Kory Korean
Basic 08

-처럼/같이(like)

-처럼/같이(like)

'-처럼' and '-같이' are Korean particles that are used to express a similarity or likeness between two things, people, or situations. They are similar to the English word 'like'.


When used with nouns, '-처럼' and '-같이' indicate that something or someone is similar to another thing or person. For example:

  • 채희는 눈이 커서 만화 속 주인공처럼 생겼어요. (Chahee has big eyes and looks like a character from a comic.)
  • 이 차는 마치 비행기같이 빠르게 달릴 수 있어요. (This car can run fast like an airplane.)

When used with verbs, '-처럼' and '-같이' indicate that an action is done in a similar way to another action. For example:

  • 그 사람은 언제나 청소를 철저하게 해. 마치 군인처럼 말이야. (He always cleans thoroughly. It's like he's a soldier.)

When used with adjectives, "-처럼" and "-같이" indicate that a certain quality or characteristic is similar to another quality or characteristic. For example:

  • 이 음식은 불같이 매워요. (This food is so spicy that it's like fire.)
  • 이 그림은 그 사람의 얼굴같이 표현되어 있어요. (This painting is portrayed like the person's face.)

Here are 4 more examples of "-처럼" and "-같이":

  • 그 문제를 풀기 위해서는 전략을 짜는 것이 필요해. 마치 체스와 같이 말이야. (To solve this problem, you need to plan a strategy. It's like playing chess.)
  • 그 여자의 목소리는 바람처럼 부드럽고 아름답다. (Her voice is as soft and beautiful as the wind.)
  • 그림 속 풍경은 자연처럼 아름답게 그려져 있어서 마치 현실 같아요. (The landscape in the painting is drawn so beautifully like nature that it seems like reality.)

같이 is also used to indicate 'togetherness'. It is used in situations when you want to express 'togetherness' apart from 'like' as mentioned above. However, it differs from '처럼' (like) as '처럼' does not have the literal meaning of 'togetherness'.

Example: 같이 밥 먹을래? Do you want to eat together?

*You can use 와/과 or 랑/이랑 or 하고 (with) and 같이 (together) simultaneously.

Example: 나하고 같이 갈래? Do you want to go with me?

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