (사람마다, 나라마다)
- ✅ Special: 때마다 (every time)
- ✅ Emphasis: Can combine with 매 or 하나하나
Understanding 마다 is essential for expressing frequency, regularity, and universality in Korean. It clearly indicates that something applies to every single member or occurs at every interval.