Level 3

마치

No base JSON record found for this token.

Usage of '마치'

'마치' is a Korean adverb used to express similarity or comparison, often translated as "as if" or "just like" in English. It is commonly used to describe situations or actions that resemble something else closely, often emphasizing an imagined or hypothetical scenario.

Common Contexts

You will often hear '마치' in everyday conversation when someone wants to vividly describe how something appears or feels, especially when comparing a person’s behavior, appearance, or situation to something else.

Typical Collocations

  • 마치 ~처럼: "as if like ~"; used to compare actions or states.
  • 마치 ~인 것 같다: "it seems as if ~"; expressing a subjective impression.

Register and Politeness

'마치' is neutral in formality and can be used in both casual and formal contexts without changing its form.

Common Learner Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse '마치' with '마저' or '마저도', which have different meanings related to "even" or "also." Remember, '마치' is about simile or comparison, not inclusion or emphasis.

Example Sentences

그는 마치 프로 선수처럼 공을 잘 차요.

Geuneun machi peuro seonsureomcheoreom gong-eul jal chayo.

He kicks the ball as if he were a professional player.

마치 꿈을 꾸는 것 같았어요.

Machi kkum-eul kkuneun geot gatasseoyo.

It felt as if I were dreaming.

그녀는 마치 아무 일도 없었던 것처럼 행동했다.

Geunyeoneun machi amu ildo eopseotdeon geoscheoreom haengdonghaetda.

She acted as if nothing had happened.