3 · Particles
Like and as … as: 처럼, 같이, 만큼
particles of likeness and degree
처럼 and 같이 say what something is like; 만큼 says it reaches the same degree.
처럼 means "like" or "as if": it says what something resembles or how something is done. 아이처럼 웃어요, "laughing like a child"; 가수처럼 노래해요, "singing like a real singer". It has one shape and is written onto the noun.
같이 written onto a noun means the same as 처럼: 봄같이 따뜻해요, "warm like spring". Written apart, after 하고 or 이랑, it is the adverb "together": 친구하고 같이 가요. Before a noun, the adjective 같은 is used, and as an adjective it is written with a space: 천사 같은 사람, "a person like an angel".
만큼 is about degree, not manner: two things reach the same level. 저도 형만큼 커요, "I am as tall as my older brother". With a negative verb it means "not as … as": 생각만큼 어렵지 않아요, "it is not as hard as I thought". After a verb form, 만큼 is a noun of its own and stands apart: 먹을 만큼, "as much as you can eat".
The distinction English blurs is manner against degree. 물처럼 마셔요 is "I drink it like water" — easily, without thinking; 만큼 in the same place would compare amounts. And watch the spacing: 처럼, 만큼 and the particle 같이 go onto the noun, while 같은, the adverb "together" and 만큼 after a verb form stand apart.
The form
| like, in manner or looks | 가수처럼 노래해요. |
| the same, written onto the noun | 봄같이 따뜻해요. |
| like, before a noun | 천사 같은 사람 |
| as … as | 형만큼 키가 커요. |
| not as … as | 생각만큼 어렵지 않아요. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
처럼 says what something is like or how it is done, and it is written onto the noun.
동생은 고양이처럼 잠을 많이 자요.My younger sibling sleeps a lot, like a cat.
같이 written onto a noun means the same as 처럼; written apart, it means "together".
오늘은 봄같이 따뜻해요.Today is warm, like spring.
Before a noun, use the adjective 같은, written with a space.
그분은 천사 같은 사람이에요.That person is like an angel.
만큼 says that two things reach the same degree.
제 동생도 저만큼 키가 커요.My younger sibling is as tall as me.
With a negative verb, 만큼 means "not as … as".
이 식당은 생각만큼 비싸지 않아요.This restaurant is not as expensive as I thought.
A closer look
As you said, as much as you need
After 것, 처럼 turns a whole clause into a comparison: 말씀하신 것처럼, "as you said", 제가 생각한 것처럼, "as I thought". It is a very common way to agree with someone or to refer back to what was said.
After a verb form, 만큼 is a dependent noun and is written apart: 필요한 만큼 가져가세요, "take as much as you need", 노력한 만큼, "as much as you put in". The rule is easy to keep apart: after a noun it is attached, after a verb it stands alone.
Exceptions and special cases (2)
-
만큼 follows a verb or an adjective in the form that comes before a noun
it is a dependent noun and stands apart: 먹을 만큼.
필요한 만큼 가져가세요.Take as much as you need.
After a noun, 만큼 is a particle and attaches. After a verb form it is a noun of its own, and nouns are written as separate words.
-
같이 stands apart after 하고, 이랑 or 와/과
it means "together", not "like".
친구하고 같이 공부해요.I study together with a friend.
Here it is the adverb, and the partner particle in front of it shows the meaning.
How to spot it
- 처럼
- 같이
- 같은
- 만큼
- 만큼 … 지 않다
Example sentences
그 사람은 가수처럼 노래를 잘해요.That person sings as well as a real singer.
아기 손이 눈처럼 하얘요.The baby's hands are as white as snow.
어제는 여름같이 더웠어요.Yesterday was hot, like summer.
저도 언니만큼 요리를 잘하고 싶어요.I want to cook as well as my older sister.
한국어는 생각만큼 어렵지 않아요.Korean is not as hard as I thought.
우리 할머니는 친구 같은 분이세요.My grandmother is like a friend to me.
8 more example sentences
이 빵은 구름처럼 부드러워요.This bread is as soft as a cloud.
저는 아버지처럼 의사가 되고 싶어요.I want to become a doctor like my father.
제 친구는 한국 사람처럼 한국어를 해요.My friend speaks Korean like a Korean.
얼음같이 차가운 물을 마셨어요.I drank water as cold as ice.
이번 시험은 지난번만큼 어려웠어요.This exam was as hard as the last one.
저는 형만큼 많이 먹지 못해요.I can't eat as much as my older brother.
저는 봄 같은 날씨를 좋아해요.I like spring-like weather.
말씀하신 것처럼 정말 맛있네요.It really is delicious, just as you said.
Worth knowing (1)
-
Comparisons Korean uses
Some comparisons are as fixed in Korean as "as cold as ice" is in English: 그림처럼 아름답다, "beautiful like a picture", 꿀처럼 달다, "sweet as honey". A fixed comparison sounds most natural; a new one is understood just as well.
호수가 그림처럼 아름다워요.The lake is as beautiful as a painting.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
처럼 and 만큼 are particles, written onto the noun like any other. The word in this family that stands apart is the adjective 같은: 아이 같은 얼굴, "a face like a child's".
Cheoreom is "like", mankeum is "as much as" — both written onto the noun.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.