N+마저(도)

Overview

The particle N+마저(도) is used to express that even a particular noun, often one that is considered an extreme case, a last resort, or something that should have been exempt, is included in a given situation. It frequently carries a negative or regrettable nuance, emphasizing the severity or finality of a situation.

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Usage

N+마저(도) highlights that if even the noun it attaches to is affected, then the situation is particularly dire or complete. It often implies a sense of "the last straw" or "the final thing to go/be affected." For instance, if you say "돈마저 잃었다" (I lost even my money), it suggests that you've lost everything else and money was the last thing to go, making the situation very bad. The optional addition of 도 (마저도) serves to add extra emphasis, making the 'even' more pronounced. This particle is typically used in contexts where the speaker feels disappointment, sadness, or a sense of things getting worse.

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Conjugation Rules

N+마저(도) is straightforward to use as it attaches directly to nouns without any special conjugation rules based on the noun's ending.

• Nouns ending in a vowel or consonant: Simply attach 마저(도) directly.
  • 친구 + 마저(도) → 친구마저(도)
  • 희망 + 마저(도) → 희망마저(도)

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Knowledge Plus

While 마저(도) translates to 'even' like 도 and 조차, it carries a distinct nuance.

• 도 is a general particle meaning 'also' or 'even', without necessarily implying an extreme or negative situation. (e.g., 나도 갈게 - I'll go too.)
• 까지 can also mean 'even' but often implies a range or limit, or an unexpected inclusion. (e.g., 아이까지 다 알아요 - Even children know it.)
• 조차 also means 'even' and often implies something that shouldn't be included or is completely unexpected, often in a negative context, especially when a basic or expected thing is missing or affected. (e.g., 잠조차 못 잤다 - I couldn't even sleep.)
• 마저(도), on the other hand, strongly emphasizes that the noun it attaches to is the last remaining item or the final thing to be affected/lost, leading to a complete or utterly negative outcome. It often conveys a sense of finality or that things have reached their absolute worst point. It's about the inclusion of the last or most critical element in a negative chain of events.