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Grammar Intermediate TOPIK II · Level 3–4 Intermediate Korean 1 · Unit 10

같이

같이: Like, As — Spoken Cousin of 처럼

Particle/adverb family: likeness (like/as), and a separate ‘together’ reading.

Before this, make sure you know: 보다 , 과/와, 하고 , -아요 / -어요

How to form it

When Form Example
Noun + likeness N같이 아이같이 / 처음같이
Together reading N과/와 같이 친구와 같이

같이 does two jobs learners smash: like / as, and together. This Sejong gloss targets the likeness reading — spoken counterpart of 처럼.

우리말샘: adverb ‘together’ / ‘the same way’, and particle senses including likeness after a noun. Keep together and like on separate shelves.

Likeness (this page’s focus)

아이같이 웃어요.
처음같이 설레요.
기계같이 정확해요.
선생님같이 설명해요.

Reputation talk:

전문가같이 말해요.
초보같이 헤매요.

Together (do not merge)

친구와 같이 갔어요.     together with a friend
가족과 같이 살아요.

If English wants together, you are often in 와/과 같이 (or 함께), not the simile.

같이 vs 처럼 vs 보다

FormJob
같이 (likeness)like / as (spoken-leaning)
처럼like / as (common twin)
보다than
형같이 든든해요.       like an older brother
형처럼 든든해요.       same likeness family
형보다 든든해요.       more reliable than him

Learner traps

  1. Hearing 같이 and always translating together.
  2. Using 같이 for superiority comparison (than).
  3. Confusing 같아요 (seems/is same) with particle 같이.

Ask: do I mean like/as, or together? If like/as, N같이 (or 처럼). If together, reach for 와/과 같이 / 함께.

Do not confuse it with

보다

than — the comparison particle

과/와, 하고

and / with — 과/와 in writing, 하고 in speech

처럼

like, as — comparing one thing to another

Taught alongside this

On the jabi learning path, this appears in 공부면 공부, 운동이면 운동 정말 못하는 게 없는 것 같아요 (Whether it is studying or sports, there seems to be nothing they cannot do.) — Intermediate Korean 1, Unit 10, on the theme of Abilities and Reputation. These come with it:

-는 편이다 tends to be — softening a judgment into a tendency 이면 if it's — listing things by pairing them up

Words used above

Tap the speaker to hear it read aloud by your browser.

같이gachilike / as; also together
처럼cheoreomlike / as (often more written)
비슷하다bisushadato be similar
함께hamkketogether
비유biyuanalogy / comparison of likeness

Quick check

No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.

1. 아이같이 기뻐요 is closest to…

2. 친구와 같이 갔어요 usually means…

3. How is likeness 같이 different from 보다?

Common questions

Is 같이 just spoken 처럼?

That is the teaching gloss for the likeness particle. cheoreom is the usual written/neutral twin — learn both in input.

Pronunciation?

Commonly [가치] gachi — Revised Romanization still writes gati for the spelling 같이 in many learner materials; say what you hear.

같아요 vs 같이?

같아요 is 같다 conjugated (‘it seems/is the same’). 같이 is the particle/adverb form.

Must I use 와/과 for likeness?

Likeness often sits on the noun alone (아이같이). Together often wants 와/과 같이.