조차 vs 마저: Difference Between Surprise and Inclusion

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  그는 돈이 없어서 밥을 먹지 못했다. 빵조차 사지 못했다.

  geu-neun don-i eop-eo-seo bap-eul meok-ji mos-haess-da. ppang-jo-cha sa-ji mos-haess-da., geu neun don i eop eo seo bap eul meok ji mos haess da. ppang jo cha sa ji mos haess da.

  '조차' correctly emphasizes the extreme case of not even being able to buy bread in a negative sentence.

• ❌

  그는 돈이 없어서 밥을 먹지 못했다. 빵마저 사지 못했다.

  geu-neun don-i eop-eo-seo bap-eul meok-ji mos-haess-da. ppang-ma-jeo sa-ji mos-haess-da., geu neun don i eop eo seo bap eul meok ji mos haess da. ppang ma jeo sa ji mos haess da.

  '마저' is less natural here; '조차' better emphasizes the extreme case in negative context.

• ⭕

  아이들이 모두 떠났다. 심지어 강아지마저 집을 나갔다.

  a-i-deul-i mo-du tteo-nass-da. sim-ji-eo gang-a-ji-ma-jeo jip-eul na-gass-da., a i deul i mo du tteo nass da. sim ji eo gang a ji ma jeo jip eul na gass da.

  '마저' correctly includes the last or unexpected item (the dog) in the list.

• ❌

  아이들이 모두 떠났다. 심지어 강아지조차 집을 나갔다.

  a-i-deul-i mo-du tteo-nass-da. sim-ji-eo gang-a-ji-jo-cha jip-eul na-gass-da., a i deul i mo du tteo nass da. sim ji eo gang a ji jo cha jip eul na gass da.

  '조차' sounds awkward here; '마저' better expresses inclusion of the last/unexpected item.

• ⭕

  이 문제는 학생들조차 이해하지 못했다.

  i mun-je-neun hak-saeng-deul-jo-cha i-hae-ha-ji mos-haess-da., i mun je neun hak saeng deul jo cha i hae ha ji mos haess da.

  '조차' is typically used to emphasize surprise that even students couldn't understand.

• ❌

  이 문제는 학생들마저 이해하지 못했다.

  i mun-je-neun hak-saeng-deul-ma-jeo i-hae-ha-ji mos-haess-da., i mun je neun hak saeng deul ma jeo i hae ha ji mos haess da.

  '마저' is less appropriate here; '조차' better highlights surprise in negative sentence.

• ⭕

  친구들마저 나를 배신했다.

  chin-gu-deul-ma-jeo na-reul bae-sin-haess-da., chin gu deul ma jeo na reul bae sin haess da.

  '마저' naturally expresses inclusion of even unexpected friends betraying in affirmative context.

• ❌

  친구들조차 나를 배신했다.

  chin-gu-deul-jo-cha na-reul bae-sin-haess-da., chin gu deul jo cha na reul bae sin haess da.

  '조차' is unnatural in affirmative sentence; use '마저' instead.

1. Which particle is correct for extreme emphasis in a negative sentence?

   다음 중 부정문에서 극단적 강조를 위해 올바른 조사는?(da-eumjungbu-jeong-mun-e-seogeuk-dan-jeokgang-jo-reulwi-haeol-ba-reunjo-sa-neun?, daeumjungbujeongmuneseogeukdanjeokgangjoreulwihaeolbareunjosaneun?)
   • 조차(jo-cha, jocha)
   • 마저(ma-jeo, majeo)
   • 둘 다 가능하다(duldaga-neung-ha-da, duldaganeunghada)

2. Which particle indicates inclusion of the last item?

   마지막 항목까지 포함하는 의미를 가진 조사는?(ma-ji-makhang-mok-kka-jipo-ham-ha-neunui-mi-reulga-jinjo-sa-neun?, majimakhangmokkkajipohamhaneunuimireulgajinjosaneun?)
   • 조차(jo-cha, jocha)
   • 마저(ma-jeo, majeo)
   • 둘 다(dulda)

3. To express unexpected addition in affirmative sentences, use?

   긍정문에서 예상 밖의 추가 항목을 나타내려면?(geung-jeong-mun-e-seoye-sangbakk-uichu-gahang-mok-eulna-ta-nae-ryeo-myeon?, geungjeongmuneseoyesangbakkuichugahangmokeulnatanaeryeomyeon?)
   • 조차(jo-cha, jocha)
   • 마저(ma-jeo, majeo)
   • 둘 다(dulda)

4. Which particle is appropriate to emphasize surprise or extreme example?

   놀라움이나 극단적 예시를 강조할 때 적절한 조사?(nol-ra-um-i-nageuk-dan-jeokye-si-reulgang-jo-halttaejeok-jeol-hanjo-sa?, nolrauminageukdanjeokyesireulgangjohalttaejeokjeolhanjosa?)
   • 조차(jo-cha, jocha)
   • 마저(ma-jeo, majeo)
   • 둘 다(dulda)