TOPIK 4–5마저 is level 4 in the official curriculum, and 조차 is level 5.
조차 (jocha) means "even".
Means 'even' or 'so far as'. Often negative nuance.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Both attach straight to the noun. They usually come in a negative or unhappy sentence.
Build it
When to use it
Not even the basics
조차 jocha: even the least you'd expect is missing.
The last one too
마저 majeo: the one thing left goes as well.
Bad on top of bad
마저 majeo adds one more bad thing.
Watch out
조차 jocha can't go in a suggestion or a command.
In context
8 examples- 1
생각조차 못 했어요.
Saenggakjocha mot haesseoyo.
I couldn't even think of it.
- 2
마지막 희망마저 사라졌어요.
Majimak huimangmajeo sarajyeosseoyo.
Even the last hope disappeared.
- 3
너무 바빠서 밥 먹을 시간조차 없어.
Neomu bappaseo bap meogeul siganjocha eopseo.
I'm so busy I don't even have time to eat.
- 4
그 사람 얼굴조차 기억이 안 나요.
Geu saram eolguljocha gieogi an nayo.
I can't even remember his face.
- 5
엄마마저 내 말을 안 믿었어요.
Eommamajeo nae mareul an mideosseoyo.
Even my mom didn't believe me.
- 6
이제 주말마저 일해야 해요?
Ije jumalmajeo ilhaeya haeyo?
So now I have to work weekends too?
- 7
한국어로 인사조차 못 했어요.
Hangugeoro insajocha mot haesseoyo.
I couldn't even say hello in Korean.
- 8
마지막 버스마저 놓쳤어요.
Majimak beoseumajeo notchyeosseoyo.
I even missed the last bus.
Practice
8 questions동생조차 같이 데려와.
Dongsaengjocha gachi deryeowa.
Bring your younger sibling too.
조차 vs 마저
They often swap, but the picture behind them is different. 조차 points at the bottom of the scale: even the most basic thing didn't happen. 마저 points at the end of a list: one thing after another went, and now this one too.
- 물조차 못 마셨어요. muljocha mot masyeosseoyo "I couldn't even drink water." Water is the least you'd expect.
- 남은 돈마저 다 썼어요. nameun donmajeo da sseosseoyo "I spent even the money I had left." The last of it is gone.
조차 vs 도 vs 까지
도 do is the plain "too" or "even", for anything. 까지 kkaji means "even, going as far as", and it's fine for good news. 조차 and 마저 lean negative.
- 친구도 왔어요. chingudo wasseoyo "My friend came too."
- 사장님까지 오셨어요. sajangnimkkaji osyeosseoyo "Even the boss came!"
Extra weight with 도
In speech, you'll often hear 도 added on top: 조차도 jochado, 마저도 majeodo. It just makes it stronger.
- 이름조차도 몰라요. ireumjochado mollayo "I don't even know his name."
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 조차 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
