안녕하세요～! 토미입니다! Let’s enjoy learning Korean today!
The grammar we will learn today is
① 조차 “(not) even
② 치고(는) “for”
③ (으)ㄹ 바에(야) (I) would rather do that than this”
If you learn today’s grammar,
이걸 먹을 바에야 차라리 굶는 게 낫겠다.
I would rather not eat anything than eat this.
You can understand how much he hated eating that food！
By learning these expressions, you can pass the TOPIK II level 4 and become an intermediate master!
You will surely achieve this goal!
그럼 시작할게요!
-조차
Nouns + 조차
The first grammar is 조차 “(not) even.”
This expression has the same meaning as 마저, which I taught you in Lesson 57.
Both 마저 and 조차 have almost the same meaning, but I will tell you a slight difference.
조차 has the nuance of “addition,” as if something is added to a prerequisite. For example
그는 성격도 무뚝뚝한데 내뱉는 말조차 가시가 있다.
He has a blunt personality, and even the words he spits out are spiky.
Thus, the premise of “being blunt” is already there, and he adds, “even the words he spits out are spiky.”
On the other hand, 마저 indicates “even the last one” or “even the last and only hope.”
To understand this grammar, you should know this famous quote!
부르투스 너마저
You too, Brutus?
This is the quote Roman emperor Caesar said when Brutus betrayed him and stabbed him to death.
In this sentence, the reason it becomes 너마저 rather than 너조차 is that it includes the meaning that Brutus was the last one he trusted.
By the way, when I hear 부르투스, I think “What? Bluetooth? You mean earphones?”
Some of you may be thinking. But that is 블루투스, which is used for earphones, etc. The pronunciation is very similar.
Anyway, now that the distinction between 조차 and 마저 is super clear, let’s look at the usage.
To conjugate, you add 조차 to nouns regardless of a final consonant. That part is easy.
And since 조차 is a basic negative expression, let’s enjoy the dark aura and look at some example sentences today.
Nouns: Example 1
그녀는 한글로 편지는커녕 자기 이름조차 못 쓴다고 한다.
She said she could not even write her name in Korean, let alone a letter.
Here, the noun 이름 a “name” is combined with 조차 “even” to make 이름조차 “even (her) name.” Let’s look at the following example.
Nouns: Example 2
요즘에 일이 많아서 뉴스조차 못 보고 지내요.
I have a lot of work these days, so I can’t even watch the news.
Here, 뉴스 is “news.” You add 조차 after this to make 뉴스조차 “even news.”
Let’s look at the following example sentence.
Nouns: Example 3
그는 마지막 인사조차 없이 갑자기 사라졌다.
He suddenly disappeared without a last word of greeting.
It would surprise those around him if someone suddenly disappeared and did not even say the last word.
Here, 인사 is a “greeting.” You add 조차 “even” to make 인사조차 “even a greeting.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes. Which one is the correct answer?
1. 그녀와 헤어진다는 것은 생각 ( ) 할 수 없는 일이다.
Breaking up with her is something I can’t even think about.
(1)밖에 (2)조차
The correct answer is Number two. 생각 means “thinking.” You add 조차 “even” to make 생각조차 “even think.”
Number one, 밖에, is grammatically wrong. So, don’t use it.
Now, let’s read it together!
그녀와 헤어진다는 것은 생각(조차) 할 수 없는 일이다.
Please read at least three times with feeling.
Now let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 신뢰했던 내 친구( ) 나를 배신했다.
Even my friends, whom I trusted, betrayed me.
(1)조차 (2) 덕에
Wow!! That’s a very sad sentence.
But this is a good example for 조차.
The correct answer is number one!
친구 is a “friend.” You add 조차 “even” to make 친구조차 “even friend.”
Number two, 덕에, means “thanks to.” This has a warm meaning. Thus, it is incorrect.
Let’s read it together!
신뢰했던 내 친구(조차) 나를 배신했다.
Even my friends, whom I trusted, betrayed me.
Please read it at least three times with sadness.
-치고(는)
Nouns + 치고(는)
The second grammar is 치고(는) “for.”
This expression is used when the result is an exception to the generally recognized rule, and the speaker is impressed by this.
To break down this grammar, 치고 means “talking about / compared to.” 는 is the topic marker, which emphasizes 치고. Thus 치고(는) means “for / considering / when it comes to.”
But most of the time, I think “for” fits well for English translation.
In conversation, 치고는 is sometimes shortened to 치곤.
Since 치고는 is a particle, you add it after nouns.
You attach 치고는 regardless of a final consonant.
Now, let’s look at some example sentences.
Nouns: Example 1
싼 옷치고는 입을 만하다.
It is worth wearing for cheap clothes.
Here, 옷 means “clothes.” You add 치고는 to make 옷치고는 “for clothes.”
You are expressing that cheap clothes are generally not so good, but these clothes are especially worth wearing.
That’s why you are using 치고는.
The next one also shows you an example of a gap between what you expected and what you actually experienced.
Let’s take a look!
Nouns: Example 2
그는 신입사원치곤 꽤 일을 잘 해냈다.
For a new employee, he did his job very well.
Here, 신입사원 is a “new employee.” You add 치곤, an abbreviated form of 치고는, to make 신입사원치곤 “for a new employee.”
As a new employee, the speaker would assume that he would be busy learning the job and that many things would go wrong.
However, the result far exceeded the speaker’s expectations.
That’s why the speaker uses 치고는 “for.” Let’s look at the following example.
Nouns: Example 3
쉽게 만들 수 있는 요리치고는 상당히 맛이 괜찮은데.
For a dish that is easy to make, it tastes pretty good.
Here, 요리 means “dish.” You add 치고는 to make 요리치고는 “for a dish.”
You can see that the speaker was very impressed with the taste, even though it was easy to make.
That’s why the speaker used 치고는 “for.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes. Which one is the correct answer?
1. 특이한 ( ) 참 재미있는 책이었다.
The book was interesting for its unique title.
(1)제목치고는 (2)제목이치고는
The correct answer is number 1.
You add 치고는 regardless of a final consonant. So it becomes 제목치고는.
Number two 제목이치고는 is a wrong conjugation. So, don’t use it.
Now, let’s read it together!
특이한 (제목치고는) 참 재미있는 책이었다.
Read it three times as if you were introducing it to your friend. Now let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 5살 ( ) 어른스럽다.
He is very mature for a 5-year-old kid.
(1)어린치고 (2)아이치고는
The correct answer is number two.
The noun 아이 is a “kid.” You add 치고 to make 아이치고는 “for a kid.”
The number one, 어린, is a wrong spelling.
어린이 is the correct one. So, don’t get tricked!
Now, let’s read it together!
5살 (아이치고는) 어른스럽다.
Please, practice reading three times with an amazed feeling.
-(으)ㄹ 바에(야)/는
Verbs(without a final consonant) + ㄹ 바에(야)
Verbs(with a final consonant) + 을 바에(야)
The last grammar is (으)ㄹ 바에(야)/는
① (I) would rather do that than this,
② If I will do this anyway, then it is better to do this.
This grammar has two meanings.
The first one is to express that there are both choices.
And neither is satisfactory.
However, the latter choice is better than the previous one.
In this case, the adverb 차라리, 오히려, 아예 “rather, preferably, not at all” often comes after (으)ㄹ 바에 (야) like
여기서 그만둘 바에야 오히려 처음부터 안 하는 게 나았잖아.
Rather than stopping here, it was better not to start from the beginning.
The speaker does not like either choice, but the speaker thinks the latter one, 안 하는 것, not to start, was better.
Did you get the first meaning?
The other meaning is “if I am going to do this anyway, then it is better to do it this way.”
In the first meaning, there are two different actions.
But the second meaning is that you have two similar actions.
One action has been decided.
Then you express what attitude one should take if one is going to do it anyway.
In this case, you use the adverbs 이왕, 어차피 “anyway.”
For example,
이왕 냄비를 살 바에야 큰 사이즈를 사는 게 낫다.
If I buy a pot, it is better to buy a larger size.
Buying a pot is already decided, and the speaker chooses to buy a larger size.
Because he thinks that’s better. You can see that both actions are very similar.
OK! Since I explained the two meanings, let’s see how to conjugate this grammar.
You attach (으)ㄹ 바에야 to verbs.
가다 becomes 갈 바에야 “rather than going.” 먹다 becomes 먹을 바에야 “rather eating.”
Look at the example sentence of the first meaning: “(I would rather) do that than this.”
Verbs: Example 1
여기서 하고 싶은 것도 못 하고 살 바에야 차라리 외국으로 가는 게 낫겠다.
If I lived here and couldn’t do what I wanted to do, it would be better to go abroad.
Here, the verb 살다 “to live” has ㄹ final consonant.
You don’t get tricked anymore.
So 바에야 is directly attached to the stem to make 살 바에야 “if I live.”
하고 싶은 것도 못하고 “can’t do what I want to do” is an undesirable situation.
Thus, the speaker thinks 차라리 외국으로 가는 게 낫다 “it would be better to go abroad”.
Next, look at an example sentence for the second meaning: “if I have to do this anyway, then it is better to do it this way.”
Verbs: Example 2
어차피 일할 바에야 즐겁게 일하자.
If we’re going to work anyway, let’s have fun working.
Here, 일하다 means “to work.” You add ㄹ to the stem to make 일할 바에야 “if (we) are going to work.”
As you can see, the meaning of the first clause “일할 바에야” and the second clause “일하자” are the same verb.
This conveys that the speaker thinks they need to have an attitude of having fun working, rather than just working.
Like this example, 어차피 “anyway” is a good pair with (으)ㄹ 바에야.
Let’s look at the following example. It also has a second meaning.
Verbs: Example 3
이왕 장보러 갈 바에야 맛있는 고기 사야지.
If I am going shopping anyway, I would rather buy delicious meat.
Here, 가다 is “to go.” You add ㄹ to the stem to make 갈 바에야 “if I am going anyway.”
The first part of the sentence explains the situation of having to go shopping, and the second part describes a better action, such as 맛있는 고기 사다 “to buy delicious meat.”
The 이왕 “anyway” is also a key point of this grammar.
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
1. 맛없는 음식을 ( ) 바에야 차라리 안 먹는 게 낫겠다.
Rather than eating tasteless food, it would be better not to eat it at all.
(1)먹을 (2)먹은
The correct answer is number one.
The conjugation of this grammar is always (으)ㄹ 바에야. In this sentence, 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant.
So, you add 을 to make 먹을 바에야 “rather than eating.”
Number two, 먹은, is inappropriate. So, don’t use it! Now let’s read it together!
맛없는 음식을 (먹을) 바에야 차라리 안 먹는 게 낫겠다.
Please read it three times with your honest feelings. Now let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 이왕 필통을 ( ) 지금 있는 것보다 더 좋은 걸 사고 싶다.
If I buy a pencil case, I want to buy a better one than the one I have now.
(1)살 바에 (2)살 바야
The correct answer is number one. 사다 means to “buy.” You add ㄹ 바에 to make 살 바에 “rather than buying.”
Number two, 살 바야, is a wrong expression.
In this grammar, (으)ㄹ 바에야, you can omit 야, but not 에.
Therefore, (으)ㄹ 바에 is correct while (으)ㄹ 바야 is wrong.
Now, let’s read it together!
이왕 필통을 (살 바에) 지금 있는 것보다 더 좋은 걸 사고 싶다.
Please read it at least three times.
Homework
Now, I will tell you a wise saying! Please find today’s grammar!
얼굴을 알고 지내는 사람은 많지만,
진정 내 마음을 알고 사귀는 사람은 드물다.
백 명의 얼굴만 아는 친구를 사귈 바에야
한 명의 내 마음을 이해하는 친구가 훨씬 낫다.
Many people know me by face,
but few truly understand my heart.
Rather than being friends with a hundred acquaintances,
it’s much better to have one friend who understands my heart.
Wow!! Such a wonderful saying! It’s better to have truly trusted friends.
Now, I will tell you your homework!
There are two homework assignments.
First, compose three sentences using today’s grammar.
① Firstly, let’s use 조차 “(not) even.”
For example,
- 이제 그녀를 향한 그리움조차 없어졌다.
Now even my longing for her is gone.
What a heartbreaking sentence!! I feel sad. You can see how negative 조차 is!
② Secondly, let’s use 치고(는) “for.”
- 겨울치고는 따뜻하다.
It is warm for winter.
It certainly happens when it’s a warm winter.
Try using this expression when things are different than what you expected.
③ Lastly, let’s use (으)ㄹ 바에(야) ①(I would rather) do that than this.” ② “if I am going to do this anyway, then it is better to do this.”
- 오빠에게 고백하지 못 하고 살 바에는 차라리 이사가는 게 낫겠다.
It would be better to move than to live without being able to confess to Oppa.
바에는 has two meanings.
This time, I used the first one.
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the forty words from number 2281 to number 2320 on page 29 in the intermediate vocabulary list.
My website has a vocabulary quiz of forty words, so feel free to try it.
The link is in the description box.
Thanks again for all your hard work today!
Keep up the positive efforts!
I sincerely support your growth!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！ 한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
