Core Grammar Rule: ~에다가(가)
The particle ~에다가(가) is attached to a noun to indicate that something is being added to it. It can be a physical addition (placing something on top) or a conceptual one (adding another item or action).
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: It translates to "in addition to (noun)," "on top of (noun)," or "and also." The optional 가 is often omitted in speech.
When to use: Use it when you want to emphasize the act of adding something to a previously mentioned noun. It's very common in spoken Korean for making requests, listing items to buy, or describing a sequence of actions.
Conjugation Rules
Rule: Simply attach ~에다가 or ~에다 to the end of a noun, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant. The form ~에다 is a shorter, more colloquial version of ~에다가.
Noun + 에다가 (e.g., 밥에다가) / Noun + 에다 (e.g., 밥에다)
Native Nuance & Mistakes
A key nuance of ~에다가 is that it often implies a primary item or action, with a secondary one being "added on." This makes it different from a simple list.
Adding On vs. Simple Listing
Context: Use ~에다가 when you want to highlight the act of addition. For a simple, neutral list of two or more items, ~(이)랑 or ~하고 is more common. For example, "I bought apples and pears" is naturally 사과랑 배를 샀어요. Saying 사과에다가 배도 샀어요 implies, "I was getting apples, and I added pears to that purchase."
Example: 점심으로 김밥에다가 라면을 먹었어요. (I had ramen in addition to gimbap for lunch.)
Physical Location
Context: ~에다가 can also strongly imply a physical location, meaning "on top of" or "into." In this case, it's not just about adding to a list but about placing one thing onto another.
Do: 밥에다가 계란을 올려 먹으면 맛있어요. (O) / Don't: 밥하고 계란을 올려 먹으면 맛있어요. (Less natural for "on top")
Common Combinations with ~에다가
The particle ~에다가 often pairs with other particles like ~도 (also/too) and ~까지 (even/as well) to emphasize the addition.
~에다가 ~도 (같이)
This is the most common pattern, meaning "in addition to [Noun 1], [Noun 2] as well." It's used to add another item to a list or request.
The word 같이 (together) can be added for extra emphasis, especially when handing over physical items.
Example: 이 셔츠에다가 이 바지도 같이요. (And along with this shirt, these pants too.)
~에다가 ~까지
This combination implies adding a final item or service, often with a sense of "and even..." or to summarize a list.
It's frequently used by service providers to confirm the total scope of a request.
Example: 얼룩 제거에다가 길이 수선까지요. (So that's stain removal plus length alteration.)
이 셔츠에다가 이 바지도 같이요. / 얼룩 제거에다가 길이 수선까지요.
Responding to Requests with ~에다가
When someone uses ~에다가 to add an item or action to a request, your response should acknowledge the new addition and confirm you've understood.
Confirming a Service Request
When a customer adds an item, confirm you've received it and ask for details about the new task.
This shows you are attentive and understand the full scope of their request.
Example: After 이 셔츠에다가 이 바지도 같이요, the owner replies, 네. 바지는 어떻게 해 드릴까요? (Okay, what should I do with the pants?)
Agreeing to a Suggestion
When a friend makes a suggestion, you can show agreement by confirming you'll take care of it or by dividing up the tasks.
Example: After Minjun says 라면에다가 김치도 꼭 챙겨, Jihun confirms with 알았어. 그건 절대 안 잊어버리지. (Got it. I'd never forget that.)
네. 바지는 어떻게 해 드릴까요? / 알았어. 그건 절대 안 잊어버리지.
Politeness & Formality
The particle ~에다가 itself is neutral, so the politeness level of your sentence is determined entirely by the verb ending that follows it.
Polite Requests (해요 Style)
Context: When making requests to staff, elders, or people you don't know well, combine ~에다가 with polite verb endings like ~(아/어) 주세요 (please do ~) or ~(으)시겠어요? (could you ~?).
Example: 이 서류에다가 서명 좀 해 주세요. (Please sign this document as well.)
Casual Requests (반말 Style)
Context: When talking to close friends or people younger than you, use casual endings like ~(아/어) 줘 (do ~ for me) or ~자 (let's ~). This makes the request sound friendly and informal.
Polite: 셔츠에다가 바지도 수선해 주세요. / Casual: 삼겹살에다가 소시지도 사 줘.