치고
Describe an exception within a group, or make a statement that applies to the whole group.
Meaning / Usage
치고 follows a noun and has two related but distinct uses.
1. An unusual case within a category
Use N치고(는) when something is surprising or exceptional for that kind of person or thing. It feels like “for a…, surprisingly…”
The comment after 치고(는) does not match the usual expectation for the category.
2. A statement about every member of a category
Use N치고 to say that the following statement is true of every member of the group. This often appears with a negative expression such as 없다, 않다, or 모르다 and feels like “There is no… who does not…”
Context makes the difference: the first use points out an exception, while the second makes a broad generalization.
Conjugation
치고 attaches directly to a noun. 치고는 is also common when the speaker wants to emphasize the contrast.
| Type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N치고 / N치고는 | 초보자 → 초보자치고 겨울 → 겨울치고는 |
Example Sentences
-
민수 씨는 초보자치고 운전을 아주 잘해요.
For a beginner, Minsu drives very well. -
오늘은 겨울치고 날씨가 꽤 따뜻하네요.
It is surprisingly warm today for winter. -
이 식당은 유명한 곳치고는 가격이 괜찮아요.
For a famous restaurant, the prices are quite reasonable. -
부모치고 자식 걱정을 하지 않는 사람은 없어요.
There is no parent who does not worry about their child. -
한국 사람치고 김치를 모르는 사람은 거의 없어요.
There is hardly a Korean who does not know kimchi. -
학생치고 시험을 좋아하는 사람은 드물어요.
Few students like exams.