1 · Particles
Also and too: the particle 도
the additive particle
도 means "also" or "too", and it takes the place of 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를.
도 has one shape and goes straight onto the word it applies to: 저도, "me too", 커피도, "coffee too". English tends to put "too" at the end of the sentence and leaves it open what it belongs to; Korean fixes it to one word. 저도 커피를 마셔요 is "I drink coffee too (like you)"; 저는 커피도 마셔요 is "I drink coffee too (as well as tea)".
도 takes the place of 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를; it never stands next to them. After the other particles — 에, 에서, 한테, 까지 — it is added at the end: 주말에도, 학교에서도, 친구한테도.
Two nouns with 도 mean "both … and": 형도 누나도 키가 커요. With a negative verb the same pattern means "neither … nor": 술도 담배도 안 해요. To agree with what somebody has said about themselves, 저도요 is "me too" — and, after a negative sentence, "me neither".
After words like 하나 (one), 아무 (any) or 조금 (a little), with a negative verb, 도 means "not even", "not at all": 하나도 없어요, "there is not a single one", 아무도 몰라요, "nobody knows". This use returns with the words for "never" and "not at all" at level 3.
The form
| me too | 저도요. |
| also, on the subject | 동생도 학생이에요. |
| also, on the object | 빵도 샀어요. |
| after another particle | 주말에도 일해요. |
| both … and | 형도 누나도 키가 커요. |
| neither … nor | 술도 담배도 안 해요. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
도 goes straight onto the word it applies to, wherever that word stands.
저도 한국 음식을 좋아해요.I like Korean food too.
도 replaces 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를; it does not stand beside them.
사과를 샀어요. 배도 샀어요.I bought apples. I bought pears too.
After 에, 에서, 한테 and similar particles, 도 is added at the end.
이 가게는 일요일에도 문을 열어요.This shop opens on Sundays too.
Two nouns with 도 mean "both … and"; with a negative verb, "neither … nor".
저는 고기도 생선도 안 먹어요.I eat neither meat nor fish.
A closer look
Where English puts "too" at the end
"I also bought bread" can mean that I, like somebody else, bought bread, or that I bought bread as well as other things. English leaves it to stress and context. Korean has to decide: 저도 빵을 샀어요 or 저는 빵도 샀어요. Before you say the sentence, ask yourself which word the "also" belongs to.
저도요 answers both a positive and a negative statement, which English splits into "me too" and "me neither". After 저는 술을 안 마셔요, 저도요 means "I don't either". The particle only adds the speaker to whatever was said.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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도 follows 하나, 아무 or 조금 and the verb is negative
it means "not even", "not at all" rather than "also".
오늘은 하나도 안 피곤해요.I'm not tired at all today.
Saying that not even one, not even anybody or not even a little is included is a strong way of saying "none".
How to spot it
- 도
- 저도요
- 에도
- 에서도
Example sentences
저도 커피를 좋아해요.I like coffee too.
우리 언니도 선생님이에요.My older sister is a teacher too.
저는 한국어도 배워요.I am learning Korean as well.
토요일에도 회사에 가요?Do you go to the office on Saturdays too?
이 식당은 김밥도 라면도 맛있어요.In this restaurant both the gimbap and the ramyeon are good.
지갑에 돈이 하나도 없어요.There is no money at all in my wallet.
8 more example sentences
동생도 같이 가요.My younger sibling is coming along too.
내일도 비가 와요?Is it going to rain tomorrow too?
저는 노래도 잘하고 춤도 잘 춰요.I am good at singing and at dancing.
그 가게에서 우유도 팔아요?Does that shop sell milk too?
학교에서도 한국어를 써요.I use Korean at school too.
이 옷은 색깔도 예쁘고 값도 싸요.This top has a pretty colour, and it is cheap too.
친구한테도 물어봤어요.I asked my friend too.
아무도 없어요.There is nobody here.
Worth knowing (1)
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Me too, in two syllables
To agree with what someone has said about themselves, add 요 to 저도: 저도요, "me too" — and, after a negative sentence, "me neither". Among friends it is 나도.
저도요. 저도 매운 음식을 못 먹어요.Me neither. I can't eat spicy food either.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
도 takes the place of the topic particle; the two are never stacked. The same goes for 이/가 and 을/를: "I read books too" is 책도 읽어요, with nothing between the noun and 도.
Do sits right on the word that is "also", and pushes the topic, subject and object particles out of the way.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.