~마저
A particle used to express that even the last remaining thing is included in a negative or unexpected situation.
Explanation at your level:
You use ~마저 when something bad happens. If you lose your bag, and then you lose your key, you say 'key-마저'. It means 'even the key'. It is for sad or bad things.
Think of ~마저 as a way to show that you have nothing left. If you are hungry and you eat your bread, and then you eat your last cookie, you ate the cookie 마저. It feels like the end of the line.
At this level, you should notice that ~마저 carries a nuance of resignation. It is not just 'also'; it is 'even'. It implies that the item mentioned was the last thing you hoped to keep or the last thing you expected to be affected.
In B2, we look at the register. ~마저 is slightly more dramatic than ~까지. While ~까지 can be neutral, ~마저 almost always implies a negative outcome or a sense of 'there is nothing left to lose'.
Advanced learners use ~마저 to add emotional depth to their writing. It is a powerful tool in literary contexts to show character despair. It highlights the finality of an event, suggesting that the situation has hit an absolute nadir.
Mastering ~마저 involves understanding the subtle difference between it and ~조차. While they are often interchangeable, ~마저 focuses on the exhaustion of a set, whereas ~조차 focuses on the unexpectedness of a single extreme case. Using them correctly shows high-level fluency.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- ~마저 is an 'even' particle.
- It is used for negative or terminal situations.
- It attaches to nouns.
- It expresses a sense of loss or exhaustion.
Hey there! Let's talk about ~마저. Think of it as the ultimate 'even' in Korean. When you use this particle, you are signaling that something has reached a breaking point.
Imagine you lose your wallet, your keys, and then you lose your phone 마저 (even your phone). It emphasizes that the situation is now as bad as it can possibly get. It is almost always used in negative contexts where you feel a sense of loss or disappointment.
The word ~마저 has deep roots in the Korean language, evolving from older forms that indicated the 'end' or 'limit' of an action. Historically, it served to mark the boundary of an event.
Over centuries, it shifted from a simple marker of completion to a more emotional particle. It is related to the verb '마저하다' (to finish), but in modern Korean, it acts strictly as a particle that adds that heavy, emotional weight to the end of a noun.
You use ~마저 right after a noun. It is very versatile but keep in mind it is almost exclusively for negative situations. You wouldn't say 'I even won the lottery' with ~마저; you would use ~조차 or ~까지 instead.
It is common in both casual and formal speech. Whether you are talking to a friend about a bad day or writing a sad story, it fits perfectly. It is a very emotive particle.
While ~마저 is a particle, it appears in many common phrases. 마저 없다 (even that is gone) is a classic example of expressing total loss.
Another common usage is 마저도, which adds an extra layer of emphasis, making the 'even' feel even stronger. You will hear this in K-dramas whenever a character is going through a tough time!
Grammatically, ~마저 attaches directly to nouns without needing any other particles. It does not change based on the final consonant of the noun, making it quite easy to use!
Pronunciation is straightforward: 'ma-jeo'. The 'j' sound is soft, like the 'j' in 'jam'. There is no real stress pattern, just keep it flowing naturally with the noun it attaches to.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with the verb for 'finishing' tasks.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'ma', followed by soft 'jeo'.
Similar to 'ma' in 'mama' and 'jo' in 'job'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'j' too hard
- Adding a vowel at the end
- Confusing 'ma' with 'mo'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Particle usage
Noun + 마저
Negative markers
안/못 + verb
Emphasis particles
Noun + 도
Examples by Level
돈마저 없다.
Even money-none.
Noun + 마저
친구마저 떠났다.
Even friend-left.
Subject marker
희망마저 사라졌다.
Even hope-disappeared.
Abstract noun
집마저 팔았다.
Even house-sold.
Object marker
시간마저 부족하다.
Even time-lacking.
Adjective
이름마저 잊었다.
Even name-forgot.
Verb
기회마저 놓쳤다.
Even chance-missed.
Verb
꿈마저 깨졌다.
Even dream-broken.
Passive verb
그마저도 안 된다.
비마저 오기 시작했다.
마지막 기회마저 잃었다.
가족마저 나를 떠났다.
건강마저 나빠졌다.
노력마저 물거품이 됐다.
열쇠마저 잃어버렸다.
이유마저 모르겠다.
그는 자존심마저 버렸다.
모든 노력마저 수포로 돌아갔다.
그녀는 눈물마저 말라버렸다.
마지막 희망마저 사라진 상태다.
그의 말마저 믿을 수 없게 되었다.
사소한 물건마저 다 잃어버렸다.
기억마저 흐릿해지고 있다.
이제는 목소리마저 나오지 않는다.
그는 자신의 과오마저 인정하지 않았다.
그토록 아끼던 책마저 팔아치웠다.
어둠 속에서 그림자마저 사라졌다.
그는 고통마저 즐기는 듯했다.
그의 태도마저 차갑게 변했다.
이 상황에서 변명마저 무의미하다.
그는 자신의 정체성마저 의심했다.
마지막 남은 자존심마저 짓밟혔다.
그는 자신의 신념마저 저버리는 선택을 했다.
그의 침묵마저도 비난의 의미로 해석되었다.
세월의 흐름 속에 추억마저 퇴색되어 갔다.
그는 자신의 운명마저 거스르려 했다.
그녀의 냉소적인 태도는 동정심마저 앗아갔다.
그는 자신의 잘못마저 타인의 탓으로 돌렸다.
이 비극적인 상황에서 웃음마저 사치였다.
그는 자신의 영혼마저 팔아넘길 기세였다.
그의 오만함은 인간으로서의 존엄마저 상실케 했다.
역사의 소용돌이 속에서 개인의 의지마저 무력했다.
그는 자신의 존재 가치마저 부정당하는 고통을 겪었다.
그의 무책임한 행동은 신뢰마저 완전히 붕괴시켰다.
그는 자신의 철학마저 시대의 변화에 굴복시켰다.
그의 파멸은 주변의 모든 것마저 휩쓸어버렸다.
그는 자신의 내면마저 들여다보기 두려워했다.
그의 마지막 보루마저 무너져 내리는 순간이었다.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"마저 없다"
Even that is gone.
돈마저 없다.
casual"그마저도 없다"
Even that doesn't exist.
시간 그마저도 없다.
casual"꿈마저 깨지다"
Even the dream is shattered.
모든 꿈마저 깨졌다.
literary"눈물마저 마르다"
Even tears have dried up (extreme sadness).
너무 슬퍼서 눈물마저 말랐다.
literary"존엄마저 잃다"
To lose even one's dignity.
그는 존엄마저 잃었다.
formal"마지막마저"
Even the last one.
마지막마저 실패했다.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean 'even'.
~마저 is for exhaustion, ~조차 is for surprise.
그는 이름조차 모른다 vs 돈마저 없다.
Both mean 'also/even'.
~까지 is neutral, ~마저 is negative.
너까지 왜 그래? vs 친구마저 떠났다.
Both mean 'even'.
심지어 is an adverb.
심지어 비도 온다 vs 비마저 온다.
Both mean 'also'.
도 is simple, 마저 is dramatic.
나도 그래 vs 돈마저 없다.
Sentence Patterns
Noun + 마저 + Verb
희망마저 사라졌다.
Noun + 마저 + Adjective
시간마저 부족하다.
Pronoun + 마저 + Verb
그마저도 안 된다.
Noun + 마저 + Object Marker + Verb
집마저 팔았다.
Noun + 마저 + Subject Marker + Verb
친구마저 떠났다.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
مرتبط
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
~마저 implies a negative, terminal situation.
Context matters.
It's a particle, not a conjunction.
Missing the particle changes the meaning.
It sounds very dramatic.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place '마저' on the last item you lost.
Native Usage
Use it when you feel like you've hit rock bottom.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the Korean focus on emotional state.
Grammar Shortcut
Always noun + 마저.
Say It Right
Keep the 'jeo' soft.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid using it for happy events!
Did You Know?
It is related to the word for 'finishing'.
Study Smart
Pair it with negative verbs.
Writing Tip
Use it to build tension in stories.
Listen Up
Listen for it in sad K-drama scenes.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'major' disaster where you lose everything, even the last item.
Visual Association
A person holding one last coin, then losing it too.
Word Web
چالش
Write 3 sentences about a bad day using ~마저.
ریشه کلمه
Korean
Original meaning: To reach the end
بافت فرهنگی
None, but can sound very dramatic.
Similar to the English 'even' in negative contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 시간마저 부족하다
- 기회마저 놓쳤다
- 신뢰마저 잃었다
In relationships
- 친구마저 떠났다
- 사랑마저 식었다
- 존중마저 없다
Financial loss
- 돈마저 없다
- 집마저 팔았다
- 재산마저 사라졌다
Personal struggle
- 희망마저 사라졌다
- 꿈마저 깨졌다
- 자존심마저 버렸다
Conversation Starters
"What is something you lost that made you say 'even that' (마저)?"
"Have you ever had a day where everything went wrong, even the small things?"
"How do you feel when you lose your last opportunity?"
"Can you describe a sad movie scene using the word ~마저?"
"Why do you think ~마저 is used in negative contexts?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you lost something important.
Describe a character who has lost everything, using ~마저.
Reflect on a day when you felt like you had nothing left.
Write a dialogue between two friends having a bad day.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالNo, it is almost exclusively for negative situations.
They are similar, but ~마저 is more dramatic.
Right after the noun.
It can be used in both formal and casual settings.
No, it is the same for all nouns.
No, only with nouns.
Yes, very common in daily conversation.
Use it in sentences about bad luck.
خودت رو بسنج
돈___ 없다.
Used to emphasize the lack of money.
Which sentence is correct?
It is used for negative situations.
~마저 is used for positive things.
It is used for negative or unexpected outcomes.
Word
معنی
Both are nouns that fit the particle.
Noun + particle + verb.
그는 ___마저 버렸다.
Self-respect is a common noun used with this particle in negative contexts.
What is the nuance of ~마저?
It implies a sense of despair or finality.
~마저 and ~조차 are always interchangeable.
They have subtle differences in focus.
Subject + Noun+particle + Verb.
그의 ___마저 의심스럽다.
Identity is a strong, abstract noun for this context.
امتیاز: /10
Summary
~마저 is the particle you use when you want to emphasize that even the final thing has been lost or affected in a negative way.
- ~마저 is an 'even' particle.
- It is used for negative or terminal situations.
- It attaches to nouns.
- It expresses a sense of loss or exhaustion.
Memory Palace
Place '마저' on the last item you lost.
Native Usage
Use it when you feel like you've hit rock bottom.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the Korean focus on emotional state.
Grammar Shortcut
Always noun + 마저.
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