Overview
N+마다 is a particle used to express that an action, state, or characteristic applies to every single instance of the preceding noun. It conveys a sense of repetition, regularity, or comprehensive inclusion, emphasizing that no item or occasion is excluded.
Usage
This particle is versatile and can be attached to various types of nouns:
- Time Nouns: When attached to time-related nouns (e.g., 날, 주말, 시간), 마다 indicates frequency, meaning "every day," "every weekend," "every hour," etc. It highlights a consistent schedule or recurring event.
- 예: 매일 아침마다 운동해요. (I exercise every morning.)
- Place Nouns: When attached to place nouns (e.g., 방, 도시), it signifies "in every room," "in every city," implying a widespread presence or action across all specified locations.
- 예: 이 도시마다 특별한 음식이 있어요. (Every city has a special food.)
- General Nouns: It can also be used with general nouns to mean "each and every" or "for every," stressing that the action or state applies universally to all members or items of that noun category.
- 예: 학생마다 다른 의견을 가지고 있어요. (Every student has a different opinion.)
N+마다 strongly emphasizes the idea of 'without exception' or 'one after another'.
Conjugation Rules
N+마다 is a particle, which means it attaches directly to the end of a noun without any changes to the noun itself. There are no special conjugation rules based on whether the noun ends in a consonant or a vowel.
- Noun + 마다
- 예: 주말 + 마다 → 주말마다 (every weekend)
- 예: 사람 + 마다 → 사람마다 (every person)
Knowledge Plus
- While N+에 can also indicate frequency (e.g., 일주일에 한 번 - once a week), N+마다 specifically means 'every single' instance, emphasizing the comprehensive nature. For example, '매일' (every day) is often used interchangeably with '날마다' (every day).
- It can be combined with numbers and counters to express "every X (unit)". For instance, '두 시간마다' (every two hours) or '세 달마다' (every three months).
- N+마다 is often used in proverbs or general statements to convey universal truths or common occurrences.