TOPIK II · LEVEL 4
-치고
N치고 means 'for a N / considering it is a N', and the result is different from what you would expect of that kind of thing; with a negative ending it means 'no N at all, without exception'.
조사ParticlesHan: 치고 needs a result that goes against what is normal for N; cold weather is exactly what winter is expected to be, so 춥다 does not fit.
Examples
이 가방은 명품치고는 가격이 싼 편이에요.For a luxury-brand item, this bag is fairly cheap.
처음 만든 것치고는 정말 맛있네요.For a first attempt, it's really tasty.
외국 사람치고 한국말을 정말 잘하시네요.You speak Korean really well for a foreigner.
아이치고 놀이공원을 싫어하는 아이는 없을 거예요.There's probably no child who dislikes amusement parks.
Don’t mix up
-치고vsN에 비해(서)에 비해 compares with another specific thing; 치고 compares with what is typical of the category N itself: 작년에 비해 따뜻해요 (warmer than last year) vs 겨울치고 따뜻해요 (warm for winter).
-치고vsN답게답게 means the result matches what is expected of N; 치고 means it differs from that expectation: 프로답게 잘했어요 (did well, as a pro should) vs 신인치고 잘했어요 (did well for a newcomer).
How to build it
N+치고(는)
V+는/(으)ㄴ 것치고(는)
초보자 → 초보자치고 잘하네요; 처음 하다 → 처음 하는 것치고는
- 치고 attaches directly to a noun with no particle. With a verb, turn it into a noun first: V-는/(으)ㄴ 것치고 (처음 하는 것치고).
- In the 'for a N' meaning (often 치고는), the second clause must go against what is typical of N: 겨울치고 따뜻하다 is fine, but 겨울치고 춥다 sounds odd.
- In the 'every N without exception' meaning, the sentence usually ends with a negative or a rhetorical question: N치고 ~ 사람은 없다 / ~ 사람이 어디 있어요?
Classic mistake
Wrong: 겨울치고 정말 추워요.
Right: 겨울치고 정말 따뜻해요.
치고 needs a result that goes against what is normal for N; cold weather is exactly what winter is expected to be, so 춥다 does not fit.
Practise -치고 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)로서-(으)로서 means 'as (in the role or capacity of)'.
- -(이)나마(이)나마 marks something as small or not quite enough, while showing that the speaker still accepts or values it: "even if it's only this, at least…"
- -(으)로부터-(으)로부터 is a formal 'from' for a source or starting point (people, places, time).
- -(이)라든지-(이)라든지 lists examples or alternatives: 'such as A or B / A, B or something'.
- -은/는 물론이고N은/는 물론이고 means 'not to mention N / N, of course, and also …'.
- -마저-마저 means 'even (the last remaining one)': on top of other bad things, even this.
- -조차-조차 means 'even (something so basic)', stressing that not even the minimum happened.
- N만 하다N만 하다 compares size or degree: 'as big as N / about the size of N'.
- -(으)나-(으)나 is a formal written 'but / however', linking two contrasting clauses.
