Korean Particle 도: Also / Too

Replaces 은/는, 이/가, 을/를 to mean 'also' or 'too'. Cannot stack with other particles.

The Rule

Replaces 은/는, 이/가, 을/를 to mean 'also' or 'too'. Cannot stack with other particles. Particles are the backbone of Korean grammar. Unlike English, which relies on word order to show who does what, Korean uses small markers attached directly to nouns. 도 is one of the most fundamental particles you'll encounter, and understanding it correctly will dramatically improve your Korean comprehension.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

English doesn't have particles like 도. In English, word order and prepositions do the job — "I gave the book to him" uses position and "to" to clarify meaning. Korean particles attach directly to nouns and change the grammatical role, which feels alien at first. The biggest confusion comes from trying to translate particles one-to-one with English prepositions. 도 doesn't map neatly to any single English word. Instead, think of it as a grammatical tag that tells you the noun's role in the sentence.

How It Works

Replaces 은/는, 이/가, 을/를 to mean 'also' or 'too'. Cannot stack with other particles. 도 attaches directly after a noun with no space. If the noun ends in a consonant (받침), the form may change — this is called "받침 sensitivity" and it's a pattern you'll see across Korean grammar. Pay attention to how native speakers use 도 in real conversations. You'll start noticing patterns quickly.

Real Examples

• 나도 가고 싶어요. (nado gago sipeoyo.) — "I also want to go." [나 + 도 (replaces 는)] • 이것도 주세요. (igeotdo juseyo.) — "Please give me this too." [이것 + 도 (replaces 을)] • 커피도 좋고 차도 좋아요. (keopido johgo chado johayo.) — "Coffee is good and tea is good too." [도...도 = both...and]

Common Mistakes

❌ 나는도 가고 싶어요. (naneundo gago sipeoyo.) ✅ 나도 가고 싶어요. (nado gago sipeoyo.) → 도 replaces 은/는 — never stack them together.

Quick Tip

Practice by labeling objects around you with 도. Say the noun + particle out loud until it feels natural. When reading Korean, circle every 도 you see and ask yourself WHY it was used there — this active reading habit builds intuition faster than memorizing rules.

Remember: Replaces 은/는, 이/가, 을/를 to mean 'also' or 'too'. Cannot stack with other particles.

Examples

나도 가고 싶어요. — nado gago sipeoyo. — I also want to go.

이것도 주세요. — igeotdo juseyo. — Please give me this too.

커피도 좋고 차도 좋아요. — keopido johgo chado johayo. — Coffee is good and tea is good too.