Additive Particle - 도

도 [Additive Particle]

Please refer to Korean Listening Exercise - Additive Particle 도 for the audio recording of the sentences found in this lesson.

For the video recording of this lesson, please see below. :)

The additive particle, 도, is similar to subject particles 는/은 and 가/이 in that it is used for a subject (or topic). However, 도 adds the meaning of 'too' or 'also' to a subject.

Here are example sentences:

• 나도 학생이다 = I am a student, too
• 그도 친절하다 = He is kind, too

• 이것도 연필이다 = This is a pencil, too
• 하늘도 높다 = The sky is high, too

• 그녀도 공부한다 = She studies, too
• 존도 갔다 = John went, too
• 영수도 먹었다 = Young-su ate, too

As a further explanation, please have a look at the following example:

• 다윗은 왕이었다 = David was a king
• 솔로몬도 왕이었다 = Solomon was a king, too

도 always refers to the subject. For example, 솔로몬도 왕이었다 describes Solomon in terms of the fact that he was a king, too. Not only was David a king but Solomon was also a king.

다윗 = David
왕 = a king
솔로몬 = Solomon

Here is another example,

• 제니는 나갔어 = Jenny went outside
• 유리도 나갔어 = Yuri went outside, too

제니 = Jenny
나가다 = go outside, leave
유리 = Yuri

As you can see, 도 is used when one wants talk about the same quality or description about a different subject.


When we want to talk about additive qualities and/or descriptions about the same subject, 또한 is used.

For example,

• 다윗은 양치기였다 = David was a shepherd.
• 다윗은 또한 왕이었다 = David was also a king.

The two sentences above both describe a certain thing about the same subject, 다윗, and 또한 refers to the rest of the sentence rather than the subject. 또한 왕이었다 describes a fact that David "was also a king." Therefore David was both a shepherd and king.

또한 is used to give an additive quality or description about the same subject.

Here is one more example,

• 제니는 대학생이다 = Jenny is a college (university) student
• 제니는 또한 음악 선생님이다 = Jenny is also a music teacher

Jenny is both a college student and music teacher.

Note: In spoken Korean, 또 is usually used instead of 또한.

• 제니는 대학생이야 = Jenny is a college (university) student
• 제니는 또 음악 선생님이야 = Jenny is also a music teacher

Continue to the next section:

• Object Particle - 를 / 을