조차
jocha
even (an extreme case)
Attaches to nouns to mean 'even,' adding an extreme or unexpected case to stress that something is true even in the least likely situation, often with a negative nuance.
Form
- Attaches to
- Noun
Meanings
- 1
A postpositional particle to indicate an inclusion of extreme cases that are generally hard to predict.
일반적으로 예상하기 어려운 극단의 경우까지 포함함을 나타내는 조사.
Examples
우등생 승규조차 그 시험에 떨어졌다.
Even Seunggyu, a top student, failed that exam.
하늘에는 구름 한 점조차 없는 맑은 날씨였다.
It was such clear weather that there wasn't even a single cloud in the sky.
가장 친한 친구조차 나의 말을 믿어 주지 않았다.
Even my closest friend didn't believe what I said.
민준이 교통사고를 당했다던데 병원에 가 봤어? 응. 처음엔 의식조차 없었는데 지금은 많이 좋아졌대.
I heard Minjun was in a car accident — did you go visit him in the hospital? Yeah. At first he wasn't even conscious, but I heard he's much better now.
민준이 교통사고를 당했다던데 병원에 가 봤어?
I heard Minjun was in a car accident — did you go visit him in the hospital?
응. 처음엔 의식조차 없었는데 지금은 많이 좋아졌대.
Yeah. At first he wasn't even conscious, but I heard he's much better now.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Don’t confuse with
Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.
Quick check
1. What does ‘조차’ mean?
2. Which form means “even (an extreme case)”?