Core Grammar Rule: ~은/는 말할 것도 없고
Used to state an obvious or expected piece of information first, and then add another, often more surprising or impressive piece of information. It's similar to saying "not to mention X, Y also happened."
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: This pattern literally means "X is not even worth mentioning" to emphasize the statement that follows. It establishes a baseline of information (the part with 말할 것도 없고) and then adds something on top of it.
When to use: Use it when you want to highlight the second piece of information by presenting the first as a given. It's common in stories about exceptionally good or bad luck, or when describing something's impressive qualities.
Conjugation Rules
Rule: Attach ~은 말할 것도 없고 to nouns ending in a consonant, and ~는 말할 것도 없고 to nouns ending in a vowel.
Vowel: Noun + ~는 말할 것도 없고 / Consonant: Noun + ~은 말할 것도 없고
Synonyms & Differences: ~고도 vs. ~아/어도
Both ~고도 and ~아/어도 can mean "even though" or "despite," but they carry different nuances related to the action and result.
~고도 (Despite Having Done)
Context: ~고도 is used when an action was fully completed, but the result was unexpected or contrary to what one would logically assume. It emphasizes the surprise or futility of the completed action. It's less frequent in daily conversation than ~아/어도 but is powerful for storytelling.
Example: 약을 먹었고도 열이 안 내렸어요. (I took the medicine, but my fever still didn't go down.) — The action of taking medicine was completed, but the expected result didn't happen.
~아/어도 (Even If/Though)
Context: ~아/어도 is a more general concessive clause. It can refer to a completed action, a hypothetical situation, or a continuous state. It means that the following clause is true regardless of the condition in the first clause. It's much more common and versatile in everyday speech.
~고도: Action completed, but result is contrary / ~아/어도: General "even if/though" for any condition
Common Combinations: Adding ~까지 for Extra Emphasis
The particle ~까지 is a powerful tool for storytelling, especially when you want to convey a sense of "piling on," whether good or bad.
The "To Top It All Off" Nuance
Context: When used in a list of events, ~까지 marks the final, and often most extreme or unexpected, item. It translates to "even" or "on top of that." It's the key to expressing "엎친 데 덮친 격" (when it rains, it pours) or "겹경사" (double fortune).
Example: 늦잠을 잤는데 비까지 와요. (I overslept, and on top of that, it's even raining.)
Combining with ~은/는 말할 것도 없고
Context: This combination is extremely effective. You state the obvious good/bad thing with ~은/는 말할 것도 없고 and then deliver the punchline with a noun followed by ~까지. This structure creates a very dramatic and emphatic statement.
[Obvious Fact]~은/는 말할 것도 없고 + [Unexpected Fact]~까지 = Not to mention X, even Y!
Describing Good and Bad Luck: 겹경사 vs. 엎친 데 덮친 격
Korean has specific idiomatic expressions to summarize a string of good or bad events, which are used frequently in conversation.
겹경사 (Double Good Fortune)
Meaning: This literally means "overlapping happy events." It's the perfect phrase to use when someone tells you about multiple good things happening around the same time, like in Jihye's story where she won a prize, got praised, and received a gift.
Usage: Use it as a response to express your excitement for someone's good luck: 완전 겹경사네요! (That's totally double good fortune!).
엎친 데 덮친 격 (When It Rains, It Pours)
Meaning: This literally means "to be covered by something while already fallen over." It describes a situation where one bad thing happens after another, just like Minjun's morning of oversleeping, missing the bus, and forgetting his wallet.
Usage: Use it to show empathy for someone's bad luck: 정말 엎친 데 덮친 격이네. (That's a classic case of one bad thing after another.).
완전 겹경사네요 / 정말 엎친 데 덮친 격이네
Reacting to Good and Bad News
Knowing how to react to someone's story is key to a natural conversation. Here are some phrases from the dialogue for responding to good and bad news.
Responding to Bad News
Show concern: Start by asking if they are okay, like Sujin did: 괜찮아? 얼굴이 하얗게 질렸어. (Are you okay? Your face is so pale.)
Show empathy: Summarize the situation with an idiom to show you understand their frustration: 정말 엎친 데 덮친 격이네. (That's a classic case of 'when it rains, it pours.')
Acknowledge their feelings: A simple and effective phrase is 속상했겠다 (You must have been upset).
Responding to Good News
Prompt for the story: If you notice someone looks happy, you can ask: 무슨 좋은 일 있어요? (Did something good happen?)
Congratulate them: A straightforward 진짜 축하해요! (Congratulations!) is always a great response.
Share their excitement: Use an idiom to amplify their good fortune: 세상에... 완전 겹경사네요. (Oh my gosh... That's totally double good fortune!).
괜찮아? / 진짜 축하해요!