KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -도
Korean Grammar “-도”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 1)
How to attach it
This particle does not change: it attaches to every noun in the same way, whatever the last sound is.
| Korean | Meaning | With the particle | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나라 | country | 나라도 | narado |
| 음식 | food | 음식도 | eumsikdo |
| 선물 | gift | 선물도 | seonmuldo |
Explanation
저는 사과를 좋아해요. 바나나도 좋아해요.
“-도” means “also/too” and attaches to a noun to show that it is the same as or an addition to what was just said. Its form never changes, and it replaces “을/를” instead of being added to it. The sentence means “I like apples. I like bananas, too.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 사과를 좋아해요. 바나나도 좋아해요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 사과를 | ||
| 사 | ㅅ+ㅏ | sa |
| 과 | ㄱ+ㅘ | gwa |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 좋아해요 | ||
| 좋 | ㅈ+ㅗ+ㅎ | [조] jo |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | hae |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
| 바나나도 | ||
| 바 | ㅂ+ㅏ | ba |
| 나 | ㄴ+ㅏ | na |
| 나 | ㄴ+ㅏ | na |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 좋아해요 | ||
| 좋 | ㅈ+ㅗ+ㅎ | [조] jo |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | hae |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 좋아 → [조아]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 좋다 | adjective | good, nice | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 사과를 좋아해요. 바나나____ 좋아해요.
Show the answer
Answer: 저는 사과를 좋아해요. 바나나도 좋아해요.
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